Saudi Arabia
Gifted Premium Residency
- Nomination for or receipt of an exceptional award approved by the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports
- National or regional achievements in sports, cultural, or artistic fields
- Recognition within the applicant's professional community
- Endorsement from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports
The Gifted Premium Residency is a fixed-term residency product under Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency system, designed for individuals with outstanding achievements in sports, culture, and the arts. Introduced in January 2024 under Royal Decree No. M/84 as one of five new category-based Premium Residency products, it allows eligible foreign nationals to reside in Saudi Arabia without a local sponsor, based solely on merit and endorsement from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports. The program reflects Saudi Vision 2030's ambition to position the Kingdom as a global centre of cultural and sporting excellence.
Applicants must fall into one of two categories:
- Category 1: Recipients of or nominees for an exceptional award approved by the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports
- Category 2: Individuals meeting ministry-defined eligibility criteria, which may include national or regional achievements and recognition within their professional community
All applicants must also demonstrate minimum financial capability to support themselves in Saudi Arabia (evidenced by 12 months of bank statements), hold a clean criminal record, and maintain valid cooperative health insurance.
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) for applicant and all dependants
- Recent passport-sized colour photographs (within 6 months, white background)
- 12 months of bank statements demonstrating financial capability
- Criminal record certificate from home country
- Medical report (issued within 6 months) confirming absence of contagious diseases
- Recommendation letter from the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports
- Evidence of exceptional awards, nominations, or professional achievements in sports, culture, or arts
- Documentation of media coverage or other evidence of recognised excellence
The residency is granted for 5 years and is renewable once for an additional 5-year term, provided the holder continues to meet all eligibility criteria and has resided in Saudi Arabia for at least 30 months during the initial period (consecutive or non-consecutive). After satisfying the 30-month physical presence requirement, holders may apply to convert to permanent Premium Residency with endorsement from the relevant ministry.
Spouse, unmarried children under 25, special-needs children of any age, unmarried daughters over 25, and parents of the main holder may all be included under the same application at no extra cost. Family members enjoy equivalent residency rights, including the right to work in the private sector, own property, and travel freely without exit-reentry visas. All are exempt from expatriate and dependent fees.
Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax on individuals' salaries or wages. Premium Residency holders and their family members are exempt from expatriate fees. Standard tax residency rules apply for other tax purposes. Holders remain subject to VAT (15%) and real estate transaction taxes where applicable.
- Apply online at pr.gov.sa. Create an account on the Premium Residency Center portal, complete the application form with personal and background details, and upload all required documents.
- Ministry coordination. The Premium Residency Center coordinates with the Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports to obtain the required recommendation letter on behalf of the applicant.
- Pay fees. The government fee is SAR 4,000 (approximately USD 1,067), plus a non-refundable USD 170 processing fee. All family members are covered under the single fee.
- Biometric appointment and approval. A biometric appointment may be required after submission. Upon approval, payment must be completed within 30 days. The holder then receives their Premium Residency permit and can reside in Saudi Arabia.
Processing typically takes 30–90 days for a complete application. Holders and family members may enter and exit Saudi Arabia freely without requiring exit-reentry visas and may use dedicated lanes for Saudi nationals at ports of entry.
Links
- https://pr.gov.sa/
- https://misa.gov.sa/app/uploads/2024/11/%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%81-1445%D9%87%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%8A-.pdf
- https://saudipedia.com/en/article/2950/government-and-politics/systems/premium-residency-law
Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals | — | — | — | — | |||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Digital Nomad Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Investor Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Investment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | IT Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Remotely from Georgia | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership) | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Top Talent Pass Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇳 India | Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Global Talent) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Remote Worker KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Retirement KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Silver Hair Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites | — | — | — | — | |||
🇮🇶 Iraq | Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | B/5 Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Business Manager Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇯🇵 Japan | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Residency by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | C5 Business Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Digital Nomad Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions | — | — | — | — | |||
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Investor Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Digital Nomad Status | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇦 Laos | Investor Visa (NI-B2) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Major Investment Temporary Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Talent Recruitment Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇻 Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Retirees | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Golden Residency Program | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Retiree Residence Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Business-Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Long-Term Residency (LTR) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Talent) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Real Estate Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Entrepreneur Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Gifted Premium Residency | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Investor Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Real Estate Owner Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Global Investor Programme (GIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Tech.Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | D-10 Job Seeker Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Technology Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Colombo Port City Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Condominium Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Golden Paradise Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Individual Investor Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇾 Syria | Investment Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Digital Nomad Visitor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Employment Gold Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Investor Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Investor Visa (Category C) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | SMART Visa S (Startup) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Business Visa Class II | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Investor Residence Authorization | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turkiye TechVisa (Startup) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turquoise Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Talented Individuals) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Investor/Partner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Job Exploration Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Virtual Work Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Golden Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | IT Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Investor Visa (DT1-DT4) | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Special Visa Exemption Card | — | — | — | — |