--- title: "Moving to Saudi Arabia 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Qasr al-Farid rock tomb in the sands of Hegra, AlUla # Moving to Saudi Arabia 11 ways to move to Saudi Arabia in our guide: 1 talent scheme, 3 investor routes, 2 pay-to-stay routes, 2 business / startup routes, 3 work visas. No digital nomad visa. Smallest investment: [Premium · Entrepreneur 1](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-entrepreneur-class-i/), SAR 400k+ ≈ $107k. Tax for newcomers: [Saudi Arabia: Income Tax Law scope for individuals](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/tax/), Source/zakat scope. Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026. **Smallest investment needed:** **SAR 400k+ ≈ $107k** Premium · Entrepreneur 1 **Longest first stay:** **1 year** Premium · 1-year renewable **Tax angle:** **Source/zakat scope** Saudi Arabia: Income Tax Law scope for individuals Saudi Arabia offers a Premium Residency route for investors and entrepreneurs who want to live and work in the Kingdom. The programmes are separate from ordinary work visas and are aimed at people who can commit to a business presence there. Investors ready to run a business with local staff Entrepreneurs with backing from an approved investor Founders able to create jobs in the early years Families seeking long-term residency with work rights ## Talent schemes · 1 ### [Premium · Gifted](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-gifted/) Can work: limited Needs money in the bank [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-gifted/) ## Investing · 3 ### Premium **Investment needed:** from SAR 4M ≈ $1.1M - [Property owner SAR 4M+ ≈ $1.1M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-owner/) - [Off-plan property SAR 4M+ ≈ $1.1M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-off-plan/) - [Investor SAR 7M+ ≈ $1.9M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-business-investor/) ## Pay to stay · 2 ### Premium **Fee:** from SAR 100k ≈ $27k - [1-year renewable SAR 100k ≈ $27k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-renewable-one-year/) - [Permanent SAR 800k ≈ $213k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-permanent/) ## Business / Startup · 2 ### Premium **Investment needed:** from SAR 400k ≈ $107k - [Entrepreneur 1 SAR 400k+ ≈ $107k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-entrepreneur-class-i/) - [Entrepreneur 2 SAR 15M+ ≈ $4M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-entrepreneur-class-ii/) ## Work · 3 ### [Work visa (iqama)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/employer-work-visa-iqama/) [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/employer-work-visa-iqama/) ### Premium - [Talent (executive) Needs income of SAR 960k+/yr ≈ $256k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-special-talent-executive/) - [Talent (specialist) Needs income from SAR 14k/mo ≈ $3,730](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-special-talent-professional/) ## Tax The records do not cover tax. Standard rules ### [Income Tax Law scope, individual residence test and withholding rates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/tax/#tax-sa-ordinary-income-tax-scope-withholding) **Details** - On: Non-Saudi partners' share of resident company income Saudi income tax applies to non-Saudi shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income. Payments to non-residents carry withholding of 5% to 20% by income type. A natural person is resident with a permanent dwelling and 30 days, or 183 days, in the Zakat year. #### Taxed on Non-Saudi partners' share of resident company income; non-residents' Saudi-source income; payments to non-residents (withholding). #### Who it applies to - Natural person resident test: permanent residence in the Kingdom plus at least 30 days in the Zakat year, or, without a permanent residence, at least 183 days in the Zakat year (Zakat Collection Implementing Regulations). #### Exclusions - Opening bank accounts and trading in listed Saudi shares by a resident natural person are not taxable activity. #### Days in the country - At least 30 days in Zakat year · Natural person with a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 30 days, consecutive or aggregated. - At least 183 days in Zakat year · Natural person without a permanent residence in the Kingdom, physically present for at least 183 days, consecutive or aggregated. #### Tax residence Residence is judged per Zakat year. Withholding rates: management fees 20%, royalties 15%, dividends 5%, rent 5%, loan charges 5%, insurance 5%, technical and consulting services 5%, air tickets or freight 5%, international telecoms 5%, land transport 15%, other payments 15%. #### Visas Premium Residency does not by itself determine tax status. Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/tax/) Standard rules ### [Saudi Arabia: Income Tax Law scope for individuals; Zakat for Saudi/GCC nationals](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/tax/#tax-sa-individuals-income-tax-zakat) Source/zakat scope Foreign-source income: Source/zakat scope **Details** Income tax applies to non-Saudi partners' shares in resident capital companies and to non-residents with a permanent establishment or Saudi-source income; resident Saudi and GCC nationals carrying on an activity are subject to Zakat instead. #### Taxed on Income tax: non-Saudi partners' shares of resident capital-company profit and income of non-residents from Saudi sources (by withholding tax or permanent establishment); taxable activity covers commercial, industrial, agricultural, service, banking, insurance, investment, leasing and professional activity. #### Who it applies to - Resident Saudi natural persons and GCC nationals treated alike who engage in an activity are subject to Zakat collection rather than income tax (ZATCA Zakat FAQ). #### Exclusions - Opening bank accounts and trading shares of companies listed on the Saudi Capital Market by a resident natural person are not taxable activity under the Law (ZATCA Income Tax page). - Withholding tax on payments to non-residents ranges from 5% on dividends, rent, loan charges and insurance to 15% on royalties and 20% on management fees (ZATCA WHT guideline). #### Tax residence A natural person is resident with a permanent residence and 30 days in the Zakat year, or 183 days without a permanent residence. Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/tax/) Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Saudi Arabia.** Remote workers usually look at [Premium · Gifted](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-gifted/), [Premium · Property owner](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-owner/), [Premium · Off-plan property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-off-plan/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). ## Arriving in Saudi Arabia: first steps 1. Make sure your passport and your family's passports have enough validity left for the application. 2. Arrange health insurance for yourself and your family and keep it valid. 3. For the investor route, set up the business licensing and commercial registration and keep evidence of ownership and capital injection. 4. For the entrepreneur routes, get the MISA entrepreneurial licence and the recommendation letter from the approved investor. 5. Keep records showing you meet the job creation and ownership conditions during the conditional period. ## Questions people ask ### What special talent visas does Saudi Arabia have? Saudi Arabia has 1 talent scheme. It is [Premium · Gifted](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-gifted/). ### How much do you need to invest for residency in Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia has 3 investor routes. [Premium · Property owner](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-owner/) asks for an investment of at least SAR 4,000,000 (≈ $1,070,000). [Premium · Off-plan property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-real-estate-off-plan/) asks for an investment of at least SAR 4,000,000 (≈ $1,070,000). [Premium · Investor](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-business-investor/) asks for an investment of at least SAR 7,000,000 (≈ $1,870,000). ### Can I retire or live in Saudi Arabia on my savings or pension? Saudi Arabia has 2 retirement or pay-to-stay routes. [Premium · Permanent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-permanent/) asks for a fee of SAR 800,000 (≈ $213,000). [Premium · 1-year renewable](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-renewable-one-year/) asks for a fee of SAR 100,000 (≈ $26,700) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ### Can I move to Saudi Arabia by starting a business? Saudi Arabia has 2 business or startup routes. [Premium · Entrepreneur 1](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-entrepreneur-class-i/) asks for an investment of at least SAR 400,000 (≈ $107,000). [Premium · Entrepreneur 2](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-entrepreneur-class-ii/) asks for an investment of at least SAR 15,000,000 (≈ $4,000,000). ### What work visas does Saudi Arabia offer foreigners? Saudi Arabia has 3 work visas. [Premium · Talent (executive)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-special-talent-executive/) asks for a salary of at least SAR 960,000 a year (≈ $256,000). [Premium · Talent (specialist)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/premium-special-talent-professional/) asks for a salary from SAR 14,000 a month (≈ $3,730). There is also [Work visa (iqama)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/saudi-arabia/employer-work-visa-iqama/). ## Compare with [🇹🇭 Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/) [🇯🇵 Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/) [🇮🇩 Indonesia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/) [🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/) [🇸🇬 Singapore](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/) [🇲🇾 Malaysia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/) [🇻🇳 Vietnam](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/vietnam/) [🇰🇷 South Korea](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.