Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Program — often called the Saudi Green Card — gives exceptional foreigners the right to live, work, and own property in the Kingdom without a local sponsor. Launched in 2019 and significantly expanded in January 2024, it now includes seven residency products. Two of the most compelling are the Special Talent Residency and the Gifted Residency.
Special Talent Residency: For the Exceptional Professional
Who Is It For?
The Special Talent Residency is designed for elite professionals in three main areas: executive leadership, healthcare, and scientific research. Saudi Arabia is specifically looking for people whose expertise can help build local capacity and bring world-class knowledge into the Kingdom.
Think senior hospital consultants, published researchers, biomedical scientists, or C-suite executives at major companies. If you’re in one of these fields and you’ve been doing serious work for years, this residency was built with you in mind.
Eligibility: Which Category Do You Fall Under?
The program has two pathways depending on your professional background.
For Researchers
- Must hold an employment contract with a whitelisted entity (Saudi-approved institutions in priority specialisations)
- Minimum monthly salary of SAR 14,000
- A bachelor’s degree or higher
- More than three years of relevant work experience
- A minimum score in the program’s points system
- A recommendation letter from your employer
- At least 3 published research papers in a relevant field
For Healthcare and Scientific Professionals
- Employment contract with a whitelisted entity in a priority specialisation
- Minimum monthly salary of SAR 35,000
- A bachelor’s degree or higher
- More than three years of relevant work experience
- A minimum score in the points system
- A recommendation letter from your employer
For Executives
- An employment contract at Level 1 or Level 2 executive rank
- A total minimum monthly wage of SAR 80,000
- A recommendation letter from the employer
How Long Is the Residency Valid?
The Special Talent Residency is issued for a fixed five-year term, and it can be renewed once, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria.
There’s also a pathway to permanent residency: if you’ve lived in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months across five consecutive or non-consecutive years and continue to meet the product’s requirements, you may apply for permanent status.
One-Time Fee
The application fee for the Special Talent Residency is a one-time payment of SAR 4,000.
Gifted Residency: For Athletes, Artists, and Cultural Figures
Who Is It For?
The Gifted Residency targets a very different kind of exceptional person — those who have distinguished themselves in sports, cultural pursuits, or the arts.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has made culture and sport central pillars of the national transformation. The Kingdom is hosting Formula 1 races, the FIFA 2034 World Cup, Riyadh Season, and major international concerts. It’s building a cultural economy from the ground up — and it wants the world’s creative and sporting talent to be part of that journey.
If you’re an Olympic athlete, a celebrated filmmaker, a renowned choreographer, a prominent visual artist, or a recognised cultural figure, the Gifted Residency is your lane.
Eligibility: First Category vs. Second Category
The Gifted Residency divides applicants into two categories based on their level of achievement.
First Category — Elite, Award-Winning Talent
- Must have been nominated for or received one of the specified exceptional awards (think Oscars, Olympic medals, FIFA awards, prominent international cultural prizes, etc.)
- Must demonstrate minimum financial capability — i.e., the ability to cover the cost of living in Saudi Arabia
- Must obtain a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports based on your field
The good news: you don’t have to chase that letter yourself. The Premium Residency Center coordinates directly with the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports on your behalf.
Second Category — Nationally and Regionally Recognised Talent
- Must fulfil the minimum eligibility standards as set by the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports
- Must demonstrate minimum financial capability
- Must obtain a recommendation from the relevant ministry (again, coordinated by the Premium Residency Center)
The second category recognises that not every exceptional talent holds a global award. National and regional recognition within your professional community also qualifies — this opens the door for a broader pool of artists, athletes, and cultural practitioners.
How Long Is the Residency Valid?
The Gifted Residency also comes with a five-year fixed-term, renewable once — provided you’ve lived in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months within those five years, and you still meet the product’s eligibility criteria.
For permanent residency, the requirements are the same residency duration (30 months in five years), continued compliance with eligibility standards, and an endorsement from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports confirming your continued contributions.
One-Time Fee
Same as the Special Talent track — a one-time application fee of SAR 4,000.
Benefits That Come With Both Residencies
Whether you qualify under the Special Talent or Gifted category, you receive a strong set of benefits that go well beyond what a standard Iqama offers. Here’s what’s included:
Family Residency You can bring your immediate family — your spouse, children under 25, and parents — all on the same residency. Children with special needs or unmarried daughters over 25 may also be eligible.
No Sponsor Required Unlike the traditional Iqama system, Premium Residency is entirely self-sponsored. You don’t need a Saudi employer to hold your status.
Freedom to Work and Move You can work in the private sector and switch employers freely — no NOC, no company transfer drama. This applies to your spouse and adult dependants too.
No Expat Fees You and your dependants are exempt from the standard expat levy (the fees most regular Iqama holders and their dependants pay annually).
Visa-Free Entry and Exit No need to apply for a re-entry visa every time you travel. You and your family can enter and exit Saudi Arabia freely.
Fast Track at Airports Premium Residency holders can use lanes designated for Saudi citizens and GCC nationals at airports — a small but genuinely convenient perk if you travel frequently.
Right to Own Property You can own and usufruct (use) real estate in Saudi Arabia, which regular expats generally cannot.
Business Rights You can conduct business under Saudi’s Investment Law, which means opening companies, investing, and owning stakes in local businesses.
Visit Visas for Relatives You’re entitled to sponsor visit visas for relatives who aren’t included in your residency.
Special Benefits (Both Categories)
- Eligibility for permanent residency once conditions are met
- The primary holder is exempt from the Nitaqat program — the Saudi nationalisation quota system that typically requires companies to employ a set percentage of Saudi nationals
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
The Points System For the Special Talent track (researchers and healthcare/scientific professionals), there is a minimum score required on a points system. The Saudi Premium Residency Center evaluates factors like qualifications, salary, experience, and publications. Details of the exact points system should be verified on the official portal — premiumeresidency.moi.gov.sa — as scoring criteria can be updated.
Whitelisted Entities Not every employer qualifies. For researchers and healthcare professionals, your employer must be on an approved list of priority establishments. Check this before applying.
Conditions Are Subject to Change The official documentation itself notes that all conditions are subject to change. Given that this program was significantly expanded just in early 2024 and continues to evolve, always verify current requirements before submitting an application.
How to Apply
Applications for both the Gifted and Special Talent residencies are processed through the Saudi Premium Residency Center, which operates under the Ministry of Interior.
The official application portal is: premiumeresidency.moi.gov.sa
For Gifted Residency applicants, the Premium Residency Center handles coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Sports on your behalf — so you don’t need to approach those ministries independently to obtain your recommendation letter.
Who Should Seriously Consider This?
The Special Talent Residency is worth exploring if:
- You’re a senior doctor, surgeon, or specialist already working (or considering working) at a major Saudi hospital
- You’re a published academic or researcher employed by or considering a Saudi university or research centre
- You’re a top-level executive — CEO, COO, or equivalent — at a significant company with Saudi operations
The Gifted Residency is worth exploring if:
- You’re a professional athlete with national, regional, or international recognition
- You’re an established filmmaker, artist, musician, architect, or cultural producer
- You’ve received a significant award in your field — whether a national prize or an internationally recognised accolade
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia isn’t just opening its doors — it’s actively recruiting. The Gifted and Special Talent residencies are a genuine statement of intent from a country that wants the world’s best researchers, doctors, executives, athletes, and artists to call it home.
The benefits are substantial. The fee of SAR 4,000 is remarkably low compared to comparable “golden visa” programs elsewhere in the world (Portugal, UAE, etc.). And the pathway to permanent residency is real, not just theoretical.
That said, eligibility requirements are specific — minimum salaries, publishing requirements, points thresholds, and ministry endorsements aren’t just formalities. Make sure you genuinely meet the criteria before investing time in an application.
If you think you might qualify, the first step is simple: visit the official Saudi Premium Residency portal and run through the eligibility requirements in detail. And if you’re already in Saudi Arabia on a standard Iqama, it’s well worth asking your HR team whether your role and employer qualify for the whitelisted category.