Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia: Categories, Fees and Who Qualifies

Premium Residency is a Saudi residency permit that lets eligible foreigners live, work and own property in the Kingdom without an employer sponsor. It is run by the Premium Residency Center, and applications go through pr.gov.sa. It suits high earners, investors, entrepreneurs and property owners; for most employees a regular iqama through the employer is simpler and cheaper.

Check before you rely on the numbers. We could not read the official category pages, so the fees and thresholds below come from law-firm and press summaries from January 2024 to 2026. Confirm each figure on pr.gov.sa before you apply.

The products

The original two (2019)

• Limited duration: reported at SAR 100,000 per year, issued for one to five years and renewable.
• Unlimited duration: reported as a one-time SAR 800,000.

Both were described by Mondaq in April 2025 and by Erickson Immigration Group.

Five categories launched in January 2024. Gulf News reported a one-time fee of SAR 4,000 for these:

1. Real estate owner. Own or hold usufruct over developed residential property worth at least SAR 4 million, free of mortgage and appraised by a Taqeem-accredited valuer. Valid while you own or hold the property.
2. Investor. An investment licence and at least SAR 7 million invested under the Investment Law, with at least 10 jobs created. Permanent residency, conditional on proving the investment and jobs within the first two years.
3. Special talent. An employment contract with a whitelisted entity in priority fields, a bachelor's degree or higher, more than three years' experience, and an employer recommendation letter. Minimum monthly pay was reported as SAR 14,000 for researchers, SAR 35,000 for healthcare and scientific professionals, and SAR 80,000 for executives. Five years, renewable once, with permanent residency possible after 30 months of residence within five years.
4. Entrepreneur. An entrepreneur licence from the Ministry of Investment, with a recommendation from the investment entity. One track needs SAR 400,000 raised from an accredited entity and a 20% stake in the company; the larger track needs SAR 15 million raised, a 10% stake and 10 jobs created in each of the first two years.
5. Gifted. Exceptional award nomination or recognition, financial capability to live in the Kingdom, and a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports.

The same Gulf News report says all requirements are subject to change.

What it gives you versus a regular iqama

According to the reported benefits:

• No employer sponsor. You can move between employers and work in the private sector. A July 2026 BCLP update describes Premium Residency as self-sponsored residence, and says a holder is not counted in an employer's Nitaqat (Saudization) calculation.
• Family. Live in the Kingdom with family, including parents, spouse and children under 25, without the expatriate dependant fees. Gulf News also reports that spouses and dependants can work in the private sector.
• Travel. Enter and leave without applying for an exit/re-entry visa, and use citizen tracks at airports. With a regular iqama you pay for each exit/re-entry visa: see the exit/re-entry visa guide.
• Business and property. Run business activity under the Investment Law and own or hold usufruct over real estate. The press summary notes exceptions in Makkah, Madinah and border areas.
• Visit visas for relatives.

A regular iqama stays tied to your employer: see the iqama renewal guide and, for moving jobs, how to change jobs.

Who it suits

• Senior executives, researchers and healthcare specialists whose pay clears the thresholds above.
• Founders and investors who meet the capital and job-creation tests.
• Property owners who meet the SAR 4 million value test and want residence tied to the property.
• People who value not depending on one employer, and can afford the fees, in particular the SAR 100,000 a year and SAR 800,000 products.

It rarely makes sense for a typical employee on a standard package, since the employer already handles your iqama.

How to apply

1. Open pr.gov.sa and choose "Apply now".
2. Pick the category. Gulf News notes that the Special Talent category has an eligibility check tool.
3. Follow the portal's requirements list for that category. Expect evidence such as an employment contract, investment or entrepreneur licence, property valuation or recommendation letters, depending on the category.

We could not confirm the later steps, processing times or any separate application charge, so read the portal's current fee page before you pay.

Sources

Facts in this guide were checked on 22 October 2026 against these pages. Fees and rules change, so confirm on the official page before you pay or apply.

• Premium Residency Center (pr.gov.sa), the official application portal
• Gulf News: Saudi Arabia 5 new premium residency options launched (January 2024)
• Erickson Immigration Group: New Premium Residency categories now available online (19 January 2024)
• Mondaq: Premium residency in Saudi Arabia (14 April 2025)
• BCLP: Saudi Arabia's evolving labor landscape (2 July 2026)