Regular registration
The general case
A foreign company or individual setting up an LLC or a branch, or taking a stake in a Saudi company, in an open activity (ISIC 4 classification).
MISA license in Saudi Arabia: the investment registration certificate explained
The MISA license that every foreign investor used to need in Saudi Arabia was replaced in February 2025 by registration with the Ministry of Investment. Here is what the investment registration certificate covers, who must apply, which documents to file, what it costs and what you have to do each year.
- Processing time (MISA guide 02-2026)
- 10 working days2
- Fees
- Set by MISA on approval2
- Penalty for unregistered investment
- Fine of up to SAR 300,0001
Information verified in September 2026 · Notes and sources
In brief
- The MISA license no longer exists under that name: since the Investment Law came into force in February 2025, a foreign investor registers with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) before making any investment.
- Registration is evidenced by an investment registration certificate, which can cover several activities and must be updated every year.
- According to the Investor Guide 02-2026, applications are processed in 10 working days and the fee is set by the ministry on approval; if it is not paid within the notified deadline, the registration is void.
- The core documents are the foreign company's commercial register and last financial statements, legalised, plus any activity-specific requirements; Premium Residency holders are exempt from these.
- Investing without registration can lead to a warning, a fine of up to SAR 300,000 (doubled for a repeat violation) or cancellation of the registration.
What is a MISA license?
MISA, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (formerly SAGIA), regulates foreign investment in the Kingdom. Until 2025, every foreign investor needed an investment license for its type of activity (services, trading, industrial and so on), renewed every year.
The Investment Law replaced that system with registration. The foreign investor is entered in the national investor register kept by MISA and receives an investment registration certificate. That certificate is what allows the company to be incorporated and to obtain its commercial registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce, followed by any licences from other authorities.
People still search for and talk about the "MISA license". It is the same entry point, and the first step in company registration in Saudi Arabia.
What changed in 2025
MISA license vs investment registration certificate
Table 1
| Point | Before February 2025 | Since February 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Investment licence | Entry in the national investor register |
| Activities | One licence per activity type | One registration can cover several activities |
| Foreign investor | Mainly legal entities | Legal entities and individuals |
| Follow-up | Licence renewal | Annual registration update |
| Fees | Published schedule | Amount set by MISA on approval |
| Restricted activities | Negative list | List of excluded activities, with MISA's prior approval |
Who needs MISA registration?
Every foreign investor, before investing in the Kingdom, except for investments in securities governed by the Capital Market Law. MISA's guide sets out several categories.
Entrepreneur registration
Innovative start-ups
For innovative or technology projects with growth potential, backed by a body the ministry recognises: a Saudi university or accredited incubator, which issues a support letter quoting the activity number. This is the former "entrepreneur license".
Temporary registration
Government contract
For a foreign company that has won a contract with a public entity. The registration ends with the contract.
Regional HQ and offices
Special cases
Regional headquarters (RHQ) of multinational groups, scientific and technical office of a company with a Saudi agent, economic liaison office of a foreign state. See regional headquarters.
MISA license requirements: which documents?
Documents listed in the Investor Guide 02-2026 for regular registration. The full list, including incorporation documents, is in our document checklist.
Core documents
- Commercial register of the foreign company, legalised (the guide refers to Saudi embassy attestation; apostille has applied to Hague Convention countries since 7 December 2022, so confirm the accepted form at filing)
- Financial statements for the foreign company's last financial year, legalised
- Requirements for the chosen activity (section 05.00 of the guide)
- Certified Arabic translation of foreign documents
Representation
- Appointment of an individual as authorised representative under a valid power of attorney
- ID of any GCC national shareholder whose details are not held in Absher
Special cases
- Premium Residency holders: exempt from the foreign register, financial statements and activity documents
- Entrepreneur route: board resolution if the applicant is a company, support letter from the accredited body, employer no-objection letter for an employed resident
MISA license fees: how much does it cost?
The official guide 02-2026 no longer publishes a fee schedule; it says fees are set on approval. The figures below show the order of magnitude in previous years, so you can budget prudently.
Table 2
| Reference | Amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| MISA guide 02-2026 (current) | Set on approval | Payable within the notified deadline (15 working days per the service card), otherwise the registration is void |
| Annual update (guide 02-2026) | Set on approval | Same payment rule; processed in 5 working days |
| Previous general schedule | SAR 12,000, then 62,000/yr | SAR 2,000 licence + SAR 10,000 investor services in year one, then SAR 60,000 a year for services |
| Entrepreneur (MISA guide 2025) | SAR 2,000/yr, then 62,000/yr | SAR 2,000 a year for the first three years, then SAR 62,000 a year |
| Waivers | SAR 0 | Reported by some providers for recent registrations, with no published official text |
How to get a MISA license in Saudi Arabia
- 1
Check the activity
Check the ISIC 4 code against the excluded list and note the conditions (capital, Saudi partner, experience). For a restricted activity, MISA forwards a prior approval request to the competent authority.
- Qui
- Tasis
- Durée
- 1 to 3 days
- 2
Prepare and legalise the file
Gather documents, legalise them, obtain certified translations and sign the power of attorney for the representative.
- Qui
- You, with Tasis
- Durée
- 1 to 3 weeks
- 3
File online
Create the investor account and submit the application on MISA's e-services portal.
- Qui
- Tasis
- Durée
- 1 day
- 4
Review and approval
The ministry may ask for additional information. On approval, it notifies the amount due.
- Qui
- Authority: MISA
- Durée
- 10 working days (official)
- 5
Pay within the deadline
Electronic payment. The registration certificate is then available and the company can be incorporated on the Saudi Business Center.
- Qui
- You
- Durée
- Notified deadline
MISA license renewal: the annual update and other obligations
Licence renewal has been replaced by an annual registration update on MISA's portal. No documents are required, but the foreign company's commercial register must remain valid in its home country. Update fees are set on approval and payable within the notified deadline; processing takes 5 working days according to the guide.
Any change (shareholders, capital, activities, address) goes through an amendment service on the same portal. The guide also requires registered companies to answer ministry questionnaires within 14 working days.
Serious violations (investing without registration, carrying on a restricted activity without approval, providing false information) can lead to a warning, a fine of up to SAR 300,000, doubled for a repeat violation, or cancellation of the registration. Any ministry decision can be appealed before the competent court within 30 days of notification.
The most common reasons for refusal or delay
Frequently asked questions
What is a MISA license?
It was the authorisation the Ministry of Investment granted to foreign investors. Since February 2025 it has been replaced by registration with MISA, evidenced by an investment registration certificate, which is required before a company can be set up.
How much is the MISA license fee in 2026?
The Investor Guide (13th edition, 2026) says MISA sets the fee case by case on approval and publishes no schedule. The former general schedule was SAR 12,000 in the first year and SAR 62,000 a year after that; advisory firms now report anything from zero to about SAR 62,000 a year depending on the activity. Confirm the amount at filing.
How long does it take to get MISA registration?
MISA's guide gives 10 working days for a complete application. Preparing and legalising the documents beforehand often takes 1 to 3 weeks.
How does MISA license renewal work now?
Renewal has been replaced by an annual registration update on MISA's portal. It is processed in 5 working days and any fee is set on approval.
How can I check a MISA license?
The holder can view its registration in its investor account on MISA's e-services portal. To check a Saudi counterpart, the simplest route is to ask for its registration certificate and commercial registration.
What is the MISA entrepreneur license?
It is the registration route for innovative or technology start-ups backed by a Saudi university or accredited incubator, which provides a support letter. The 2025 guide set its fee at SAR 2,000 a year for the first three years.
Does a foreign resident in Saudi Arabia need MISA registration?
Yes, a non-Saudi resident is a foreign investor under the law. Premium Residency holders have a lighter file, and an employee using the entrepreneur route must provide an employer no-objection letter.
Notes and sources
- 1.MISA: Updated Investment Law and Q&A
- 2.MISA: Investor Guide, 13th edition (02-2026)
- 3.MISA: Investor Guide, 12th edition (2025)
- 4.MISA: e-services
- 5.Saudi Business Center: incorporating a company under an investment registration certificate
- 6.HCCH: Saudi Arabia accedes to the Apostille Convention
Information verified in September 2026. Amounts and timelines are observed ranges provided for information only. Government fees are set by Saudi authorities and may change: we confirm them in writing before you commit to anything.
See also
Will your activity get through MISA?
Before anything is filed, we check your activity code, the conditions attached to it and how your documents need to be legalised. A free 30-minute call, then a written estimate of the fees.
- Free 30-minute first call
- Reply within one business day
- No commitment