01
Premium Residency comprises several distinct products
The official system includes indefinite and renewable one-year residency, special talent, gifted, business investor, entrepreneur and real-estate owner products. Eligibility, evidence, duration and special conditions differ. A wealthy applicant commonly compares a route not tied to a business, an existing investment in a Saudi company, a qualifying startup round and eligible real estate. Employment visas, dependent status, MISA registration and an RHQ are different legal routes.
02
The Business Investor route requires an evidenced investment
Current Premium Residency Center conditions specify at least SAR 7 million invested in permitted Saudi investment activities, valid MISA investment registration or licences and commercial registrations, constitutional records, evidence of the applicant's interest and injected capital, and ten jobs created within that interest. The product provides for direct permanent premium residency, but issuance remains a Center decision after full review.
Saudi Premium Residency is a separate immigration status, not an automatic result of incorporating a company or purchasing any property. The product must fit the actual investment, applicant role, duration and family strategy.
03
The Entrepreneur route follows an approved investor and funding round
Category 1 is built around at least SAR 400,000 from a Center-approved investment entity and at least a 20% founder interest; Category 2 uses at least SAR 15 million, a minimum 10% interest and staged job creation. Both require the entrepreneurial licence, recommendation, cap table, source of funds, genuine startup activity and post-grant compliance. A related-party round should not be assumed to qualify.
04
Real estate must satisfy the product's specific criteria
The official threshold for Real Estate Owner Residency is SAR 4 million. Current criteria distinguish completed unencumbered residential property from a qualifying off-plan residential unit purchased from an approved developer with the prescribed initial payment. Status is tied to maintaining qualifying ownership or usufruct. Title, use, value, developer, finance, location, tax and foreign ownership eligibility are reviewed before purchase; a reservation agreement does not guarantee status.
05
General conditions evidence identity, good standing and genuine status
The file includes valid passports for the applicant and family, financial solvency, criminal-record clearance, medical records and lawful status where filing from within the Kingdom. Valid medical insurance is required after approval. Spouses, children and parents, document translation and legalisation, name discrepancies, the actual investment and continued product criteria are checked. The application fee does not replace the investment threshold or other requirements.
06
Residency does not replace MISA, corporate licensing or tax analysis
A premium resident may conduct business under the Investment Law, but the company still needs MISA and commercial registration, sector approvals, UBO, banking, employment and tax setup. Immigration status does not automatically decide tax residence in every country or eliminate foreign-income, CFC, distribution, succession or CRS analysis. The plan aligns days, home, family, business management, assets and reporting before relocation and investment.
FAQ
FAQ
Is company incorporation sufficient for Premium Residency?
No. The company, investment registration and Premium Residency are separate processes; the applicant must meet the chosen product's conditions.
Can any SAR 4 million property qualify?
No. The product has rules on property type, completion, encumbrance, developer and value, and foreign ownership eligibility must also be checked.
Does the family receive status with the applicant?
The system provides family rights, but family scope and each person's documents are tested under current rules.
Does meeting a threshold guarantee approval?
No. The Center assesses all general and product-specific conditions and decides the application.
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