During January 2024, Saudi authorities issued new rules related to requirements for obtaining the Special Talent Residency Visa, Premium Residency Visa, and Exit-Entry Work Residency Visa.
Requirements for the Special Talent Residency Visa
On January 22, 2024, the Saudi Premium Residency Center announced new expertise requirements for eligibility to obtain Special Talent Residency Visas.
The areas the center has identified that applicants for the Special Talent Residency Visa must demonstrate expertise in include scientific research, health care, information technologies, financial services, space and defense, renewable energy, mining, logistics and transport, tourism infrastructure, and food and agriculture.
According to the center, the duration of the Special Talent Residency Visa is five years. This visa can be renewed for one more term if the applicant meets applicable eligibility criteria.
Removing the Three-Year Entry Ban on Foreign Nationals Who Violated Exit-Entry Visa Requirements
On January 17, 2024, the General Directorate of Passports reportedly issued instructions to all ports in Saudi Arabia to allow foreign nationals who had failed to return to Saudi Arabia before their work Exit-Entry Residency Visas expired to reenter the country. In addition, the directorate removed the previous regulation’s three-year ban on holders of Exit-Entry Residency Visas who, having left the country, failed to return before the expiration of their visas.
New Modifications to the Premium Residency Visa
On January 10, 2024, the newly issued Royal Decree No. M/106 introduced two important modifications to the Premium Residency Visa Law. The first modification regulates the age limit for holding a Premium Residency Visa to allow foreign nationals who are less than 21 years of age to apply for a Premium Residency Visa. The decree repealed paragraph 1 of article 4 of the law, which stipulated that the visa applicant’s age must not be less than 21 years.
Secondly, foreign nationals holding Premium Residency Visas may now apply for Saudi citizenship. Article 11 of the Premium Residency Visa Law, now repealed, prohibited Premium Residency Visa holders from obtaining Saudi citizenship.
George Sadek, Law Library of Congress
February 15, 2024
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