Saudi Arabia Digital Nomad Visa
Digital nomads are now welcome in Saudi Arabia. Its fast growing cities as well as economical strength and the modernized infrastructure are making it one of the best destinations of remote professionals.
In 2024, Saudi Arabia introduced a Digital Nomad Visa, one of the opportunities giving location-independent workers the ability to live and work within the Kingdom on a short-term basis without the need to have their traditional employer.
This visa falls under the Saudi vision 2030 that plans to diversify the economy and invite international talent. In this program, the country is opening the door to professional who desire to work remotely as they explore the beautiful blend of tradition and innovativeness.
What is Good about Living as Digital Nomads in Saudi Arabia?
There are reasons why Saudi Arabia is an option for a digital nomad as compared to other destinations:
- Global standards infrastructure: Saudi cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah have high-speed internet connections, the best co-working facilities, and advanced accommodation.
- Taxation: Digital workers can benefit financially because Saudi Arabia does not collect any personal income taxes.
- Strategic position: Located in a strategic position that has easy access to Europe, Asia, and Africa, it is an ideal choice among professionals who travel regularly.
- Low cost of living: The cost of living in Saudi Arabia is 30-50 percent lower than in cities in Western Europe or the U.S. Outside the capital region, it is even cheaper.
- Safety: This country in recent years has been characterized by safety and social openness, particularly to foreign residents.
- Long-stay visa choice: This visa lets you legally reside in Saudi Arabia and with no requirement to find a local employer.
The advantages of the Saudi Arabia Digital Nomad Visa
- One-year initial visa, extendable to a maximum of 5 years.
- Availability of local amenities like banking, housing and healthcare.
- No responsibility to pay foreign-sourced income tax.
- Ability to apply with family members (spouse and children).
- Completion of full rights of legal residence during the visa.
- Liberty to work with international clients or your own company online.
Application Requirements
To apply for the Saudi Arabia Digital Nomad Visa, you have to satisfy the following primary conditions:
- At least 22 years of age by the time of the application.
- Possess a valid passport that has validity of at least 12 months.
- Show evidence of remote work or self-employment with a foreign company.
- Provide bank statements for the past 6 months to check income.
- Buy health insurance that is valid in Saudi Arabia.
- Submit a clean criminal background certificate.
- Deposit visa application fee about SAR 440 (~$117) .
These income requirements are reasonable in contrast to the other EU digital nomad visas, and thus Saudi Arabia is more affordable to a wider range of people.
Validity of the Visa
There are legal ways for digital nomads who earn money from overseas to stay in the country through other visa options like the tourist e-visa or freelance permit. The most widely used is the tourist e-visa, valid for one year and allows multiple entries. It also has no required income.
Will This Result in Residency or Citizenship?
The Digital Nomad Visa does not explicitly provide permanent residence and citizenship. Nonetheless, when a visa holder has been in legal standing for five consecutive years, they may qualify to apply otherwise through special programs such as the Saudi Premium Residency program.
Step-by-Step Process of How to Apply
1. Get Your Papers Ready
You’ll need:- Passport copy
- Passport-size photo
- Employment letter or freelance contracts
- Bank statements
- Income proof
- Insurance policy
- Background clearance certificate
2. Fill in the Application Online
See the Saudi Arabian official digital nomad visa portal. Complete all your documents online and proceed to upload.3. Pay the Necessary Amount
The process of visas costs approximately SAR 440 ($117) when it comes to options like tourist e-visa. The portal can be used to pay online.4. Application Processing-Wait
Most applications are processed in 30 business days. You will get the status updates by email.Benefits of working with VIP Nomads
We ensure that the whole process goes smoothly at VIP Nomads. We shall assist you with our immigration professionals:
- Fill in the application error-free
- Translating and checking documents.
- Be observant of all the deadlines
- No delays and rejections
We are not just the paper pushers but the ones who help you experience the actual process of living the lifestyle of a remote professional in a new country. Moreover, we have assisted clients in more than 30 countries to obtain long term digital nomad visas in expanding destinations such as Saudi Arabia.