Talent Residency

This product targets talents and specialists in the sports, cultural and artistic fields.

The Mawhiba Residency product works to attract talented individuals and empower their aspirations towards creativity, innovation and progress, so that they become part of the Saudi society to share the promising journey of development through the transfer of expertise and knowledge.

General benefits:

1. Reside in Saudi Arabia with the family, which includes parents, spouses and children under the age of 25.
2. Move freely from one facility to another.
3. Exemption from the financial fees imposed on expatriates and accompanying persons.
4. Exit and return to Saudi Arabia without a visa requirement for the holder and his/her family members.
5. Issuing visit visas for relatives.
6. Use the dedicated lanes for citizens and GCC nationals at the ports of entry.
7. Working in private sector organisations and moving between them for husband, wife and children.
8. Doing business in accordance with the Investment Law.
9. Owning and utilising real estate.

Special features:

• Obtain permanent premium residency upon fulfilment of the conditions.
• Basic Premium Residency holder is exempt from the Nitaqat programme.

Eligibility criteria:

A- The first track:

• Nominate or receive one of the specified exceptional awards.
• Pass the minimum solvency threshold (to ensure you can afford to live in Saudi Arabia).
• Obtain a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sports, depending on the applicant's field (the Distinguished Residency Centre will liaise with the Ministries of Sports and Culture to obtain the recommendation letter on behalf of the applicant for the Mawhiba Residency product).

B. The second track:

• Meet the minimum list of eligibility criteria approved by the Culture and Sports Organisation.
• Pass the minimum solvency threshold (to ensure you can afford to live in Saudi Arabia).
• Obtain a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture or the Ministry of Sports, depending on the applicant's field (the Distinguished Residency Centre will liaise with the Ministries of Sports and Culture to obtain the recommendation letter on behalf of the applicant for the Mawhiba Residency product).

Length of stay:

• A five-year fixed-term residency, renewable once upon fulfilment of the producer's eligibility criteria and a 30-month residency within a 5-year continuous or non-continuous period
• Permanent residency when the producer's eligibility criteria continue to be met during the specified residency period and a 30-month stay within 5 consecutive or non-consecutive years and a recommendation from the competent authority (Ministry of Culture or Ministry of Sports)