Saudi Premium Residency (Premium Iqama) in 2026
Saudi Premium Residency, sometimes called the Premium Iqama or the Saudi Golden Visa, lets qualifying individuals live, work, invest and own property in the Kingdom without a local employer or sponsor. Here is how it works in 2026, the routes available, and who each one suits.
What makes Premium Residency different
An ordinary work Iqama ties you to an employer, who sponsors you and counts you against their Saudization position. Premium Residency is self sponsored. The holder is not tied to any employer, can change jobs or run a business, and carries their own status independently.
| Employee Iqama | Premium Residency | |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor | An employer sponsors you | Self sponsored, no employer needed |
| Work | Tied to your sponsoring employer | Work for anyone, switch jobs, or run your own business |
| Saudization | Counts against the employer’s Nitaqat | Not tied to any employer’s Nitaqat |
| Property | Restricted | Can own real estate, within programme rules |
| Family | Depends on the employer | Sponsor your own family |
The routes available
Premium Residency is not a single product; it is a family of routes, each with its own criteria. The established categories include:
- Special Talent: for high skill professionals in priority fields such as health, science and executive leadership, typically requiring a qualifying role, salary level and experience.
- Gifted: for distinguished talent in areas such as culture and sport, supported by the relevant ministry.
- Investor: for those making a qualifying investment through a licensed entity and meeting capital and job creation conditions.
- Entrepreneur: for founders with qualifying funding and ownership in a Saudi venture, with the ability to nominate key staff.
- Real estate owner: for those who own qualifying, mortgage free residential property above a set value.
- Fixed term and permanent tracks: alongside the category routes, there are duration based options, an annually renewable residency and a permanent residency, for individuals who can demonstrate financial capability.
The specific thresholds, fees and durations attached to each route are set by the programme and are periodically updated, so we confirm the current criteria for your situation rather than working from figures that may have moved.
What Premium Residency gives you
- Live in the Kingdom long term without an employer sponsor.
- Work for any employer, switch employers, or run your own business.
- Own real estate, within the programme’s rules.
- Sponsor your family.
- Exemption from the expatriate fees that apply to ordinary residents.
- Freedom to exit and re enter the Kingdom without the usual employer controlled exit and re entry permits.
A route many providers cannot offer
Some Premium Residency categories require backing from a company registered with the Premium Residency Center. PROMISE is a whitelisted company with the Premium Residency Center. For eligible individuals, that means we can do two things at once: help secure Premium Residency, and employ the individual through our Employer of Record (EOR) service.
The person gains the full benefits of Premium Residency, the freedom to travel, to own property, and independence from any single employer’s Nitaqat, while PROMISE handles the employment relationship in a compliant way. Approval always depends on meeting the programme’s criteria, but for the right candidate this is a route many providers simply cannot offer.
Related: Employer of Record and Corporate Immigration.
From eligibility to approval
- Eligibility assessment: we match your profile to the route most likely to succeed.
- Preparation and documentation: we assemble and verify what each route requires.
- Submission and follow up: we manage the application through the Premium Residency Center and keep it moving.
- After approval: family inclusion, renewals where applicable, and, where relevant, employment through our EOR service.
Frequently asked
Is Premium Residency the same as the Golden Visa?
Saudi Golden Visa is an informal name for the same programme. The official term is Premium Residency, and the resident card is often called the Premium Iqama.
Do I need an employer?
No. Premium Residency is self sponsored, which is the point. You can still work or run a business, but you are not tied to a sponsoring employer.
Can my family join me?
Yes. Premium Residency holders can sponsor their family.
Is it permanent?
There are both renewable and permanent options, depending on the route you qualify for. We confirm which applies to you.
How much does it cost?
Fees vary by route, are set by the programme, and are periodically updated. We confirm the current figures for your chosen route before you apply.
Ready to talk it through?
Let us map the right approach for your situation.
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