Residency

🇸🇦 Saudi residency: iqama vs Premium

Two very different paths to living in Jeddah — the employer-tied iqama, or the self-sponsored Premium Residency that frees you from a kafeel entirely. Tap to compare.

✓ 2026 · Premium Residency Center / Vision 2030
Choose a Premium Residency option
Fee
Validity
💡 Why Premium beats a standard iqama: no kafeel (sponsor). You can start a business, sponsor your family, own residential property, and enter/exit the Kingdom freely — no exit/re-entry permits.
The standard route: iqama

Employer-sponsored

Most expats live on an iqama — your employer sponsors it, handles renewals and the government fees/levies. It ties your status to your job, which is exactly what Premium Residency removes.

Zero income tax

Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax — your salary is your take-home, on either route. Premium Residency processing runs ~60–90 days.

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