Khaberni - Saudi Arabia has announced the details of the permanent residency program for 2025, which aims to attract talent and investors and enhance the business environment as part of Vision 2030 targets.
This system is one of the most prominent tools through which the Saudi government seeks to achieve economic diversification and increase the contribution of qualified residents to development.
A new step towards the stability of residents
Permanent residency in Saudi Arabia grants the holder the right to indefinite residence within the territory of the Kingdom, with many benefits that were previously limited to citizens, and this development comes as part of the state's efforts to develop residency and employment systems in line with economic changes and the openness the country has witnessed in recent years.
According to what the official authorities announced, the new system aims to achieve social and economic stability for residents, in addition to attracting foreign investments and increasing the private sector's contribution to the GDP.
Types of permanent residency
The new system includes two types of distinguished residency that allow the holder to have permanent residency under specific conditions:
Indefinite distinguished residency
It is granted in exchange for a one-time financial fee, allowing the holder to stay in the Kingdom without the need for annual renewal.
Time-limited distinguished residency
It is granted for a duration of one year, renewable, against an annual symbolic fee, and allows the resident to enjoy almost the same benefits, with flexibility in choosing the residency duration according to his circumstances and investments.
Fees and conditions
According to the updates issued for 2025, the fees for permanent residency have been set at only 4000 Saudi Riyals, as part of a package of facilitations adopted by the government to expand the circle of beneficiaries and encourage residents to regularize their status legally.
The most important conditions required for applicants include:
A criminal record free of previous convictions.
Proof of sufficient financial solvency to enable him to live in the Kingdom without the need for external support.
Regular residency in Saudi Arabia at the time of application.
A medical report proving that the applicant is free from contagious diseases.
The official authorities confirmed that the application process takes place electronically through the Distinguished Residency platform, within simplified procedures that allow applications from within or outside the Kingdom.
Benefits of permanent residency in Saudi Arabia
The new system allows permanent residents a set of rights nearly equivalent to Saudi citizens, including:
Ownership of properties for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes.
Bringing in first-degree family members.
The freedom to exit and return to the Kingdom without restrictions.
The practice of commercial and investment activities in accordance with the regulations in force.
Working in the private sector without the need for a sponsor.
Benefiting from educational and health services according to regulating laws.
The system also allows the possibility of transferring ownerships and investments in the resident's name, which gives him significant flexibility in future planning and stability within the Kingdom.
Implementing the permanent residency system contributes to raising the level of confidence in the Saudi economy, especially among foreign investors looking for a stable and clear legal environment, as well as stimulating domestic spending and revitalizing the real estate and services market through the stability of a wide segment of qualified residents.
And according to what Saudi newspapers reported, specialists confirmed that this step enhances Saudi Arabia's status as a regional business hub, especially with the increasing demand from global companies to establish their regional headquarters in Riyadh, making permanent residency one of the tools supporting this direction.
The permanent residency system comes as part of the economic reform system that the Kingdom adopts within the framework of Vision 2030, which aims at building a diversified and sustainable economy based on efficiency and productivity rather than temporary labor.
Through this system, the government aims to attract skilled foreign talents and influential investors, thus creating new job opportunities for citizens, and supporting the real estate and financial services sectors.
