Expats looking to work and reside in Saudi Arabia for a limited period of time, or permanently, can now apply for the kingdom’s Premium Residency Visa in a much easier and faster way through its newly announced Unified National Platform for Visas.
Applicable to both expats currently working in Saudi Arabia as well as investors and workers looking to move to the kingdom, the Premium Residency visa offers a score benefits, including the use of airport lanes dedicated to Saudi nationals and the ability to open up and conduct businesses under the foreign investment regulations.
The managing director of Creation Business Consultants, Scott Cairns, said: “The new regulation announced for Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency Visa enables expats to enjoy a host of different commercial, economic, and touristic benefits. This reflects the kingdom’s structural reforms in diversification and development of investment opportunities.”
Permanent residency visa in Saudi Arabia for SAR 800,000
The Saudi Premium Residency will also allow the visa holders to buy and own real estate in the kingdom, work and switch jobs within the private sector, and to buy and own private transport.
“The kingdom continues to pave its way towards a future-thinking economy, holding exciting potential and unique business opportunities for investors, while leveraging Saudi assets and driving non-oil economic growth.”
Most remarkably, expats who meet the eased eligibility criteria can now stay indefinitely in Saudi Arabia as permanent residents for a one-time fee of SAR 800,000. They will also be able to apply for visitors visas on behalf of their relatives, and will be permitted to employ domestic workers such as housemaids.
“The new visa scheme is a future aspiration and attraction for expats, especially since there has been a high level of implied confidence and trust in Saudi Arabia’s economic trends recently; outperforming many major developed countries such as US, Germany, Japan, UK, and France,” Cairns added.
“We anticipate an influx of affluent individual investors who will seize this opportunity to incorporate businesses in KSA and take advantage of the booming Saudi market.”
UK e-visa waiver for Saudi nationals
Additionally, from 1 June 2022, citizens of Saudi Arabia will be able to travel to the UK for tourism, business, study, or medical treatment for up to six months with an electronic visa waiver.
An electronic visa waiver allows the holder to travel to the UK without obtaining a visa provided they complete an online waiver for each visit.
The executive vice president for Consumer Travel at Seera Group, Muzzammil Ahussain, said: “The e-visa waiver for Saudi nationals to travel to the UK will further accelerate outbound tourism, especially with the popularity of the country as a summer getaway for GCC residents.
“It will also energise the aviation sector, with the industry already gaining traction as restrictions on travel being lifted. At Seera Group, we are committed to further building the travel ecosystem of the Kingdom by leveraging such positive initiatives.”
The digital process is much faster than applying for a visa as there is no need to provide biometric information – photograph and fingerprints. Saudi nationals also will not need to visit a visa application centre or hand in passports ahead of travel.
In an official statement, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, said: “This visa waiver will better connect the people of our countries and boost economic prosperity.”
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