Saudi Arabia Special Talent and Gifted Residency

Gifted Residency targets talents with a distinguished record. Category 1 covers people nominated for or holding one of the specified exceptional awards; category 2 covers those meeting the minimum criteria approved by the Ministries of Culture and Sports. Both need minimum economic means and a recommendation from the relevant ministry, which the Center requests on the applicant's behalf. Fields range from film, architecture, design, music, literature and culinary arts to football, basketball, e-sports and motor sports.

Researchers: an employment contract with a whitelisted entity in a priority specialisation, a monthly wage of at least SAR 14,000, a bachelor's degree or higher, more than three years of relevant experience, a minimum score in the points system and at least three research works in the field.

Healthcare and scientific professionals: a contract with a whitelisted entity in a priority specialisation, at least SAR 35,000 a month, a bachelor's degree or higher, more than three years of experience and the minimum points score. Executives: a contract at the first or second executive level with total monthly pay of at least SAR 80,000.

Both products cost SAR 4,000 once and run for five years, renewable once on meeting the criteria. Holders are exempt from the Nitaqat (Saudisation) programme and enjoy all general Premium Residency benefits. Gifted renewal additionally requires at least 30 months of residence, continuous or not, during the residency period.

Permanent residency is available to holders who keep meeting the product criteria and have lived in Saudi Arabia for 30 months within five years, consecutive or not. For Gifted holders, an endorsement for permanent residency from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sports is also required.

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.