How to Obtain Property Residency in Saudi Arabia Through Property Freehold?

Many foreign investors hear about the possibility of obtaining residency in Saudi Arabia through property ownership, also known as real estate residency, but the circulated information regarding the required value and conditions is often inaccurate or outdated, especially after the recent updates to the qualification mechanism. The official name of this path is "Property Owner Residency," which is one of seven official products within the Premium Residency system managed by the Saudi Premium Residency Center. It has precise and officially defined conditions that vary depending on the type of property you choose. In this guide, we clarify all these details accurately, based on the latest official announcements.

What is Property Owner Residency?

Property Owner Residency is one of the seven official products of the Premium Residency system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside Exceptional Talent, Exceptional Ability, Business Investor, Entrepreneur, and fixed-term and permanent Premium Residencies. This residency specifically targets owners of residential properties of high value. Unlike the traditional residency tied to a sponsor, this residency does not require a host and grants the holder wide freedom of movement, with the ability to issue visitor visas for relatives and include family members (spouse, children under 25 years old, and parents).

An important point to understand from the start is that owning any property in the Kingdom does not automatically grant you this residency. The property and purchase method must meet the official criteria specified below, and a separate application must be submitted through the Premium Residency Center platform to be reviewed and approved.

What are the conditions for Property Owner Residency?

This is the most important point, as the official mechanism for Property Owner Residency has expanded to include two different qualification paths, each with its own specific conditions, in addition to general conditions common to both.

Conditions when owning an existing, ready property

This is the traditional path and requires:

• The total value of the real estate asset (or group of assets) must be at least 4 million Saudi riyals, as a non-negotiable minimum.

• The property must be residential only; commercial or industrial properties are not included in this product.

• The property must be fully constructed, existing, and ready for occupancy. Empty plots (developed or undeveloped) are not accepted under this path.

• The property ownership must not be through a mortgage financing.

• Submission of an official real estate appraisal report issued by appraisers accredited by the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers "Taqeem," proving that the current market value of the property is not less than 4 million riyals.

Read also: Properties for Sale in Saudi Arabia for Foreigners

Conditions when buying off-plan from an accredited developer

This path targets those wishing to enter the Saudi real estate market through projects under construction instead of waiting for completion, requiring:

• Purchasing a single residential unit within an off-plan sales project, with a total value of not less than 4 million riyals.

• The project must comply with all required licenses, and the developer must be accredited by the Real Estate General Authority.

• A minimum payment of 1 million Saudi riyals, or 10% of the unit's value, whichever is higher, as an initial down payment.

• The unit purchase must not be financed by mortgage, and the unit must not be mortgaged.

• Full ownership of the unit must transfer to the applicant within no more than five years from the contract signing date; otherwise, the applicant may lose their residency condition. We advise verifying this period through the Premium Residency Center platform at the time of application.

In other words, an investor wishing to buy a unit within a still-under-construction project can qualify for Property Owner Residency with a down payment that may reach only 1 million riyals instead of paying the full value upfront, provided the project and developer are officially approved, and full ownership transfer procedures are completed within the specified period.

This path is relatively new compared to the traditional path, so we advise any investor to verify the accreditation of the developer and project specifically with the Real Estate General Authority before signing any reservation contract, because purchasing a unit from an unaccredited project or developer does not guarantee acceptance of the residency application later, regardless of the unit’s value.

General conditions common to both paths

Regardless of the path you choose, these conditions remain fixed:

• The property must not be mortgaged or pledged, nor be pledged afterward.

• Possession of a valid passport.

• Fulfillment of general health and security requirements imposed by the Premium Residency Center on all applicants of its products.

• The property must continue to meet all conditions throughout the validity period of the residency, not only at the time of application.

All these conditions are subject to updates by regulatory authorities, and we always advise checking the official Premium Residency Center platform at the actual time of application.

Read also: Luxury Villas for Sale in Riyadh

What are the fees and duration of Property Owner Residency?

The fee for issuing a Property Owner Residency is 4,000 Saudi riyals, a very symbolic fee compared to the cash investments required for other products within Premium Residency such as Business Investor. Naturally, this is in addition to the real estate appraisal costs (for ready properties) and any standard documentation fees associated with the purchase process itself.

As for the duration, Property Owner Residency is not renewed in fixed annual periods like other traditional residencies but remains valid as long as you own the real estate asset and it meets the conditions.

What documents are required for Property Owner Residency?

• Valid passport.

• Electronic title deed (for existing property) or reservation/purchase contract certified by the accredited developer (for off-plan purchase).

• Real estate appraisal report issued by accredited appraisers (for ready property only).

• Proof of payment of the required installment (for off-plan purchase).

• Recent personal photos.

• Any additional financial documents that the Premium Residency Center may request to verify financial solvency.

Detailed document lists may be updated periodically via the official platform; therefore, at Imtilak Global, we always verify the latest requirements for each case at the start of any ownership file for our clients.

Read also: Apartments for Sale in Saudi Arabia in Installments

How to apply for Property Owner Residency?

• Choose the right property: either an existing residential property valued at least 4 million riyals or an off-plan unit within an accredited developer’s project according to the conditions of this path.

• Legal verification: ensure the validity of the title deed electronically (for existing property) or verify project licensing and developer accreditation (for off-plan purchase), and confirm the absence of any legal disputes regarding the property.

• Certified real estate appraisal (for ready property): obtain an official appraisal report from appraisers accredited by "Taqeem," proving the market value meets the minimum threshold.

• Pay the required installment (for off-plan purchase): pay at least 1 million riyals or 10% of the unit value, whichever is higher.

• Submit the application electronically: access the official Premium Residency Center platform, create a beneficiary account, fill out the Property Owner Residency application form, and attach the required documents.

• Pay government fees: pay the prescribed fees for processing the application and issuing the residency.

• Review and study: the competent authorities will audit the application and attachments; the duration varies depending on the completeness of documents.

• Receive the residency: the issuance of the Premium Residency, whose continuity is directly linked to continued compliance with the conditions, not to fixed annual renewal periods.

Read also: Does buying property in Saudi Arabia grant residency?

What are the benefits of Property Owner Residency?

• Complete independence: self-sponsorship without needing a host or sponsor.

• Family stability: ability to include spouse and children under 25 years old and parents to benefit from the full residency.

• Entry and exit without a visa: the residency holder and their family can leave and re-enter the Kingdom without requiring a visa.

• Resident treatment: access to governmental services (education, health, municipal services) and vehicle ownership.

• Very affordable fees: only 4,000 riyals compared to other products requiring millions in investments.

When is Property Owner Residency canceled?

The executive regulations specify cases in which residency is canceled as follows:

• Selling the property without replacement: if the property is sold or the usufruct contract ends, the system grants the beneficiary a grace period of 90 days to replace it with another residential asset valued not less than 4 million riyals; otherwise, the residency is considered canceled.

• Violation of conditions: such as mortgaging the property after obtaining residency or a court ruling confiscating ownership due to irregularities.

• Failure to transfer ownership within the specified period (for off-plan purchase): if the off-plan purchase contract is canceled or full ownership is not transferred within the specified timeframe from the contract date, the applicant may lose the residency continuity condition.

Choosing the right property for Property Owner Residency is not limited to financial value but extends to verifying developer accreditation, title deed validity, and property type alignment with the exact conditions of each path. At Imtilak Global, we review all these details with our clients before any purchase commitment, whether choosing a ready property or an off-plan unit within our accredited projects, to ensure your file meets every condition before applying to the Premium Residency Center and to save you effort and time during application review. If Property Owner Residency is part of your plan, contact our consultants for a preliminary and free review of your real estate and financial file before making any decision.

Read also: Apartments for Sale in Madinah for Foreigners

Frequently asked questions about Property Owner Residency

Can I buy a property worth one million riyals and get Property Owner Residency?

No, the official minimum total property value is 4 million Saudi riyals for both paths, and there is no exception for a lower value. The one million riyal amount is the minimum down payment specifically for the off-plan purchase path, not the total required property value.

Can I qualify by buying a unit still under construction?

Yes, through the off-plan purchase path, provided the developer and project are accredited by the Real Estate General Authority, a minimum payment of one million riyals or 10% of the unit’s value, whichever is higher, is made, and the purchase is not financed by mortgage.

Is residency granted automatically after purchase?

No, an official application must be submitted via the Premium Residency Center portal with the required documents, and each case is reviewed individually.

Does Property Owner Residency include spouse and children?

Yes, family members (spouse, children under 25, and parents) can be included to benefit from the residency with you.

What happens if I sell the property after obtaining residency?

You have a grace period of 90 days to replace it with another residential property valued at least 4 million riyals; otherwise, the residency is canceled.

Can the property be financed by mortgage to obtain residency?

No, it is required that property ownership is not through mortgage financing and that it is not mortgaged or pledged after obtaining residency.