Permanent Residency of Saudi Arabia has been launched.

Posted by Max Johni on July 31st, 2019

Saudi Arabia has taken revolutionary steps regarding its visa and immigration programs in 2019.  Saudi Arabia which was famous for strict rules and non-cooperative behavior of local employers, has decided to give full freedom to foreign residents. Saudi Arabia has introduced a new permanent residency program in 2019. The first permanent residency program of Saudi Arabia. All those who are looking for a second residence country, can happily choose Saudi Arabia as their second home and live there forever. News reports say that it was the proposal of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to start a residency program in the kingdom. He brought forward this idea in 2016. However, it is approved in 2019.  

Electronic and print media reports say, the new permanent residency program resembles green card. The Crown prince of Saudi Arabia clarified that it is neither a green card nor it gives right for citizenship of Saudi Arabia.

No Need of Kafeel.

The most outstanding feature of new permanent residency program that there is no need to be sponsored from Saudi Arabian sponsor, Sponsor is called Kafeel in Saudi Arabia. Foreign resident holding permanent residency of Saudi Arabia are eligible to work anywhere in Saudi Arabia excepts where is restriction specified by the Government. This happened first time in the history of Saudi Arabia that foreigners can live and work in Saudi Arabia without any local sponsor. In the past, foreign workers were exploited by the Saudi Sponsor and working environment was not cooperative. But the new residency program is going to help foreigners to get rid of monopoly of Saudi Arabian sponsors. It will give great freedom to talented and skilled people, they will be able to find job opportunities which they deserve.

Business and Investment:

In the past, foreigners were not allowed to register and establish a business in Saudi Arabia without partnership of local citizen. Apart from partnership, there were many other rules and restrictions were there. Thanks to new permanent residency program, foreigners are allowed to register and establish business in the country without any partnership of local citizen. It means they are now allowed to register business under their name.

This is the great measure to attract foreign investment. In fact, the sole purpose of new permanent residency program is to attract foreign investment. Saudi Arabia do not want to rely only on oil resource in future rather they want to discover additional resources to boost economy.

No More Iqama Expiry:

Residency card is known as Iqama in Saudi Arabia. Generally, the Saudi government issue iqama with a validity ranging from one to five year depending on job nature and contract. Iqama holders are resident in KSA, they have to check validity of iqama and renew it before expiry to avoid heavy fine and other penalties because all foreigner must carry a valid iqama card. With the new permanent residency card, there will be no risk of fine and penalty because permanent residency will be valid forever and won’t expire.

Buy Property:

With the new residency program, residents will be able to buy property under their name. However, they are not allowed to buy property in Holy cities Makkah and Madinah. Besides land, they can buy vehicles under their name.

Get Visas:

Under the new program, foreigners can recruit domestic workers, get residency visa for family members and also can get visit visas for friends and relatives.

New Residency Fee:

New residency status is named “privileged iqama”. It has two status types. First types of residency is valid for one year and it costs 100000 SAR fee. However, it is renewable every year.

The second residency is valid forever without any expiry. Its fee is 800000 SAR.