Interested in living and working in Saudi Arabia? Your next career step could be closer and more straight forward than you think.

Of course, in order to live and work in the Kingdom, foreign nationals must obtain a residency-work visa.

This combined residency-work visa and program is designed to move away from the traditional sponsorship system (Iqama), and allows eligible expatriates a self-sponsored path to live, work, and invest in Saudi Arabia. This initiative aims to foster and attract global talent, investors, and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the nation's economic and social diversification.

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What is the the Saudi Premium Residency Visa?

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Premium Residency Visa Saudi via unsplash jonel-andrew-francisco

The Saudi Premium Residency Visa (often referred to as the "Saudi Green Card," "the Investor Visa" or the "Self-Sponsored Visa") is a long-term, self-sponsored residency program, which is designed to attract top-tier global talent, investors, and entrepreneurs to the Kingdom. Unlike traditional work and residency visas for Saudi Arabia, this visa type removes the need for a local employer (kafeel) to support your visa, and offers holders significant freedom to live, work, and invest in the country.

Basic eligibility requirements for residency in Saudi Arabia

In order to live and work in Saudi Arabia, most foreign nationals obtain a residency visa under or through a local sponsor, often their employer. To avail of this type of visa and residency, individuals must have at minimum: a valid and signed employment contract, legalised and attested documents (degrees/police clearance), and an approved a medical exam.

To ensure a successful application, all candidates must meet the following mandatory criteria:

Applicants must be over the age of 21 years old
Have a valid passport (with at least 6 months of validity)
Show legalised and attested documents where necessary (such as police clearance, marriage certificates, professional and third level degrees)
Provide a police certificate confirming no criminal records from your home country or your previous country of residence
Produce medical clearance confirming the applicant is free from communicable diseases, infectious illnesses and is fit to work
If applying within Saudi Arabia, the applicant must already have legal, valid residency status
Prove financial solvency and proof of good financial stability, enough to support themselves and any dependents (12 months of bank statements and/or salary statements)

Who can apply for Premium Residency Visa?

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With these new visa categories able to access Premium Residency status in the Kingdom, it is evident that Saudi Arabia aims to attract the best minds from around the world for residency and work, enhancing development, creativity, and investment in human capital. This upgrade in the visa and residency program also supports the stability of residents benefiting from these opportunities within Saudi society.

Regardless of the specific category under which individuals are applying, there are a number of eligibility requirements that must be met (all listed above). These include the fact that all applicants must be at least 21 years old, provide a clean criminal record, provide any/all attested documents (educational or otherwise) and pass a medical examination and declared free from communicable diseases.

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Premium Residency Visa Saudi via unsplash maria-ziegler

1. Special Talent (Skilled Professionals)

This category is designed to attract world-class professionals in areas such as healthcare, science, research and executive leadership (but is not limited to just these areas). This category targets high-level experts in healthcare, science, and research, as well as senior business executives. The Special Talent & Skilled Professionals category grants successful foreign national applications a fixed five-year residency, that is renewable once (once eligibility criteria are once again met).

Business Executives: Must hold a first- or second-tier leadership role with a minimum monthly salary of SAR 80,000, in addition to a letter from their employer.

Healthcare & Science Professionals: Must earn at least SAR 35,000 monthly and meet a points-based evaluation, and also have a minimum of three years employment in their field, and at minimum a Bachelor's degree.

Researchers: Must earn at least SAR 14,000 monthly and hold an employment contract in a whitelisted priority field, have three years work experience in their area, at minimum hold a Bachelor's degree.

Cost: SAR 4000 (once off)
Fixed 5 year residency, renewable once.

2. Gifted Residency

This category is reserved for exceptional individuals, excelling in areas such as culture, sports, and the arts, and also includes award winners, or those with 'distinguished abilities' as recognised by the Kingdom. In addition to the basic requirements to apply for a residency permit in Saudi Arabia, as mentioned above, this category also requires a recommendation or nomination from the Ministry of Culture, or Ministry of Sports. Targeting various creative talents in the spheres of sports, art and culture, this category requires nomination by an approved body or member, or that the applicant is the recipient of a selection of outlined awards.

3. Investor Residency

Designed for high-net-worth individuals who want to establish a business, this category has special conditions attached, in addition to the basic requirements as previously mentioned. The additional requirements include:

An investment of at least SAR 7 million in economic activities within Saudi Arabia.
Must create at least 10 jobs within the first two years to secure permanent status.

4. Entrepreneur Residency

This visa category is reserved for startup founders and innovators. There are two tracks within this category by which entrepreneurs can achieve premium residency in Saudi Arabia. These tracks are:

Category 1: Requires at least SAR 400,000 in investment from an accredited entity and a 20% ownership stake.
Category 2: Requires SAR 15 million in investment and the creation of at least 10 jobs (this leads directly to permanent residency).

5. Real Estate / Home Owner Residency

For those who wish to gain residency and premium residency in Saudi Arabia by purchasing property in the Kingdom, a number of criteria must be met:

Ownership of mortgage-free, developed residential real estate valued at SAR 4 million or more.
The residency is tied to the ownership of the property.

Benefits of the Premium Residency Visa

Sponsorship Freedom: You are self-sponsored; you do not need a Saudi employer to live or work in the Kingdom and you can work for yourself, in the private sector or change employers freely
Family Rights: You can sponsor your spouse, children (under 25), and parents. Your family gains the right to work in the private sector with this visa type.
Property Ownership: Right to own residential, commercial, and industrial real estate in the Kingdom (excluding Mecca, Medina, and border areas).
Travel Mobility: Exit and re-enter the Kingdom without an exit/re-entry visa. Use dedicated "Citizens and GCC" lanes at airports.
Tax Residency: This visa will allow you and your nominated family members claim tax residency status in Saudi Arabia
Exemptions: You and your dependents are exempt from paying the expatriate levy or any dependent fees
Business Opportunities: Visa holders can own and conduct business under the guidelines of The Investment Law (MISA).

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