Saudi Arabia Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) for Indians
Last verified: September 2, 2026
Quick facts
- Processing time
- 12–26 weeks
- Government fee
- about $27,000
- Start preparing
- about 10 months before your move
- Steps in the plan
- 8
- Need an apostille
- None
- Need a translation
- None
- Job offer
- Not required
“Start preparing” covers gathering documents, the 12–26 weeks decision wait and two weeks of slack. Add apostille and translation costs to the government fee.
Overview
Saudi Arabia's sponsor-free long-term residency, often called the Saudi Green Card. The skilled-professional track requires a bachelor's degree or higher, three or more years of relevant experience, and a recommendation from an approved Saudi entity, targeting executive leadership, healthcare, science and research. Note the 2026 rule change: Premium Residency alone no longer authorises employment, so you must obtain a separate work permit before starting any job. Temporary permits start around SAR 100,000 and the permanent permit is SAR 800,000. It lets you sponsor your own family, run businesses, open bank accounts and buy property outside the restricted zones near the holy sites.
This page covers Indians. For every nationality we track, see the Saudi Arabia Premium Residency overview.
Requirements for Indians
| Minimum annual income | No requirement |
| Minimum savings | $215,000 |
| Job offer required | No |
| Degree required | Yes |
| Family can join | Yes |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes |
Processing time & costs
Typical processing takes 12–26 weeks after applying. The government fee is approximately $27,000. Difficulty: 5/5.
Documents you'll need
- Confirm you meet the skilled-professional criteriaBachelor's degree or higher and three or more years of relevant experience.
- Obtain an employer recommendation from an approved Saudi entityMust come from an entity approved under the Premium Residency programme.
- Attest degree, professional licence and experience lettersHRD or university verification, MEA attestation, then Saudi Embassy legalisation.
- Assemble financial-standing evidenceSAR 100,000 for the renewable temporary permit or SAR 800,000 for the permanent one.
- Submit the application on the Premium Residency Centre portalFiled at premiumresidency.sa; applications are assessed rather than granted automatically.
- Pay the residency fee once approvedSAR 100,000 for temporary, renewable annually, or SAR 800,000 one-off for permanent.
- Apply for a separate work permit before starting work2026 policy change: Premium Residency alone no longer authorises employment.
- Sponsor family and register with the Indian EmbassyImmediate family can join without a local sponsor; register with the Embassy in Riyadh or Consulate in Jeddah.
The full ordered checklist — with timing, dependencies, apostille and translation flags, and personalized due dates — is part of the paid plan.
Not moving yet?
The Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) takes about 10 months from first document to moving day. Tell us when you plan to move and we’ll email you once, on the day you should start.
Is the Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) right for you?
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- How long does the Saudi Arabia Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) take for Indians?
- Typical processing time is 12–26 weeks after applying, plus the time needed to gather documents.
- What does the Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) cost?
- The government fee is approximately $27,000. Additional costs (translations, apostilles, insurance) vary by case.
- Do Indians need a job offer for the Premium Residency (Skilled Professional)?
- No. The Premium Residency (Skilled Professional) does not require a job offer from a Saudi Arabia employer.
- Can I bring my family on the Premium Residency (Skilled Professional)?
- Yes — this visa allows accompanying family members, with additional documentation.
Other Saudi Arabia visas for Indians
Other destinations for Indians
Saudi Arabia visas for other nationalities
Always confirm requirements with the official government source. This guide is general information, not legal advice.