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Pathway

Saudi Expert Professional Residence

Saudi Arabia Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Qualifying health and science specialists, researchers, and executives can apply for Saudi exceptional-competence Premium Residency. You need a qualifying Saudi job and must meet the pay and professional requirements for your category. The normal permit lasts five years and is renewable.

Job offer required?
Yes, a qualifying Saudi employment contract
Required pay
Health/science specialists: SAR 35,000 monthly; researchers: SAR 14,000 monthly; executives: SAR 960,000 annually
Other requirements
Education, experience, points, and recommendations vary by category

Summary

Saudi Arabia's exceptional-competence Premium Residency allows qualifying health and science specialists, researchers, and executives to seek residence based on their professional work. Each professional category has its own salary threshold and education, experience, points, or recommendation requirements.

The initial residence is renewable for five years. Qualifying for permanent status requires the separate residence and professional conditions to be met over time; a high salary or an initial employment contract alone does not secure that outcome.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

You need a qualifying Saudi employment contract in one of these categories:

Your category also has requirements for education, experience, points, or recommendations. Check which apply to your profession and prepare the evidence.

You must keep meeting the professional requirements for the required period. Officials make the final decision; meeting the starting requirements does not guarantee approval.

Check your professional category
  1. Identify the right category Choose the health or science specialist, researcher, or executive category.
  2. Check your contract and pay Confirm the Saudi employment contract and the minimum salary for your category.
  3. Gather your professional records Provide the required education, experience, points, and recommendation evidence.

You must keep meeting the professional conditions for the required period.

What This Route Allows

The normal permit lasts five years and can be renewed. Permanent residence has additional requirements, including keeping the qualifying employment and spending at least 30 months in Saudi Arabia. The regulations also provide a direct permanent-residence option for qualifying professionals who have lived there for more than ten years.

Qualifying family members may join you. The program provides the economic rights set out in its regulations and generally lets you enter and leave Saudi Arabia without an ordinary employer-sponsored residence arrangement.

What This Route Is Not

This is not Saudi citizenship and does not guarantee a later citizenship grant. A high salary alone is not enough; you must meet your professional category's requirements. Other Premium Residency options have different rules, residence lengths, and ongoing conditions.

Next Steps

  1. Identify your professional category and check the contract, pay, qualification, experience, points, and recommendation requirements.
  2. Gather the employment and professional records that show you qualify.
  3. Prepare the general identity, background, medical, and financial documents.
  4. Apply through the Premium Residency Center and keep meeting the professional and residence conditions after approval.

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Sources