Three tiers — not one figure
The difference between tracks isn’t just salary but additional requirements: researchers need more than salary alone — confirmed publications or patents are mandatory.
What the process consists of
The application fee is a flat, non-refundable SAR4,000, regardless of which of the three salary tracks applies.
How the process runs
A good fit if
A poor fit if
Who runs this programme
Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.
No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.
This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.
Frequent questions
Why does the site show $44,800 rather than $256,000?
The site’s headline figure is the lowest of the three tiers (researchers), not the average or maximum. The full table of all three salary tracks is shown above — the right one depends on your profession.
Can I qualify for the researcher track without publications, just a high salary?
No — per the available data, the researcher track requires BOTH conditions simultaneously: a salary from SAR14,000/month AND confirmed publications or patents; salary alone is not enough.
Does this residency lead to Saudi citizenship?
No — Premium Residency grants resident status for 5 years with PR eligibility after 30 months living in-country, not citizenship.
Why is the fee the same for all three tracks?
Per the available data, the SAR4,000 fee is flat and does not vary by which of the three professional tracks the application falls under.
What if my salary is slightly below the threshold but I have other achievements?
This page states the salary thresholds as minimum requirements per track — per the available data, no alternative compensation via other achievements for an insufficient salary is described; check with the appointed firm.
Why is there no direct pr.gov.sa link with the exact figures?
The official pr.gov.sa portal confirms the Special Talent category itself, but the exact salary figures were not directly fetched from pr.gov.sa in open search as of the checked date — the figures are confirmed by convergence of several independent sources, stated in the sources section.
Sources
Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.