Key Takeaways: Read This in 30 Seconds
Saudi Arabia currently offers seven official Premium Residency products.
Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency costs SAR 800,000 as a one-time product fee.
Limited-Duration Premium Residency costs SAR 100,000 per year.
Each specialised product has a published fee of SAR 4,000, but also requires a qualifying investment, profession, startup or residential property.
Real Estate Owner Residency requires qualifying residential property or usufruct worth at least SAR 4 million.
Buying a SAR 4 million property does not automatically grant residency. A separate application and approval are mandatory.
Qualifying property must be residential and mortgage-free.
Commercial property, industrial property, agricultural property and land do not qualify for the property-owner route.
A sold qualifying asset must generally be replaced within 90 days.
“Saudi Golden Visa” and “Saudi Green Card” are informal search terms, not official product names.
Saudi Premium Residency gives eligible non-Saudis an independent residence status that is not tied to a conventional employer sponsor.
The programme is designed for investors, entrepreneurs, qualifying property owners, researchers, senior executives and recognised cultural or sporting talent. It also provides limited-duration and unlimited-duration options for applicants who meet the general conditions without using a specialised route.
There are currently seven official products. The five specialised products are Special Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur and Real Estate Owner Residency; these sit alongside Limited-Duration and Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency.
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What Is Saudi Premium Residency?
Saudi Premium Residency is a legally recognised residence status administered by the Premium Residency Center.
An approved holder can live in Saudi Arabia with qualifying family members without depending on the traditional employer-sponsorship arrangement. Holders also receive employment, travel, business and property-related benefits, subject to Saudi laws and the conditions of their selected product.
Premium Residency is not the same as:
An employment-based Iqama
A tourist or business-visit visa
A Ministry of Investment licence
A Saudi commercial registration
Approval to purchase a particular property
Saudi citizenship
Readers comparing this programme with other options can review the main types of residency in Saudi Arabia.
Is “Saudi Golden Visa” the Official Name?
No.
“Saudi Golden Visa” and “Saudi Green Card” are informal expressions used in online searches and marketing. The official name is Saudi Premium Residency.
Those informal terms can be misleading because Saudi Arabia does not have one universal residency product with one investment threshold. It offers seven products with different fees, durations and eligibility conditions.
Is Retiree Residency an Official Saudi Product?
No.
Retiree Residency is not one of the seven official Premium Residency products as of July 2026.
A retired applicant may still qualify for Limited-Duration or Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency by meeting the applicable general and financial-solvency requirements. However, there is no separately listed official product called “Retiree Residency.”
What Are the Seven Saudi Premium Residency Products?
The complete programme structure is set out in the official Premium Residency implementing regulations.
Product name | Target profile | Official fee | Duration | Core requirement or minimum threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency | Applicants seeking permanent sponsor-independent residency | SAR 800,000 | Permanent | General eligibility and evidence of financial solvency |
Limited-Duration Premium Residency | Applicants seeking residency for a defined renewable period | SAR 100,000 per year | One to five years, renewable | General eligibility and evidence of financial solvency |
Special Talent Residency | Researchers, healthcare and scientific professionals, and senior executives | SAR 4,000 | Five years, with renewal and a conditional permanent route | Salary, experience, qualifications, points and employer recommendation |
Gifted Residency | Recognised cultural, artistic and sporting talent | SAR 4,000 | Five years, with renewal and a conditional permanent route | Approved award, criteria or recommendation from the competent authority |
Investor Residency | Individuals investing in qualifying Saudi businesses | SAR 4,000 | Permanent, conditional during the first two years | SAR 7 million qualifying investment and at least 10 employees |
Entrepreneur Residency | Startup founders supported by approved investment entities | SAR 4,000 | Five years or conditional permanent residency | SAR 400,000 or SAR 15 million funding route, depending on category |
Real Estate Owner Residency | Owners or beneficiaries of qualifying residential property | SAR 4,000 | Linked to the qualifying property, usufruct or off-plan contract | Qualifying residential property worth at least SAR 4 million |
The specialised products have a lower direct product fee because each one depends on a substantial qualifying condition. The SAR 4,000 fee is therefore not the applicant’s total investment or financial commitment.
How Does Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency Work?
Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency provides permanent residence after approval and payment of the SAR 800,000 one-time product fee.
Unlike the specialised routes, it is not linked to maintaining a particular property, salary, startup or business investment. The holder must nevertheless continue complying with Saudi laws and the general obligations attached to Premium Residency.
Applicants can compare the duration and fees through the official Limited-Duration and Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency requirements.
This route may suit applicants who:
Want permanent residency independent of a particular asset
Do not qualify through a specialised product
Do not want their status to depend on continued property ownership
Can meet the general and financial-solvency requirements
Permanent residence does not remove property restrictions, commercial licensing requirements or sector-specific regulations.
How Does Limited-Duration Premium Residency Work?
Limited-Duration Premium Residency costs SAR 100,000 for each year.
The product may be issued for a period of one to five years and is renewable under the applicable conditions. It provides many of the same general benefits as the unlimited-duration product, but only for its approved term.
An applicant should compare the cumulative cost carefully. Five years at SAR 100,000 per year would total SAR 500,000 in product fees without creating the same permanent status as Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency.
Who Qualifies for Special Talent Residency?
Special Talent Residency is intended for researchers, healthcare and scientific professionals, and senior executives working in designated fields or organisations.
What Do Researchers Need?
A qualifying researcher generally needs:
An employment contract in a priority specialisation
A monthly salary of at least SAR 14,000
A bachelor’s degree or higher
More than three years of relevant experience
The required points assessment
An employer recommendation
Three relevant research papers
What Do Healthcare and Scientific Professionals Need?
This route generally requires:
Employment in a priority specialisation
A monthly salary of at least SAR 35,000
A bachelor’s degree or higher
More than three years of relevant experience
The required points assessment
An employer recommendation
What Do Senior Executives Need?
A qualifying executive generally needs:
A qualifying first- or second-level leadership position
A monthly salary of at least SAR 80,000
A recommendation from the approved employer
The product is generally issued for five years. A permanent-residency pathway may become available when the holder continues meeting the product requirements and satisfies the prescribed residence conditions.
Who Qualifies for Gifted Residency?
Gifted Residency is designed for recognised talent in cultural, artistic and sporting fields.
An applicant may qualify through an approved award or by satisfying the eligibility criteria used by the relevant cultural or sporting authority. Financial solvency and a recommendation from the competent authority are also required.
The product is generally granted for five years. It may be renewed and can lead to permanent residency when the holder continues meeting the relevant criteria and residence requirements.
What Are the Investor Residency Requirements?
Investor Residency is intended for individuals investing in qualifying economic activities in Saudi Arabia.
The applicant generally needs:
Valid Ministry of Investment registration or licences
Valid Saudi commercial registration
A qualifying ownership interest worth at least SAR 7 million
Evidence that at least SAR 7 million has been injected as capital
At least 10 employees within the applicant’s qualifying business interest
Investor Residency provides permanent status directly, but the investment and employment requirements must be maintained during the first two years.
Warning: Residency Does Not Replace Business Licensing
Investor Residency does not replace Ministry of Investment registration, commercial registration or sector-specific licences.
The right to reside and the right to operate a business are separate regulatory matters.
What Are the Entrepreneur Residency Requirements?
Entrepreneur Residency has two categories.
Category One: SAR 400,000 Funding Route
The applicant generally needs:
A valid entrepreneurial licence from the Ministry of Investment
At least SAR 400,000 in funding from an approved investment entity
A recommendation from the approved investor
At least 20% ownership of the startup
This category generally provides five-year residency and may be renewed when the holder continues satisfying the relevant conditions.
Category Two: SAR 15 Million Funding Route
The applicant generally needs:
A valid entrepreneurial licence
At least SAR 15 million in approved funding
At least 10% ownership of the startup
Ten new jobs during the first year
Ten additional jobs during the second year
A recommendation from an approved investment entity
This category offers conditional permanent residency. Its first-two-year employment requirements must be completed and maintained as prescribed.
How Does Real Estate Owner Residency Work?
Real Estate Owner Residency is the Premium Residency product most directly connected with residential property ownership.
The applicant must own, hold a qualifying usufruct over, or contract to purchase qualifying residential property worth at least SAR 4 million.
The route covers:
Existing completed residential property or residential usufruct
A qualifying residential unit purchased off-plan
The residency remains linked to the continued qualifying property condition. Paying the SAR 4,000 product fee does not create independent permanent residency.
Can Several Properties Be Combined to Reach SAR 4 Million?
The official criteria refer to ownership or usufruct of a property or properties with a total qualifying value of at least SAR 4 million.
Each asset relied upon for the application must independently satisfy the applicable requirements. A non-qualifying commercial unit or plot cannot be added merely to push the portfolio above the threshold.
What Existing Property Qualifies?
Existing property used for Real Estate Owner Residency must be:
Residential
Completed and standing
Worth enough to satisfy the SAR 4 million threshold
Free from mortgage
Kept free from mortgage after approval
Supported by valid ownership or usufruct documentation
Warning: No Mortgages Allowed
A qualifying existing property must have zero mortgage debt when the application is submitted and must not later be mortgaged.
A qualifying off-plan unit cannot be purchased through real-estate financing and must not be mortgaged after ownership transfers to the applicant.
The mortgage restriction applies specifically to the qualifying asset relied upon for this Premium Residency product.
Do Commercial Properties or Land Qualify?
No.
Real Estate Owner Residency is based on qualifying residential property.
Warning: Commercial Property and Land Do Not Qualify
The following assets do not qualify:
Commercial offices
Retail units
Industrial property
Warehouses
Agricultural property
Hotels held as commercial assets
Developed land
Undeveloped plots
A commercial asset may be available through another legally permitted ownership or investment route. It does not satisfy the asset requirement for Real Estate Owner Residency.
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Can an Off-Plan Property Qualify?
Yes, but only when the unit satisfies the detailed conditions.
A qualifying off-plan unit must:
Be one residential unit
Have a purchase price of at least SAR 4 million
Be purchased from a developer approved by REGA
Have at least SAR 1 million or 10% of the price paid, whichever is higher
Not be purchased using real-estate financing
Not be mortgaged after ownership transfers
Transfer into the applicant’s ownership within five years of the contract date
Warning: Five-Year Off-Plan Transfer Rule
Ownership of the qualifying off-plan unit must transfer to the applicant within no more than five years from the contract date.
A cancelled contract, non-compliant project or delayed ownership transfer can put the residency at risk.
The applicant must maintain the qualifying off-plan contract until the unit transfers into their ownership.
Buyers can research new property projects in Saudi Arabia, but a listing does not establish Premium Residency eligibility, WAFI licensing or foreign ownership approval.
What Happens If the Qualifying Property Is Sold?
Selling the qualifying property triggers a limited replacement period.
Warning: 90-Day Replacement Rule
The holder generally has 90 days to replace a sold qualifying property with another compliant residential asset.
The 90-day rule also applies when replacing or renewing an expired usufruct or replacing a terminated off-plan contract.
Failure to restore compliance during this period can lead to cancellation or termination of Real Estate Owner Residency. The replacement asset must independently satisfy the current property, value and mortgage conditions.
Real Estate Owner Residency vs Unlimited-Duration Residency
The SAR 4,000 property-owner fee is frequently compared incorrectly with the SAR 800,000 unlimited-duration fee.
They are fundamentally different products.
Comparison point | Real Estate Owner Residency | Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency |
|---|---|---|
Official product fee | SAR 4,000 | SAR 800,000 |
Minimum property requirement | At least SAR 4 million in qualifying residential property or usufruct | No specialised property requirement |
Duration | Linked to the qualifying property, usufruct or off-plan contract | Permanent |
Mortgage restriction | Qualifying property must remain mortgage-free | No property is required for eligibility |
Permitted qualifying asset | Residential property only | Residency is not linked to a property type |
Effect of selling property | Compliant replacement generally required within 90 days | Residency continues because it is not property-linked |
Off-plan rules | Price, payment, developer and five-year transfer conditions apply | No off-plan purchase is required |
Permanent status | No automatic permanent-residency conversion under this product | Permanent from issuance |
Best suited to | Applicants already acquiring qualifying residential property | Applicants seeking permanent residency independent of an asset |
Real Estate Owner Residency is therefore not “permanent residency for SAR 4,000.”
The SAR 4,000 is the product fee. The applicant must also maintain at least SAR 4 million in qualifying residential property or usufruct.
Does Buying a SAR 4 Million Property Automatically Grant Residency?
No.
A qualifying property may make the owner eligible to apply. It does not automatically issue Premium Residency.
The applicant must still:
Meet the general eligibility requirements
Submit a separate application
Provide property and financial documentation
Complete the background and medical requirements
Pay the processing and product fees
Provide valid medical insurance
Receive final approval from the Premium Residency Center
A reservation form, sale contract, title deed or developer letter is not equivalent to residency approval.
Foreign buyers should separately review the complete process for buying property in Saudi Arabia.
Does Premium Residency Permit Property Ownership Anywhere?
No.
Premium Residency and property ownership are connected but separate frameworks.
Eligibility for a specific property can depend on:
The applicant’s legal category
The official geographical zone
The type of right in rem available
Whether ownership or usufruct is permitted
Maximum foreign ownership percentages
Maximum usufruct duration
Property use
Seller title
Project licensing
Final Real Estate Registry registration
The updated non-Saudi ownership law allows the geographical framework to determine the permitted right, ownership limit and maximum usufruct period. Premium Residency does not override those property-level checks.
Applicants should review the foreign ownership zones in Saudi Arabia and understand how to use the Saudi geographical-zones map.
Can Property Owner Residency Holders Buy Freehold Property in Makkah or Madinah?
Not automatically.
The Premium Residency framework refers to usufruct rights in Makkah and Madinah for a period that cannot exceed the duration of the relevant residency and cannot exceed 99 years.
The updated non-Saudi ownership framework and the exact geographical conditions must also be checked. Holding Premium Residency should never be treated as automatic evidence that a particular holy-city property is available as permanent freehold.
Before proceeding, verify:
Whether the applicant qualifies
Whether the property is in an approved geographical area
Whether the offered right is ownership or usufruct
The registered duration
Transfer and inheritance conditions
Seller authority
Final registration requirements
A 99-year usufruct is a long-term property right, but it is not permanent ownership.
What Benefits Do Premium Residency Holders Receive?
Premium Residency holders can generally reside in Saudi Arabia with qualifying family members.
The official family category includes parents, spouses and children under 25, subject to the detailed rules. Certain additional family circumstances may be addressed under the programme’s specific provisions.
General benefits include:
Leaving and returning to Saudi Arabia without a conventional exit-and-re-entry visa
Issuing visit visas for qualifying relatives
Using designated citizen and GCC-member lanes at entry points
Working in private-sector establishments
Moving between private-sector employers
Conducting business under the Investment Law
Owning or using property subject to applicable property laws
Employing domestic workers through the applicable procedures
Exemption from specified expatriate and dependant levies
These rights remain subject to Saudi law. Professions reserved for Saudi nationals remain restricted, and commercial operations require the applicable investment, commercial, municipal and sector licences.
Does Premium Residency Allow the Holder to Open a Business?
Premium Residency provides business-related privileges, but it does not replace the approvals needed to operate legally.
A holder may still require:
Ministry of Investment registration or licensing
Saudi commercial registration
Tax registration
Municipal approval
Sector-specific licences
Labour and employment registrations
Civil defence or technical approvals
Approval for the intended use of the premises
Owning an office or holding Premium Residency does not independently authorise commercial activity.
What Are the General Application Requirements?
Each product has its own specialised criteria. General requirements include:
The main applicant generally being at least 21 years old
Passports valid for at least 180 days
Passports for included family members
Evidence of financial solvency
A criminal-record check
A medical report confirming freedom from specified communicable diseases
A medical report issued within the prescribed recent period
Legal residence status when applying from inside Saudi Arabia
Existing Saudi residence validity of at least 90 days where applicable
Product-specific supporting evidence
Medical insurance after approval
Official detailed criteria state that passports must be valid for at least 180 days and the medical report should generally be no more than six months old.
What Documents May Be Required?
The document package depends on the selected product.
Common records include:
Valid passports
Family and marital-status documents
Recent bank statements
Criminal-record certificates
Medical reports
Current Saudi residence documents, where applicable
Certified translations
Authenticated foreign documents
Product-specific eligibility evidence
Product-Specific Evidence
Product | Typical supporting evidence |
|---|---|
Real Estate Owner | Title deed, usufruct document or off-plan contract, valuation, payment evidence, mortgage status and developer information |
Investor | Investment licences, commercial registration, company documents, audited financial evidence and employee records |
Entrepreneur | Entrepreneurial licence, funding evidence, shareholding records and approved investor recommendation |
Special Talent | Employment contract, salary evidence, qualifications, experience, research and employer recommendation |
Gifted | Awards, nominations, portfolio and competent-authority recommendation |
Limited or Unlimited Duration | Financial-solvency evidence and general application records |
Property applicants should independently verify Saudi property documents before transferring substantial funds.
How Do You Apply for Saudi Premium Residency?
Step 1: Choose the Correct Product
Compare your actual eligibility with the seven official products.
Do not select Real Estate Owner Residency solely because you plan to buy property later. The property or qualifying off-plan contract must satisfy the applicable conditions.
Step 2: Review the Live Eligibility Requirements
Salary thresholds, approved entities, documentation standards and procedural rules can be updated.
Review the official product page immediately before submitting the application.
Step 3: Create an Account on the Official Portal
Create an applicant account through the Premium Residency Center portal.
Use passport information and contact details exactly as they appear in the official documents.
Step 4: Add Qualifying Family Members
Enter the details of eligible spouses, parents and children included in the application.
Supporting family documents may need translation and authentication.
Step 5: Upload the General Documents
Provide:
Passports
Financial-solvency evidence
Medical reports
Criminal-record documents
Existing Saudi residence information
Family documents
Step 6: Upload Product-Specific Evidence
A property-owner applicant must provide ownership, usufruct or off-plan documentation.
Investors, entrepreneurs and talent applicants must submit the financial, employment, funding or professional evidence required for their selected product.
Step 7: Pay the Processing Charge
The official detailed criteria currently refer to a USD 170 application-processing charge during online submission for the property-owner route.
Confirm the amount shown in the live portal before payment because portal charges and procedures may be updated.
Step 8: Respond to Additional Requests
The Center may request:
Clarifications
Updated documents
Corrected translations
Additional financial records
Property verification
Better-quality copies
Incomplete or inconsistent documents can delay the application.
Step 9: Complete the Post-Approval Requirements
After approval, the applicant must complete the prescribed requirements, which generally include:
Paying the product fee
Providing valid medical insurance
Completing any outstanding formalities
Step 10: Receive Premium Residency Electronically
Premium Residency becomes effective after the final requirements are completed and the status is issued electronically.
A developer, broker or private company cannot guarantee approval.
How Much Does Saudi Premium Residency Cost?
Product | Published product fee |
|---|---|
Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency | SAR 800,000 |
Limited-Duration Premium Residency | SAR 100,000 per year |
Special Talent Residency | SAR 4,000 |
Gifted Residency | SAR 4,000 |
Investor Residency | SAR 4,000 |
Entrepreneur Residency | SAR 4,000 |
Real Estate Owner Residency | SAR 4,000 |
Applicants should also budget for:
Application processing
Medical insurance
Medical reports
Criminal-record certificates
Translation and authentication
Property valuation
Property due diligence
Legal or tax review
Property acquisition taxes and fees
WAFI and developer checks for off-plan property
The published fee is not the total cost of satisfying a specialised product’s eligibility requirements.
What Premium Residency Mistakes Should Applicants Avoid?
Treating Retiree Residency as an Official Product
Retiree Residency is not part of the current official seven-product structure.
Believing Any SAR 4 Million Property Will Qualify
The qualifying asset must be residential and satisfy the product’s ownership, value, completion and mortgage conditions.
Using a Mortgaged Property
An existing qualifying property must be mortgage-free and remain mortgage-free.
Buying Commercial Property for the Property Route
Commercial, industrial and agricultural assets do not qualify for Real Estate Owner Residency.
Buying Land
Developed and undeveloped land do not satisfy the property-owner product.
Confusing Property Purchase With Residency Approval
Property acquisition and Premium Residency approval are separate procedures.
Describing Usufruct as Freehold
A time-limited usufruct right is not permanent ownership.
Assuming Premium Residency Replaces MISA Licensing
Commercial activity remains subject to the Investment Law and all applicable licences.
Relying on a Developer’s Residency Guarantee
Only the Premium Residency Center can issue final approval.
Missing the 90-Day Replacement Period
Selling or losing the qualifying asset without completing a compliant replacement within 90 days can put the residency at risk.
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Step-by-Step Premium Residency Application Checklist
Before submitting an application:
Choose one official product. Do not rely on unofficial categories such as Retiree Residency.
Confirm the current threshold. Check the relevant salary, funding, investment or property requirement.
Check passport validity. Passports should remain valid for at least 180 days.
Prepare financial evidence. Use current bank statements or another accepted form of proof.
Obtain criminal-record documents. Ensure they meet the portal’s current requirements.
Complete the medical examination. The report should normally be no more than six months old.
Prepare family documents. Include marriage, birth and dependency records where applicable.
Translate and authenticate foreign documents. Complete certification where required.
Verify the qualifying property. Confirm residential use, value, title and mortgage status.
Exclude prohibited property types. Commercial, industrial, agricultural and land assets do not qualify for the property route.
Verify the off-plan project separately. Check the developer, WAFI status, purchase price, amount paid and five-year transfer requirement.
Check foreign ownership eligibility. Premium Residency does not independently approve every property.
Understand the 90-day replacement obligation. Plan for continued compliance if the asset is sold.
Confirm business licences separately. Premium Residency does not replace MISA or commercial licensing.
Submit through the official portal. Do not provide login credentials to an unverified third party.
Respond promptly to document requests. Upload corrections within the stated period.
Use official payment channels. Verify the beneficiary before paying application or property funds.
Provide medical insurance after approval. Cover the applicant and included family members as required.
Maintain the qualifying condition. Continue meeting the property, investment, employment or professional requirement.
Keep complete records. Preserve approvals, receipts, property documents and official correspondence.
What Should Property Buyers Verify Before Applying?
Real Estate Owner Residency is not simply a discounted version of permanent Premium Residency.
It is a conditional residence product supported by a high-value residential asset. The property must remain compliant for the residency to continue.
Before proceeding, confirm:
The property is residential
Its qualifying value reaches SAR 4 million
It is free from mortgage
The seller has legal authority
The applicant can acquire the offered property right
The project is properly licensed where off-plan
The payment beneficiary is verified
The asset can be maintained after approval
The 90-day replacement rule is understood
A separate Premium Residency application will be submitted
Property acquisition, foreign ownership eligibility, WAFI licensing and residency approval should be treated as four separate checks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Saudi Arabia currently offers seven official products: Unlimited Duration, Limited Duration, Special Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur and Real Estate Owner Residency.
No. Retiree Residency is not separately included in the official seven-product framework as of July 2026.
Unlimited-Duration Premium Residency has a published one-time product fee of SAR 800,000. It is not linked to maintaining a qualifying property or specialised investment.
No. A qualifying property may support eligibility for Real Estate Owner Residency, but the buyer must submit a separate application, satisfy the general requirements and receive official approval.
The official criteria refer to a qualifying property or properties with a combined value of at least SAR 4 million. Each asset relied upon must meet the applicable residential, documentation and mortgage requirements.
No. A qualifying existing property must be mortgage-free and must not later be mortgaged. An off-plan unit cannot be purchased using real-estate financing.
No. Commercial offices, industrial property, agricultural property, developed land and undeveloped plots do not qualify for Real Estate Owner Residency.
Yes. It must generally be worth at least SAR 4 million, be purchased from an approved developer, have at least SAR 1 million or 10% paid—whichever is higher—and transfer into the applicant’s ownership within five years.
The holder generally has 90 days to replace it with another compliant qualifying asset. Failure to complete a valid replacement during that period can lead to cancellation or termination of the residency.
Not automatically. The Premium Residency framework refers to usufruct rights in Makkah and Madinah for up to 99 years, subject to the residency duration and current property and geographical-zone rules.
