An engineer has lived in Riyadh for ten years and supports his wife, two children and his mother. He is thinking about Premium Residency so that his status no longer depends on one employer. He hears different figures for the fees and conditions, and does not know what the law actually says.
The direct answer: after its law was amended by Royal Decree M/84 dated 11/6/1445H (December 2023), Premium Residency has two types: permanent and limited-term. Each type has products and fees approved by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (Article 3). To apply you need a valid passport, proof of financial solvency, a clean criminal record and a medical report (Article 4); there is no longer a minimum age. It gives the holder and his family the right to live and work in the Kingdom and to leave and return without a visa.
What is Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia?
Premium Residency (al-iqama al-mumayyaza) is a system separate from the ordinary residence permit (iqama) linked to an employer. Its law was issued by Royal Decree M/106 dated 10/9/1440H, and then broadly amended by Royal Decree M/84 dated 11/6/1445H, based on Council of Ministers Resolution No. 437. If you read an older article about Premium Residency, be careful: much of what was written before 2024 is no longer accurate.
The Premium Residency Center receives and reviews applications, and approval is given by a decision of the Center's head once the requirements are complete, unless the public interest requires otherwise, as amended Article 5 provides. Within thirty days of being notified of approval, the applicant must pay the fee and provide a medical insurance policy; otherwise the application is treated as cancelled (Article 6).
What are the types of Premium Residency?
Article 3, in its new wording, divides Premium Residency into only two types: permanent residency and limited-term residency. Each type has products under it. The law does not list these products by name; the Center's board proposes them, with the fee for each product, and they are issued by a decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. The detailed procedures and rules belong in the Implementing Regulations.
This is why you will find names in searches such as Exceptional Talent, Gifted, Investor, Entrepreneur and Real Estate Owner residency. The product names and conditions are not in the text of the law, so take them from what the Premium Residency Center officially announces at the time you apply, and note that each product has different conditions. Do not rely on a single list of conditions presented as if it applies to everyone.
How much does Premium Residency cost?
This is the most common question, and the precise legal answer is: the law does not set an amount. Amended Article 6 makes payment of the fee approved by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs one of the requirements for granting residency. This means the fees may change by a Council decision without amending the law, and each product has its own fee.
Fee figures circulating on websites and in newspapers are not part of the text of the law. Before you base your decision on them, check the amount officially announced for the product you are applying for at the time you apply.
What changed in the 1445H amendment?
| Issue | After the amendment |
|---|---|
| Types of residency | Permanent and limited-term, each with products issued by a decision of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (Article 3) |
| Minimum age | The condition that the applicant be at least 21 years old was removed from Article 4 |
| Definition of family | The spouses, children and parents the holder supports (Article 1) |
| Exit and return | The holder, one or all of his family members may leave and return without needing a visa (Article 2) |
| Fees | The fee approved by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (Article 6) |
| Start of residency | Set by the Implementing Regulations together with the issuing procedures (Article 6) |
One change worth noting is that the amendment changed the definition of family itself. Family used to mean spouses and children not over twenty-one; it now means the spouses, children and parents the holder supports, as set by the Implementing Regulations. The amendment also repealed Article 8, which treated the holder as a resident for tax purposes regardless of how long he stayed outside the Kingdom.
What are the benefits and limits of Premium Residency?
Article 2 lists the rights and benefits of the Premium Residency holder; the amendment changed only the paragraph on exit and return. They include:
- Living in the Kingdom with his family, and visit visas for relatives according to the Implementing Regulations.
- Bringing domestic workers as he needs.
- Owning real estate for residential, commercial and industrial purposes, except in Makkah, Madinah and the border areas, and the right to use real estate in Makkah and Madinah for a period of no more than 99 years.
- Working in private-sector establishments and moving between them, for him and his family members, except in jobs restricted to Saudis.
- Leaving and returning to the Kingdom, himself, one or all of his family members, without needing a visa, and using the lanes reserved for Saudis at border points.
- Doing business in accordance with the Investment Law.
The Implementing Regulations set other rights, benefits and duties, without conflicting with the laws in force in the Kingdom (Article 2(2)). When the law was issued, the Council of Ministers decided that the holder and his family are not subject to the fee charged on dependants of expatriate workers. The Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law issued in 1447H states that it does not affect the provisions of the Premium Residency Law (Article 5 of that law).
On the other hand, Premium Residency does not take you outside the general laws. Amended Article 10 provides that for rights and benefits not covered by the law and its regulations, the holder and his family are subject to the laws, regulations and instructions that apply to non-Saudi residents. For example, if you want to carry on a business, Article 2 refers you to the Investment Law; do not assume that residency alone replaces the licence.
The amendment also removed the paragraph that stated expressly that Premium Residency does not entitle its holder to Saudi nationality. Do not read this as meaning the residency has become a direct route to nationality; nationality has its own separate law and procedures.
What are the requirements to apply for Premium Residency?
Article 4 requires the applicant to have a valid passport, proof of financial solvency, a criminal record showing no previous convictions, a medical report no older than six months showing he is free of infectious diseases, and lawful residence if he applies from inside the Kingdom. The amendment removed the condition that the applicant be at least twenty-one. Each product then adds its own conditions, so read the general requirements and the product's conditions together before applying.
In practice, start by choosing the product that suits your situation, then read its officially announced conditions, and prepare proof of each condition before you pay the fee. A common mistake is applying for a product that does not fit you because its fee is lower or because you have heard more about it.
An expatriate engineer works for a company in Riyadh and supports his wife, two children and his mother.
If he obtains Premium Residency, his family under the law's definition includes his wife, children and mother as long as he supports them, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
He and his family members can leave and return without a visa, and he can move to another private-sector employer without a sponsorship transfer.
If he wants to open his own business, he must follow the Investment Law and the licence for that activity.
If your residency is limited-term, keep track of its expiry date. Article 6 leaves the start of residency and its issuing procedures to the Implementing Regulations, so refer to them for these details. Keep copies of everything you submit to the Center; you may need them on renewal or for any later enquiry.
When is Premium Residency cancelled?
Article 9 lists the cases of cancellation: conviction of a crime punished by sixty days or more in prison or a fine of SAR 100,000 or more; a decision or judgment of deportation; proof that the application contained incorrect information; failure to comply with laws and instructions; giving it up; and death or loss of legal capacity. The holder's rights do not pass to his family on cancellation, but any family member who meets the conditions may file a separate application (Article 11).
This is general information based on the official Arabic texts of Saudi laws, which prevail over any translation. It is not legal advice for your specific case.
Practical solutions for the applicant and the employer
If you want Premium Residency:
- Choose the product that suits you before applying, because each product has its own conditions.
- Prepare the required documents, translated and attested where needed.
- Calculate the full costs, not only the fees, and make sure your criminal record and current residence status are in order.
- Pay the fee and provide the medical insurance policy within thirty days of being notified of approval.
If you are the employee's current employer:
- Understand the effect of the employee moving to Premium Residency on the contract and sponsorship.
- Set out the contractual relationship again in writing, because a Premium Residency holder may move between private-sector employers.
Choosing the right product saves time and money. Send us on WhatsApp your professional and financial situation and your family members, and we will help you read the announced conditions of the suitable product.
Need advice on your own case?
Every case turns on its own facts and documents. Send us a short summary and we'll arrange a session with a licensed Saudi lawyer who will tell you clearly where you stand.
Frequently asked questions
How much does permanent Premium Residency cost?
The law does not set an amount. The fee for each product is approved by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs under amended Article 6, so check the officially announced amount at the time you apply.
Is there a minimum age to apply for Premium Residency?
The law no longer requires a specific age; the 1445H amendment removed the condition that the applicant be at least 21. A specific product may still have its own conditions.
Can I include my parents in Premium Residency?
Yes in principle. After the amendment, the definition of family includes the spouses, children and parents the holder supports, as set by the Implementing Regulations (Article 1).
Does Premium Residency give the right to Saudi nationality?
The law does not provide for this. The amendment removed the paragraph that expressly denied this right, but nationality is governed by its own law and is not an automatic result of residency.
When is Premium Residency cancelled?
In the cases listed in Article 9, including conviction of a crime punished by 60 days or more in prison or a fine of SAR 100,000 or more, deportation, proof of incorrect information in the application, and giving it up.
General information, not legal advice. The official Arabic texts of Saudi laws prevail over any translation. Disclaimer