Saudi starts offering permanent residency for expats

Saudi Arabia is now accepting online applications for its permanent residency program for expats. As the previous reports suggested, the permanent residency will cost SAR 800,000 ($213,000) and the one-year renewable residency will cost SAR 100,000 ($27,000). The residencies according to website of Premium Residency Center (PRC), which manages the initiative, are named Unlimited Duration Premium Residency (SP-1) and Limited Duration Premium Residency (SP-2). The previous unofficial terms we’ve been hearing about these residencies include Special Privilege Iqama and Saudi Green Card. The premium residency will allow holders to work in Saudi Arabia having a sponsor (commonly known as kafeel), own real estate, ability to travel out of Saudi without an exit re-entry visa, hire domestic workers and obtain visit visa for their relatives.