Saudi Premium Residency: A Major Shift in How Expats Can Live and Work in the Kingdom


Saudi Arabia is quietly redefining its approach to expatriate residency through the Saudi Premium Residency Program, a move that many are comparing to a Green Card–style system. Introduced under Saudi Vision 2030, this initiative reflects the Kingdom’s long-term plan to attract global talent, investors, and entrepreneurs while modernising its labour and residency framework.


For decades, living and working in Saudi Arabia meant being fully dependent on an employer-sponsored visa. The Premium Residency program changes that equation.


What Makes Premium Residency Different?

The most important change is freedom. Premium Residency holders are no longer tied to a single sponsor. They can live and work in Saudi Arabia independently, move between jobs, establish businesses, and make long-term plans with far greater certainty.


Depending on the category, residency can be granted on a long-term renewable basis or as a permanent option, making it especially attractive for professionals and investors looking to settle in the Kingdom.


Key Advantages

✅No requirement for a Saudi sponsor

✅Ability to sponsor immediate family members

✅Legal ownership of residential and commercial property (as permitted)

✅Freedom to work in the private sector or run a business

✅Easier travel in and out of the country


These benefits bring Saudi Arabia closer to global residency models seen in countries competing for high-value talent.


Who Is It For?

The program is aimed at:

✅Investors and business owners

✅Entrepreneurs

✅Highly skilled professionals and specialists

✅Exceptional talents in fields such as healthcare, science, technology, and research

✅Real estate investors


Each pathway has specific financial and professional eligibility criteria, ensuring the program supports the Kingdom’s economic priorities.


This is more than an immigration update—it’s a policy signal. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a place where skilled expatriates can build long-term careers, not just short-term assignments. For employers, it means access to a more stable and motivated workforce. For individuals, it offers clarity, security, and a sense of belonging that was previously difficult to achieve.



As Saudi Arabia accelerates growth in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, technology, tourism, and renewable energy, long-term residency options will play a key role in sustaining that momentum. The Premium Residency program aligns perfectly with these ambitions.


In summary, Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency marks a new chapter for expatriates in the Gulf—one focused on stability, opportunity, and long-term contribution rather than temporary stay.