Saudi Premium Residency update: Over 40,000 applications filed between Jan 2024–Jul 2025

TL;DR:

• From January 2024 to July 2025, Saudi Arabia received 40,163 applications for its revamped Premium Residency, a clear signal of growing global interest.
• In 2024 alone, 8,074 permits were granted, led by the “Exceptional Competence” category, followed by allocations under talent, investor, entrepreneur, and real estate owner tracks.
• Premium Residency offers visa-free entry, work and property rights, family access, and citizenship-like flexibility, aligned with Vision 2030’s push for foreign investment and talent.

Over 40,000 applicants from across the globe have applied for Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency since early 2024, reflecting surging interest from high-net-worth individuals and professionals attracted by the kingdom’s long-term visa incentives, economic diversification, and investor-friendly reforms. The program, which offers expats the ability to live, work, and invest in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor, has become a central pillar in Vision 2030's goal of drawing global talent and capital into the kingdom.
Beyond the figures: What is Saudi Premium Residency ?
Launched in 2019, Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency, often dubbed the “Green Card” is a forward-thinking residency scheme that allows expatriates to live, work, invest, and own property in the Kingdom without the need for a local sponsor. It parallels permanent residency in other countries and was introduced as a key pillar of Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the economy.

In January 2024, the program expanded significantly—from just two pathways to seven tailored categories:

• Exceptional Competence
• Talent
• Investor
• Entrepreneur
• Real Estate Owner
• Limited Duration
• Unlimited Duration Premium Residency

As a Premium Residency holder, you gain full access to Saudi Arabia's growing network of modern amenities and infrastructure. You can live in secure gated communities, luxury residences, or city-center apartments, with the legal right to own or usufruct property. International schools with globally recognized curricula cater to families, while advanced public and private healthcare facilities offer affordable, high-quality medical services.

Major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam feature global retail outlets, fine dining, and comprehensive transport networks. Residents benefit from exclusive airport lanes, visa-free re-entry, and streamlined mobility within the Kingdom. For leisure, the country hosts large-scale events like Riyadh Season and Jeddah.

What’s driving the steam in applications?
High-value benefits continue to attract global applicants:

• Residency for self and family, with visa-free entry and exit
• Permission to work freely, switch employers, and hold business licenses
• Rights to own property, vehicles, and recruit domestic workers
• Access to special airport lanes, extended stay in holy cities, and family visit visa powers

Applicants are motivated by Saudi’s booming real estate and entrepreneurial environment, with initiatives like NEOM and major urban development projects creating lucrative possibilities.

Who’s getting approved and how many?
Out of 40,163 applicants in the 18-month window:

• 8,074 permits were issued in 2024 alone
• The majority of approvals, 5,578 permits went to the Exceptional Competence category, showcasing demand for world-class talent
• Other permits followed across talent, investor, entrepreneur, and real estate ownership categories

Why it matters
Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency reflects a new era of openness and competitiveness:

• It's a strategic tool to diversify the economy and solidify the Kingdom's reputation as a global investment hub.
• The program’s flexibility and independence empower expatriates to plan long-term, deepening economic ties.
• Growing uptake hints at increasing global confidence in the Kingdom’s reform agenda and quality of life offerings.

The surge toward 40,000 applications within just 18 months is more than a statistic, it’s a marker of growing global belief in Saudi Arabia's reformed vision for the future. With clear pathways for investors, professionals, entrepreneurs, and families, the Premium Residency program stands as a flagship initiative in Vision 2030’s transformation journey.


FAQs:

• What is Saudi Premium Residency?
  Saudi Premium Residency is a long-term residency scheme that allows eligible foreigners to live, work, own property, and run businesses in Saudi Arabia without needing a local sponsor.
  
  
• When was the Premium Residency program launched?
  The initiative was launched in 2019 under Vision 2030, with new variants and reforms introduced in 2022–2023 to increase its appeal to investors and skilled professionals.
  
  
• How many people have applied for it so far?
  More than 40,000 people have applied for the residency program between early 2024 and mid-2025, according to Saudi Gazette.
  
  
• What are the types of Premium Residency available?
  There are multiple categories, including investor, entrepreneur, real estate owner, skilled professional, and exceptional talent residencies. Each has specific requirements and benefits.
  
  
• What are the key benefits of Premium Residency?
  Residents can sponsor their family, own real estate (except in Mecca and Medina), obtain work permits, move freely across the Gulf, and are exempt from the sponsorship (kafala) system.