An investor iqama in Saudi Arabia is an ordinary residence permit sponsored by your own MISA-registered company and issued to you as owner or general manager. It is not the "business investor" product of premium residency, which requires a stake of at least SAR 7 million and 10 employees. This guide covers both routes, the steps on each platform, the real yearly cost, and how to move an existing iqama to your company.
"Investor iqama" in Saudi Arabia covers two different permits. Here is what separates them.
A company-sponsored investor iqama in Saudi Arabia is issued to the foreign owner or general manager, and its sponsor is their own MISA-registered company. The Investor Guide sets no minimum amount for it, only a valid commercial registration (CR) and investment registration.
When describing company owners and directors, the guide names the professions "Investor", "General Manager", "CEO" and "Chairman of the Board". The iqama is then managed on Muqeem or Absher, like any employment iqama.
The business investor residency is one of the premium residency products issued by the Premium Residency Center on pr.gov.sa. It requires a stake of at least SAR 7 million and 10 employees, and grants permanent residency without a sponsor.
Most founders start with the first route, because it follows investment registration with MISA directly. The second comes later, once investment and headcount reach the threshold.
Comparison based on the Investor Guide (02-2026) and the Premium Residency Center pages, reviewed in October 2026.
Table 1
| Criterion | Iqama through your company (MISA) | Business investor residency (premium) |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat), after a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources | Premium Residency Center |
| Sponsor | Your own company | None |
| Investment condition | No minimum in the guide; in practice, capital consistent with the activity | Stake of at least SAR 7 million in a MISA-registered company |
| Hiring condition | Nitaqat requirements by company size and activity | 10 employees registered with GOSI |
| Government fees | Yearly iqama fee, work permit and expat levy (see table below) | SAR 4,000, one-off |
| Duration | Renewed as long as the company is active and compliant | Permanent, provided the criteria hold for the first two years |
| If the company closes | The linked iqama falls with it | Residency stays once the two-year conditions are met |
| Best for | Most SME founders | Investors with substantial capital and headcount |
The usual route for a foreign investor living outside the Kingdom. Durations are the Investor Guide's estimates per service, not a guarantee.
Register the investment with MISA, then sign the articles of association and obtain the CR. The general manager's name must appear on the CR, because their iqama depends on it. Details in MISA investment registration.
Register the company on Qiwa (Ministry of Human Resources), Muqeem and GOSI (social insurance). For some services, the guide requires a Saudi-appointed authorised person as the company's account manager.
The company requests a work visa for a senior profession (General Manager, CEO, Chairman of the Board) with the investment registration, CR, articles of association and passport, stating nationality and country of departure.
Enter on the work visa, then complete a comprehensive medical exam sent electronically to Jawazat, plus health insurance, also filed electronically. Before this stage, a business visit visa covers meetings and signatures.
The work permit for the senior profession is issued using your border number. The guide requires an electronic work permit before a general manager's iqama is issued.
The iqama is issued on the CR, the investment registration and the passport bearing the entry visa. Family visas can then be requested through the guide's family visa service for investors and senior professions.
If you already work in the Kingdom on an employment iqama, you register your investment and form your company, then use the "Sponsorship Transfer and Modification of Senior Occupations" service listed in the Investor Guide (02-2026).
Government fees and mandatory costs for one foreign general manager, as used across our site in October 2026. The amount shown at payment on Absher, Muqeem or Qiwa is the one that applies.
Table 2
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Work visa with medical exam | About SAR 2,000 to 3,500, one-off | Plus visa centre and degree attestation depending on your country |
| Iqama fee | About SAR 650 a year | Renewable in 3 to 12-month blocks, pro rata |
| Expat levy | SAR 700 or 800 a month | SAR 800 when expats outnumber Saudis, the usual case for a start-up with a foreign manager |
| Work permit | About SAR 100 a year | Issued through Ministry of Human Resources e-services |
| GOSI | 2% of basic salary plus housing | Paid by the employer, salary capped at SAR 45,000 a month |
| Health insurance | About SAR 800 to 6,000 a year | Mandatory; price depends on age, cover class and insurer |
There is no single permit by that name. In practice, an investor iqama in Saudi Arabia means one of two routes: the iqama sponsored by your own MISA-registered company, or the business investor product of premium residency (SAR 7 million and 10 employees).
Through your company, you pay ordinary residency costs: about SAR 650 a year for the iqama, an expat levy of SAR 700 or 800 a month, health insurance, and about SAR 2,000 to 3,500 for the work visa with medical exam. The premium "business investor" residency costs SAR 4,000 one-off, but requires an investment of at least SAR 7 million.
Through your company, the Investor Guide requires a valid CR naming the general manager, a valid investment registration, an electronic work permit, a comprehensive medical exam and health insurance. It sets no minimum investment for this iqama.
Register your investment with MISA and form your company, then the company requests a sponsorship transfer and a change to a senior profession. You need Ministry of Human Resources approval and a resignation letter from your previous employer certified by the Chamber of Commerce; the guide estimates one working day for the service.
No. A foreign investor can own 100% of a MISA-registered company in most open activities, so no Saudi partner or sponsor is needed. With a company-sponsored iqama, your own company is the sponsor. Premium residency has no sponsor at all.
Yes. The Investor Guide lists a family visa service for investors and senior professions, with documents such as the marriage certificate and children's birth certificates. Dependants on an ordinary iqama carry a monthly fee, unlike premium residency.
Holding shares does not grant an iqama automatically. The shareholder must be sponsored by the company in a registered profession, such as a senior profession or the "Investor" profession named in the guide, or hold premium residency. The right profession is confirmed at filing for your case.
A company-sponsored investor iqama is tied to your company and falls if it closes, with no minimum investment. The premium business investor residency is personal, permanent and sponsor-free, but requires SAR 7 million and 10 employees over the first two years.
Information verified in October 2026. Amounts and timelines are observed ranges provided for information only. Government fees are set by Saudi authorities and may change: they are confirmed in writing in the quote before you commit to anything.
In a free 30-minute call, we look at your stake, your investment size and your current status in the Kingdom. We then tell you which route works today and what comes next. Written proposal, government fees at cost, final decision with the authorities.