Saudi Arabia permanent residency: every official route

1) Unlimited Duration Premium Residency: proof of sufficient means and a one-time SAR 800,000 fee. 2) Investor Residency: a SAR 7 million ownership share in licensed companies and ten employees, giving permanent residency directly on condition they are maintained for two years.

3) Entrepreneur Residency category 2: SAR 15 million raised, a 10% stake and 20 jobs over two years. 4) Special Talent or Gifted Residency: after continuing to meet the criteria and living 30 months in Saudi Arabia within five years (plus a ministry endorsement for Gifted).

All Premium Residency applicants must be at least 21, hold a valid passport, prove solvency, have a clean criminal record and present a medical report no older than six months. Those inside the Kingdom must be legally resident and close their previous sponsorship. After approval the fee must be paid within 30 days and medical insurance in Saudi Arabia obtained.

Family members are included without a numerical limit and do not pay the fee. If the holder dies or loses legal capacity, the rights continue for the family once, within the validity set for the residency; the holder may coordinate with the Center on which family member these rights pass to. The rights never extend to anyone outside the holder's family.

The residency is cancelled, among other reasons, after a conviction carrying at least 60 days in prison or a fine of SAR 100,000 or more, a deportation order, false information in the application, breach of the law, failure to renew medical insurance, or relinquishment. The holder may stay up to 60 days after cancellation to settle affairs, extendable to a total of 180 days. Premium Residency does not give a right to Saudi citizenship.

Holders live in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor, together with parents, spouses and children under 25; can move between employers; are exempt from the fees imposed on expatriates and their dependants; may leave and re-enter without a visa; can obtain visit visas for relatives; use citizens' lanes at airports; may conduct business under the Investment Law, own or hold usufruct of real estate, hire domestic workers on the same terms as citizens and own private vehicles. Family members may work in the private sector, except in jobs reserved for Saudis.