Premium Residency (Saudi Green Card)
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Saudi royal decrees, regulations, and ministerial decisions.
Saudi National Law
What is this right?
The Premium Residency programme allows qualified foreigners to live and work in Saudi Arabia without employer sponsorship:
- Permanent residency: Available for a one-time fee of SAR 800,000. Grants indefinite residency with no need for employer sponsorship.
- Renewable residency: Available for SAR 100,000 per year. Must be renewed annually.
- Key benefits: Premium residents can own property, start businesses, sponsor family members, and move between employers freely without a transfer process.
- No employment restrictions: You are not tied to any single employer and can work in multiple roles or be self-employed.
- Travel freedom: Enter and leave Saudi Arabia without exit/re-entry visas.
Premium Residency does not grant Saudi citizenship or voting rights.
When does it apply?
- You are a foreign national who wants to live and work in Saudi Arabia without being tied to an employer.
- You want to own property or invest in Saudi Arabia as a non-citizen.
- You are an entrepreneur who wants to run a business in the Kingdom independently.
What should you do?
- Apply through the Premium Residency Centre website (saprc.gov.sa).
- Prepare required documents — valid passport, financial proof, clean criminal record, and health insurance.
- Compare the two options — permanent (SAR 800,000 one-time) vs. renewable (SAR 100,000/year) based on your plans.
- Sponsor your dependents once your Premium Residency is approved.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not confuse Premium Residency with citizenship — it does not grant nationality or political rights.
- Do not let the renewable option lapse — if you miss the renewal, you lose your residency status.
- Do not assume automatic approval — the government reviews applications based on eligibility criteria.
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