Premium Residency (Saudi Green Card)

Live, work, invest, and own property in Saudi Arabia without a local sponsor (kafeel). Over 40,000 applications received between Jan 2024 and Jul 2025.

Overview

Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency program, launched in 2019 under Vision 2030, offers foreign nationals the opportunity to live and work in the Kingdom without needing a Saudi sponsor. It effectively eliminates the traditional Kafala system for holders. There are two main tracks: a Permanent Residency for SAR 800,000 as a one-time payment, granting lifelong residency with no renewal requirements, and an Annual Renewable Residency at SAR 100,000 per year. Premium Residency holders enjoy full property ownership rights (except in Mecca, Medina, and border zones), the ability to start and fully own businesses, hire staff, open bank accounts, sponsor family members without paying the dependent levy, and freely enter and exit the Kingdom. As of 2026, the program has expanded to include five additional category-based tracks for specialized talent, investors, entrepreneurs, gifted individuals, and real estate owners -- each costing just SAR 4,000. With Saudi Arabia's 0% personal income tax, premium residency is increasingly attractive for international professionals and investors looking to establish a presence in the Gulf region.

Permanent vs. Renewable Residency

Feature	Permanent	Annual Renewable
Cost	SAR 800,000 one-time (~USD 213,000)	SAR 100,000/year (~USD 27,000)
Validity	Lifelong -- no renewal	1 year, must renew annually
Property ownership	Yes (except Mecca/Medina/borders)	Yes (except Mecca/Medina/borders)
Business ownership	Full ownership rights	Full ownership rights
Family sponsorship	Included, no dependent levy	Included, no dependent levy
Free entry/exit	Yes, Saudi lanes	Yes, Saudi lanes
Best for	Long-term commitment, maximum certainty	Testing the waters, flexibility

Key Benefits

Full property ownership -- buy residential and commercial real estate in major cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam)

Business creation -- establish and fully own companies, hire staff, open bank accounts without a local partner

Family sponsorship -- spouse and children can reside, work, and invest without paying the SAR 400/month dependent fee

No Kafala system -- you are not tied to any employer or sponsor; full freedom of movement

Free entry and exit -- use Saudi citizen lanes at airports and borders; no exit permit needed

Job mobility -- work freely across the private sector; switch employers without restrictions

Access to government services including healthcare and education enrollment

Eligibility Requirements

1Be at least 21 years old

2Clean criminal record from home country (authenticated and translated)

3Sufficient financial resources -- recent bank statements or evidence of assets

4Medical report issued within the last 6 months (from an approved facility)

5Comprehensive health insurance arranged before permit activation

6Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity

7For category-based tracks: meet specific criteria (salary, investment, property value, awards)

7 Categories & Costs

Category	Cost	Validity
Permanent Residency Full permanent residency with all benefits. No renewal fees ever.	SAR 800,000 (~USD 213,000) one-time	Lifelong, no renewal needed
Annual Renewable Residency Flexible annual option for those wanting to test the waters before committing permanently.	SAR 100,000 (~USD 27,000)/year	1 year, renewable
Special Talent Iqama holders earning minimum SAR 80,000/month; healthcare/science professionals minimum SAR 35,000/month.	SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time	Up to 5 years
Gifted Talents in culture, arts, and sports with approved awards or ministry recommendations.	SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time	Up to 5 years
Investor Must invest at least SAR 7,000,000 in economic activities within 2 years and create minimum 10 jobs.	SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time	Up to 5 years
Entrepreneur Option A: SAR 15M+ in investment rounds (min 10% share). Option B: SAR 400K+ from approved entities (min 20% share).	SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time	Up to 5 years
Real Estate Owner Own residential property valued at minimum SAR 4,000,000. Must be developed, mortgage-free, not on undeveloped land.	SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time	Up to 5 years

Application Process

Create account on PRC portal

Choose your category

Select from 7 categories based on your profile: Permanent, Annual, Special Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur, or Real Estate Owner.

Upload documents digitally

Submit passport, financial statements, criminal record, medical report, and category-specific documentation. All documents must be authenticated.

Pay the fee

SAR 800,000 (permanent), SAR 100,000 (annual), or SAR 4,000 (category-based). Payment processed securely online through the portal.

Application review

Processing takes approximately 3-6 months. Background checks, document verification, and eligibility assessment are conducted by PRC.

Receive Premium Residency

Upon approval, activate your Premium Residency. Arrange comprehensive health insurance before activation. Collect your residency card.

Complete Cost Breakdown

Item	Amount	Note
Permanent Residency	SAR 800,000	One-time, lifelong
Annual Renewable Residency	SAR 100,000/year	Must renew each year
Category-based (Talent/Investor/etc.)	SAR 4,000	One-time, up to 5 years
Dependent fee	Waived	SAR 0 (normally SAR 400/month)
Health insurance	Varies	Required before activation
Document attestation	SAR 500-2,000	Varies by country

Vision 2030 Jobs: NEOM, The Line & Mega-Projects

Saudi Arabia's mega-projects are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for international professionals.

NEOM & The Line

~460,000 jobs

26,500 sq km Red Sea zone. 90% of workforce works for contractors (Bechtel, AECOM, Parsons). Salaries: SAR 15,000-30,000/month + housing.

Apply: careers.neom.com

Red Sea Global

Thousands of roles

Luxury tourism destination along Red Sea coast. Construction and hospitality roles.

Apply: redseaglobal.com/careers

Qiddiya

Major roles

Entertainment mega-city near Riyadh. Entertainment, hospitality, and sports positions.

Apply: qiddiya.com careers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in Saudi Arabia with Premium Residency?

Yes. Premium Residency holders can work freely in the private sector without needing a separate work visa or employer sponsorship (kafeel). You can switch jobs without restrictions and even start your own business.

What is the cheapest Premium Residency option?

The five category-based options (Special Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur, Real Estate Owner) all cost SAR 4,000 (~USD 1,065) one-time and are valid for up to 5 years. However, each has specific eligibility criteria such as minimum salary, investment, or property value.

Can my family benefit from my Premium Residency?

Yes. Immediate family members (spouse and children) can reside, work, and invest in Saudi Arabia without paying the dependent fee (normally SAR 400/month per dependent). They receive their own residency permits tied to yours.

Is Saudi Arabia tax-free?

Saudi Arabia has 0% personal income tax. However, corporate tax is 20% (15% for certain entities). There is also VAT at 15%. Foreign employees pay 2% GOSI (Occupational Hazards Insurance). The take-home pay is significantly higher compared to most Western countries.

Can foreigners buy property in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. As of January 2026, foreigners can purchase property in major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. Premium Residency holders can own property anywhere except in Mecca, Medina, and border zones. Property can be residential or commercial.

Official Sources

Premium Residency Center (prc.gov.sa) – Official Premium Residency portal
Ministry of Human Resources (hrsd.gov.sa) – Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development