Saudi Premium Residency in 2026: key facts
- Where you apply
- pr.gov.sa, the Premium Residency Center's portalOfficialPremium Residency Center: pr.gov.sa portal
- Premium Residency products
- Seven: Limited Duration, Unlimited Duration and five category productsSecondary sourceKetenci & Ketenci: Saudi Premium Residency (August 2026)
- Category products added
- January 2024: special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur and real-estate ownerSecondary sourceGulf News: Five new Premium Residency products and their criteria (January 2024)
- Government fee
- Set by the Premium Residency Center for each product and shown on pr.gov.saTo confirmPremium Residency Center: pr.gov.sa portal
- Working in Saudi Arabia, from June 2026
- Qiwa work permit, employment contract and GOSI registration needed firstSecondary sourceDeloitte: New work permit requirement for Premium Residency holders (July 2026)
- Registering a company with MISA
- Open to Premium Residency holdersOfficialMISA: Frequently asked questions
- Documents MISA waives for holders
- No foreign CR or financial statements neededOfficialMISA Investor Guide, 13th edition (03-2026)
Who Saudi Premium Residency suits
- Investors who plan to put capital into a Saudi business and live in the Kingdom.
- Skilled professionals with an offer from a Saudi employer (special talent track).
- People with a recognised award or achievement in culture, sport or science (gifted track).
- Founders whose startup has MISA entrepreneurial registration (entrepreneur track).
- Owners of developed residential property in Saudi Arabia (real-estate owner track).
- Anyone weighing the Limited or Unlimited Duration products, which have no investment or salary test.
Who it is not for
- Job seekers. We do not help with job searches or placements.
- Iqama transfer requests from one sponsor to another.
- So-called free visa requests. We do not arrange them.
- Visitors who only want to explore investment. The Visiting Investor e-visa is the route for a first trip.
How to apply for Saudi Premium Residency
- 01
Choose the right product
On a short first call, our team looks at your plans, assets and work. We then match you to the Premium Residency product that fits, or tell you if none does yet.
- 02
Gather the evidence for that product
Each product asks for its own proof, such as an employer letter, a property valuation or a MISA registration. We prepare the checklist and review each document before filing.
Time: Varies by product
- 03
Submit the application on pr.gov.sa
Our team prepares the application and submits it on pr.gov.sa, the Premium Residency Center's portal. We track it and respond to any requests from the Center.
Platform: pr.gov.sa (Premium Residency Center)Time: Set by the Premium Residency Center
- 04
Pay the government fee
The Premium Residency Center sets the fee for each product and shows it on pr.gov.sa. We confirm the current amount with you before anything is paid.
Platform: pr.gov.sa (Premium Residency Center)
- 05
Receive the residency and complete what follows
Once the Center issues the residency, our team handles the next steps. From June 2026, working needs a Qiwa work permit, an employment contract and GOSI registration. Forming a company starts with MISA registration.
Time: Varies
Documents for a Saudi Premium Residency application
The Premium Residency Center sets the documents for each product. Based on the published eligibility rules, expect to provide:
- A valid passport for the applicant.
- Special talent: an employer letter, your degree and proof of your work experience.
- Gifted: proof of a recognised award or nomination, and a recommendation from the relevant ministry.
- Investor: your MISA investment registration and proof of the investment.
- Entrepreneur: your MISA entrepreneurial registration and proof of your funding.
- Real-estate owner: the title deed and a Taqeem valuation of the developed residential property, held without a mortgage.
General conditions, such as age, health and insurance requirements, are set by the Center and can change. We check the current list on pr.gov.sa before you apply.
Premium Residency fees and related government fees
Government fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Premium Residency fee | Set by the Premium Residency CenterTo confirm |
| Differs by product; shown on pr.gov.saPremium Residency Center: pr.gov.sa portal | |
| Qiwa work permit, for holders who work | Set on QiwaTo confirm |
| Required from June 2026Deloitte: New work permit requirement for Premium Residency holders (July 2026) | |
| MISA registration fee, if you form a company | Set by MISA on approvalTo confirm |
| MISA Investor Guide, 13th edition (03-2026) | |
| Ministry of Commerce fee to form an LLC | SAR 1,200 + SAR 500 publication + 15% VAT |
| Only if you form a companyMinistry of Commerce: Establishing a company under an investment licence | |
Our fee
Our fee is quoted after a short first call, once we know the product and your situation. We always show it separately from government fees.
Government fees checked on 22 October 2026 against the sources listed below. The Premium Residency Center shows its fees on pr.gov.sa, so we do not quote amounts here.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
Five category products were added in January 2024
Alongside Limited and Unlimited Duration, the Center added special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur and real-estate owner products. Each has its own eligibility rules and validity.
Holders need a Qiwa work permit to work, from June 2026
Premium Residency holders now need a Qiwa work permit, an employment contract and GOSI registration before they start work. Rules for existing holders were still pending when we checked.
The investor product now relies on MISA registration
Older guides say the investor product needs a MISA investment licence. Since February 2025, that licence has been replaced by MISA investment registration.
Delays we see
Draft
This section is written from our team's recent Premium Residency files.
What we handle
- Match you to the right product on a first call, across all seven.
- Prepare the document checklist for your product and review each document before filing.
- Prepare and submit the application on pr.gov.sa, and track it to issue.
- Respond to any requests from the Premium Residency Center during review.
- Arrange the Qiwa work permit, employment contract and GOSI registration if you will work.
- Register your company with MISA and form it on business.sa if you plan to invest.
Saudi Premium Residency questions
What is Saudi Premium Residency?
It is a residency for eligible foreigners, issued by the Premium Residency Center through pr.gov.sa. There are seven products. Limited and Unlimited Duration have no investment or salary test, and five others depend on talent, investment, a business or property.
How much does Saudi Premium Residency cost?
The Premium Residency Center sets the fee for each product and shows it on pr.gov.sa. Amounts differ by product, so we confirm the current fee with you before you apply. Our own fee is quoted separately after a short first call.
Which Premium Residency tracks do you handle?
All of them. Our team handles Limited and Unlimited Duration, special talent, gifted, investor, entrepreneur and real-estate owner applications, from the first form to issue.
Can a Premium Residency holder work in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, with a Qiwa work permit, an employment contract and GOSI registration, a rule in force since June 2026. Transition rules for existing holders were still pending when we checked in October 2026.
Can I set up a company with Premium Residency?
Yes. Premium Residency holders can register a company with MISA without a foreign CR or financial statements. The company is then formed on business.sa like any other foreign-owned company.
How long does a Premium Residency application take?
The Premium Residency Center does not publish a fixed processing time, and it differs by product. We give you an estimate after reviewing your documents, not before.
How long is Premium Residency valid?
It depends on the product. Limited Duration is renewed each year, and Unlimited Duration has no end date. The category products each have their own validity, which the Center sets.
Do you help with job searches, iqama transfers or free visas?
No. We do not help job seekers, transfer iqamas or arrange so-called free visas. Our team works on Premium Residency applications and company services only.
Sources
- Premium Residency Center: pr.gov.sa portal (checked )
- MISA Investor Guide, 13th edition (03-2026) (checked )
- MISA: Frequently asked questions (checked )
- MISA: Updated Investment Law (checked )
- Ministry of Commerce: Establishing a company under an investment licence (checked )
- Invest Saudi: Visiting Investor visa (checked )
- Ketenci & Ketenci: Saudi Premium Residency (August 2026) (checked )
- Gulf News: Five new Premium Residency products and their criteria (January 2024) (checked )
- Deloitte: New work permit requirement for Premium Residency holders (July 2026) (checked )
- Clyde & Co: Investment Law implementing regulations (September 2025) (checked )