The Exceptional Competency Residence Service (Researchers) is a distinguished residency program offered by Saudi Arabia targeting highly skilled individuals in scientific and research fields. It aims to attract outstanding talents in advanced research and sciences to support sustainable development and innovation. Eligible candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher with at least three years of relevant experience in a priority field and have an employment contract with an accredited institution in Saudi Arabia. The minimum monthly salary requirement is SAR 14,000.
General benefits:
1. Residence in Saudi Arabia with the family, including parents, spouses, and children under 25 years of age.
2. Freedom to move from one establishment to another.
3. Exemption from the financial fees imposed on expatriates and dependents.
4. The Premium Residency holder and their family members may leave and return to Saudi Arabia without the requirement of a visa.
5. Issuance of visit visas for relatives.
6. Use of dedicated lanes for citizens and GCC nationals at entry and exit points.
7. Employment in private sector establishments and movement between them for the husband, wife, and children.
8. Engaging in commercial activities in accordance with the Investment Law.
9. Ownership and use of real estate.
Special benefits:
Obtaining permanent Premium Residency upon meeting the conditions.
Exemption of the main Premium Residency holder from the Nitaqat program.
Residency duration:
A fixed-term residency for five years, renewable once upon meeting the product’s eligibility criteria.
Permanent residency upon continued fulfillment of the product’s eligibility criteria and a minimum actual stay of 30 months within 5 consecutive or non-consecutive years.
Target Sector
General
Affiliated Authority
Premium accommodation
Estimated Duration90 days
Gov Approval Window1 day
Service Pricing7500
Government Fee4000
Mandatory Conditions
✓The applicant must obtain a bachelor’s degree as a minimum from a university accredited by the Ministry of Education. If the university is not listed among the universities accredited by the Ministry of Education on the Safeer portal, the academic certificate must be authenticated by any of the Saudi cultural attachés.
✓The applicant must have concluded an employment contract with one of the centers accredited by the centre.
✓The employment contract concluded must be in a priority field and for a highly skilled profession
✓The applicant must have completed the probation period - if any - at the employer
✓The total minimum monthly wage must not be less than: Person with health and scientific competence: (35,000) thirty-five thousand Saudi riyals. Researchers: (14,000) fourteen thousand Saudi riyals
✓Submit a letter of recommendation from the employer, and a letter of recommendation may be requested from one of the regulating/supervisory/specialized bodies in the Kingdom if the need arises.
✓Providing proof of work experience in one of the fields related to the priority field for no less than (3) three years
✓Passing the minimum points system.
✓The transaction period in the system is 3 months, which can be increased according to each transaction.
✓All residencies and passports must be valid for 6 months at the time of application.
✓Employment contract in whitelisted entities with priority specializations.
✓A minimum of 3 researches in a related field.
Required Documents
✓A recommendation letter from the employer.
✓Proof of work experience in a related field.
✓A copy of the residency permit. Only the Absher copy (in the new yellow form with the residency expiry date written) is added for each ID