Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia: Complete Guide 2026
Complete guide to Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia 2026. Learn about fees (4,000-800,000 SAR), eligibility, benefits, and application process.
Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency program offers eligible foreign nationals the opportunity to live, work, invest, and own property in the Kingdom without depending on a traditional employer-sponsored Iqama.
Often informally referred to as the “Saudi Green Card,” Premium Residency provides greater independence for expatriates and their families and is available through several products designed for skilled professionals, talented individuals, investors, entrepreneurs, property owners, and people seeking long-term residency in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia currently offers seven Premium Residency products. This guide explains their requirements, fees, duration, benefits, and application process.
What is Premium Residency?
Premium Residency is a special residency status that allows eligible non-Saudis to reside in the Kingdom with their families and enjoy a range of rights and privileges.
Unlike a regular employment-based Iqama, Premium Residency is not based on the traditional employer sponsorship system.
Depending on the product, holders may work in the private sector, move between employers, conduct business, own qualifying real estate, obtain visit visas for relatives, and leave and return to Saudi Arabia without an exit and re-entry visa.
Types of Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia currently offers seven Premium Residency products:
- Special Talent Residency
- Gifted Residency
- Investor Residency
- Entrepreneur Residency
- Real Estate Owner Residency
- Limited Duration Premium Residency
- Unlimited Duration Premium Residency
Each product has its own eligibility requirements.
1. Special Talent Residency
Special Talent Residency is aimed at highly qualified professionals in priority healthcare, scientific, research, and executive fields.
There are two main tracks.
Healthcare, Scientific Professionals and Researchers
Applicants must generally:
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
- Have a full-time employment contract with an entity approved by the Premium Residency Center
- Work in a priority field and highly skilled profession
- Have completed their probation period, if applicable
- Have at least three years of relevant work experience
- Obtain a recommendation letter from the employer
- Meet the applicable minimum points requirement
The salary requirements are:
Healthcare and scientific professionals: Minimum total monthly salary of SAR 35,000.
Researchers: Minimum total monthly salary of SAR 14,000.
Researchers may also be required to provide evidence of research achievements according to the applicable criteria.
Executives
Executive applicants must generally:
- Have an employment contract with an entity approved by the Premium Residency Center
- Hold a qualifying executive or leadership position
- Have completed their probation period, if applicable
- Obtain a recommendation letter from the employer
- Earn a minimum total annual salary of SAR 960,000
This is equivalent to an average of SAR 80,000 per month.
Special Benefits
Special Talent Residency holders can qualify for permanent residency after meeting the applicable requirements.
The primary Premium Residency holder is also exempt from the Nitaqat program under the conditions of this product.
A qualifying Special Talent applicant who has already resided in Saudi Arabia for more than 10 years may also be eligible for permanent residency directly, provided the applicable conditions are met, including having held any Premium Residency product for five of those years.
Fee: SAR 4,000
Duration: Five years, with renewal available subject to eligibility requirements.
A holder may qualify for permanent residency after continuing to meet the applicable requirements and residing in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months during the Premium Residency period, whether consecutive or non-consecutive.
What if a Special Talent holder changes jobs?
Special Talent holders can change employers if the new employment continues to meet the applicable requirements.
The current rules also provide a two-month period to find another qualifying job when changing employment. The total periods of unemployment generally cannot exceed six non-consecutive months during the five-year residency period.
2. Gifted Residency
Gifted Residency is designed for individuals with exceptional talent or achievements in sports, culture, and the arts.
There are two main eligibility tracks.
First Track
Applicants generally need to:
- Have received or been nominated for one of the specified exceptional awards
- Meet the minimum financial capability requirement
- Receive a recommendation from the relevant cultural or sports authority
The Premium Residency Center coordinates with the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sport to obtain the required recommendation for applicants.
Second Track
Applicants generally need to:
- Meet the minimum eligibility criteria established for their cultural, artistic, or sporting field
- Meet the minimum financial capability requirement
- Receive the required recommendation from the relevant authority
Applicants may also be required to provide a portfolio or CV showing their major achievements and work.
If an applicant is under 18 years old, they must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
Special Benefits
Gifted Residency holders may qualify for permanent residency after meeting the applicable conditions.
The primary Premium Residency holder is also exempt from the Nitaqat program.
Fee: SAR 4,000
Duration: Five years.
It can be renewed once for an additional five years when the required eligibility and residency conditions are met.
Permanent residency may be available when the holder continues to satisfy the eligibility requirements, has resided in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months during the five-year period, and obtains the required recommendation from the relevant authority.
3. Investor Residency
Investor Residency is intended for foreign investors making a substantial investment in Saudi Arabia.
Applicants generally need to:
- Have valid investment registration or investment license documentation from the Ministry of Investment
- Have an investment of at least SAR 7 million representing the applicant’s ownership share
- Have valid commercial registration for the relevant company or companies
- Submit incorporation documents and other evidence proving ownership of the required investment
- Provide evidence that at least SAR 7 million in capital has been injected as the applicant’s share
- Provide evidence of employing at least 10 employees in connection with the qualifying investment
Evidence may include audited financial statements, capital injection certificates, company incorporation documents, and GOSI records.
Special Benefit
Qualifying investors receive permanent Premium Residency directly.
Fee: SAR 4,000
Duration: Permanent residency, initially subject to conditions.
During the first two years, the holder must generally:
- Maintain the minimum SAR 7 million qualifying investment
- Maintain at least 10 qualifying employees
The Premium Residency Center may periodically verify that these conditions continue to be met.
4. Entrepreneur Residency
Entrepreneur Residency is aimed at founders and co-founders of startups that have obtained investment from entities approved by the Premium Residency Center.
There are two categories.
Entrepreneur Category 1
Applicants generally need to:
- Hold a valid entrepreneur license from the Ministry of Investment
- Have received investment or an investment round of at least SAR 400,000 from an investment entity approved by the Premium Residency Center
- Own at least 20% of the startup
- Obtain a recommendation letter from the investing entity
Duration: Five years.
The residency may be renewed subject to continued eligibility and meeting the required residency conditions.
For renewal, the holder must generally maintain Category 1 eligibility and have resided in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months during the five-year period.
Entrepreneur Category 2
Applicants generally need to:
- Hold a valid entrepreneur license from the Ministry of Investment
- Have received investment or investment rounds totaling at least SAR 15 million, with at least one investor being an entity approved by the Premium Residency Center
- Own at least 10% of the startup
- Obtain a recommendation letter from the investing entity
- Create at least 10 jobs during the first year
- Create at least another 10 jobs during the second year
Special Benefits
Entrepreneur Residency holders can nominate two members of their startup team to obtain Special Talent Residency with exemptions from its normal eligibility criteria.
The startup may also be exempt from Nitaqat requirements during its first three operational years, subject to applicable conditions.
Fee: SAR 4,000
Duration:
Category 1: Five-year Premium Residency, renewable subject to meeting the applicable conditions.
Category 2: Permanent Premium Residency directly, initially conditional for two years while the required job-creation targets are fulfilled.
A Category 1 holder may later qualify for Category 2 and permanent residency by meeting the Category 2 investment, ownership, and job-creation requirements.
5. Real Estate Owner Residency
Real Estate Owner Residency is available to qualifying foreigners who own, hold usufruct rights over, or in certain cases purchase qualifying residential property off-plan in Saudi Arabia.
The minimum qualifying property value is SAR 4 million.
There are currently two main routes.
Existing Residential Property
Applicants must generally:
- Own or hold qualifying usufruct rights over real estate worth at least SAR 4 million
- Ensure the property is not mortgaged and is not subsequently mortgaged
- Own qualifying residential property rather than commercial, industrial, or agricultural property
- Own a completed property rather than undeveloped or developed vacant land
The property must meet the valuation and other requirements specified by the Premium Residency Center.
Off-Plan Residential Property
The current rules also allow qualifying applicants purchasing an off-plan residential unit.
Requirements include:
- Purchasing an off-plan residential unit in Saudi Arabia worth at least SAR 4 million
- Paying at least SAR 1 million or 10% of the property value, whichever is higher
- Purchasing from a developer approved by the Real Estate General Authority
- Ensuring the property is residential
- Not financing the purchase through real estate financing
- Not mortgaging the property after ownership is transferred
Fee: SAR 4,000
Duration: Linked to continued ownership or usufruct of the qualifying property.
For an off-plan unit, residency is linked to maintaining the purchase contract and transferring ownership within a maximum of five years from the date of the contract, followed by continued ownership of the qualifying property.
This product does not automatically convert into permanent Premium Residency.
6. Limited Duration Premium Residency
Limited Duration Premium Residency is intended for people who want to reside in Saudi Arabia for a specified period without qualifying through one of the specialized products.
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial capability and meet the applicable general requirements.
Applicants for this product must be at least 21 years old.
Fee: SAR 100,000 for each year.
Duration: One to five years, renewable.
7. Unlimited Duration Premium Residency
Unlimited Duration Premium Residency is for applicants seeking permanent Premium Residency without relying on the specialized talent, investor, entrepreneur, or property products.
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial capability and meet the applicable general requirements.
Applicants for this product must be at least 21 years old.
Fee: SAR 800,000 as a one-time payment.
Duration: Permanent.
General Benefits of Premium Residency
Premium Residency holders enjoy a number of benefits, subject to applicable Saudi laws and regulations.
These include:
- Residing in Saudi Arabia with eligible family members
- Moving between private-sector establishments
- Exemption from certain fees imposed on expatriates and their dependents
- Leaving and returning to Saudi Arabia without requiring an exit and re-entry visa
- Obtaining visit visas for relatives
- Using lanes designated for Saudi citizens and GCC nationals at entry and exit points
- Working in private-sector establishments and moving between employers for the holder and eligible family members
- Conducting business in accordance with the Investment Law
- Owning and using qualifying real estate
- Recruiting domestic workers according to applicable regulations
- Owning private vehicles and other permitted movable assets
Employment remains subject to Saudi labor regulations, including professions and jobs that are restricted to Saudi nationals.
Who is Included as a Family Member?
Under the current Premium Residency regulations, eligible family generally includes:
- Spouse
- Children under 25 years of age
- Parents who are not working in Saudi Arabia
The records of children with special needs may remain linked to the Premium Residency holder regardless of age.
Unmarried daughters over the age of 25 may also remain linked to the holder’s record under the applicable rules.
General Requirements for Premium Residency
The exact requirements depend on the selected product, but applicants generally need to provide:
- Valid passports for the applicant and eligible family members
- Proof of financial capability
- Clear criminal records for the applicant and family members
- Medical reports confirming that the applicant and eligible family members are free from communicable diseases
- Proof of legal residency status when applying from inside Saudi Arabia
- Any additional documents required for the selected Premium Residency product
Passports generally need to remain valid for at least 180 days from the application date.
Medical reports must generally be issued by an approved medical center and be no more than six months old.
If applying from within Saudi Arabia, the applicant’s existing residency must be legal and generally have at least 90 days of validity remaining at the time of application.
Is There a Minimum Age?
The age requirement depends on the product.
Applicants for Limited Duration and Unlimited Duration Premium Residency must be at least 21 years old.
The specialized Premium Residency products have their own eligibility criteria. For example, Gifted Residency specifically allows applicants under 18 when accompanied by a guardian.
Applicants should therefore check the eligibility requirements for their selected product rather than assuming that the same age requirement applies to every category.
How to Apply for Premium Residency
Premium Residency applications are submitted online through the official Premium Residency Center website at pr.gov.sa.
Step 1: Create an Account
Visit the Premium Residency portal and register an account.
Provide the requested personal and contact information and complete the verification process.
Step 2: Choose a Premium Residency Product
Select the product that matches your circumstances:
- Special Talent
- Gifted
- Investor
- Entrepreneur
- Real Estate Owner
- Limited Duration
- Unlimited Duration
Carefully check the eligibility criteria before applying.
Step 3: Complete the Application
Provide the information requested by the Premium Residency Center.
Depending on the selected product, this may include:
- Personal information
- Passport details
- Family information
- Employment information
- Educational qualifications
- Professional experience
- Financial information
- Investment information
- Company information
- Property information
Step 4: Upload Supporting Documents
Documents vary depending on the product and may include:
- Passports
- Family documents
- Bank statements or other proof of financial capability
- Medical reports
- Employment contracts
- Educational certificates
- Experience documents
- Recommendation letters
- Investment documents
- Commercial registrations
- Company incorporation documents
- Audited financial statements
- GOSI certificates
- Real estate ownership or usufruct documents
- Property valuation documents
- Off-plan property purchase documents
Supporting information and documents can generally be submitted in Arabic or English.
Applicants should follow any translation, authentication, or additional documentation requirements shown during the application process.
Application Processing Fee
The Premium Residency Center charges an application processing fee of:
USD 170
This is paid during the application stage and is separate from the fee for the selected Premium Residency product.
What Happens After Approval?
When an application is approved, the applicant is notified through the contact details registered with the Premium Residency Center.
The applicant generally has 30 days after being notified of approval to:
- Pay the applicable Premium Residency product fee
- Provide valid medical insurance for themselves and eligible family members
Once the requirements are completed, the Premium Residency is issued electronically and residency cards are provided for eligible family members.
Medical insurance must remain valid throughout the period of Premium Residency.
Premium Residency Fees
| Product | Fee |
|---|
The USD 170 application processing fee is separate from the product fee.
Applicants should check the official Premium Residency Center website before making any payment, as requirements and conditions may change.
Premium Residency vs Regular Iqama
A regular employment-based Iqama is generally connected to the expatriate’s employment relationship with an employer.
Premium Residency provides substantially greater independence.
Depending on the applicable product, Premium Residency holders can work in the private sector, change employers, live with eligible family members, conduct business, own qualifying property, and travel in and out of Saudi Arabia without an exit and re-entry visa.
However, Premium Residency holders are still subject to Saudi laws and regulations.
Can Premium Residency Holders Work in Saudi Arabia?
Yes.
Premium Residency holders and eligible family members can work in private-sector establishments and move between employers.
However, they cannot work in professions or jobs that Saudi regulations restrict to Saudi nationals.
Some products, particularly Special Talent Residency, also require the holder to continue meeting product-specific employment criteria.
What Happens if a Premium Residency Holder Loses Their Job?
This depends on the Premium Residency product.
Premium Residency itself does not rely on the traditional employer sponsorship system, but employment may form part of the eligibility conditions for products such as Special Talent Residency.
Special Talent holders currently have specific provisions allowing a limited period to secure another qualifying job when changing employment.
Holders should therefore check the continuing eligibility requirements of their particular product before leaving or changing employment.
Can Premium Residency Holders Own Property in Saudi Arabia?
Premium Residency holders have real estate ownership and usufruct rights subject to Saudi laws and geographic restrictions.
The detailed Premium Residency regulations provide for ownership of qualifying residential, commercial, and industrial property outside Makkah, Madinah, border areas, and other areas where ownership is prohibited by law.
In Makkah and Madinah, Premium Residency holders may have qualifying usufruct rights for a period of up to 99 years, subject to applicable regulations.
The Real Estate Owner Residency product has separate qualification rules and currently requires qualifying residential real estate worth at least SAR 4 million.
Does Premium Residency Automatically Lead to Saudi Citizenship?
No.
Premium Residency is a residency status and does not automatically grant Saudi citizenship.
Saudi citizenship is governed separately under Saudi nationality laws and regulations.
Can I Apply From Outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes.
Premium Residency applications can be submitted through the online Premium Residency Center portal.
Applicants applying from within Saudi Arabia must meet the applicable legal residency requirements.
Is Health Insurance Required?
Yes.
After approval, applicants must provide medical insurance for themselves and eligible family members as required by Saudi health insurance regulations.
The insurance must remain valid throughout the applicable Premium Residency period.
This is separate from the medical report required during the application process.
How Long is Premium Residency Valid?
The duration depends on the selected product.
Special Talent: Five years, with renewal available and the possibility of permanent residency after meeting the applicable conditions.
Gifted: Five years, renewable once subject to requirements, with the possibility of permanent residency.
Investor: Permanent residency, initially conditional upon maintaining the required investment and employment levels.
Entrepreneur Category 1: Five years, renewable subject to applicable conditions.
Entrepreneur Category 2: Permanent residency, initially conditional for two years while job-creation requirements are completed.
Real Estate Owner: Linked to continued ownership or usufruct of the qualifying property.
Limited Duration: One to five years, renewable.
Unlimited Duration: Permanent.
Can Parents Be Included?
Yes.
Parents can be included as eligible family members, provided they are not working in Saudi Arabia and the applicable requirements are met.
Can Premium Residency Be Cancelled?
Yes.
Premium Residency may be cancelled or terminated in circumstances specified by the law and regulations.
These may include:
- Certain serious criminal convictions
- A judicial or official deportation order
- Providing false information in the application
- Failure to comply with obligations under Saudi laws and Premium Residency regulations
- Failure to continue meeting applicable product-specific requirements
Applicants must therefore provide accurate information and continue complying with the conditions of their Premium Residency product.
Tips Before Applying
Before submitting your application:
- Check the latest requirements on the official Premium Residency Center website
- Choose the product that best matches your circumstances
- Make sure passports meet the required validity period
- Prepare proof of financial capability
- Prepare employment, education, investment, startup, or property documents relevant to your product
- Make sure the information in your application matches your official documents
- Obtain recommendation letters where required
- Prepare clear digital copies of all supporting documents
- Check whether any documents require translation or authentication
- Review the latest fees and eligibility requirements before submitting your application
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency program provides foreign nationals with several alternatives to the traditional employer-sponsored residency system.
The seven products cover a wide range of applicants, including skilled professionals, researchers, executives, artists, athletes, investors, startup founders, property owners, and individuals seeking either temporary or permanent residency.
The specialized products can also provide a significantly more affordable route to Premium Residency for applicants who qualify, with Special Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Owner Residency each currently carrying a product fee of SAR 4,000.
However, each specialized product has detailed eligibility and continuing requirements.
Applicants should therefore carefully review the latest conditions for their selected product through the official Premium Residency Center before submitting an application.
Official Website: pr.gov.sa
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes and reflects official Premium Residency Center information available as of September 2026. Eligibility requirements, fees, conditions, and procedures may change. Always check the official Premium Residency Center website for the latest requirements before applying.
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