A Blog on Saudi Arabia’s Citizenship for Sale Scheme

The Saudi Arabia\’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) … Monday that expatriates from 17 countries can benefit from the recent measures aimed at easing the process of obtaining a passport, including the introduction of a new online application system.

Introduction to Jawazat

Saudi Arabia recently announced that they would be issuing its first national ID card, called Jawazat. The ID will list the individual\’s name, gender, age, nationality, marital status, and address. This is aimed at easing the work of administrative authorities by avoiding duplication of names and identification documents. Saudi citizens can purchase citizenship for $5,000; while residents of other countries may pay up to $25,000.

Processing the expatriates’ request for renewal of residency after completing their contract or leaving the Kingdom
Foreigners who wish to renew their residency in the Kingdom can do so by submitting a request for renewing their residency to the Department of Residency Affairs. The application should be accompanied with a photocopy of their passport, a copy of their work permit and exit permit.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the program, people must be 18 or above and want to invest in property in Saudi Arabia. This investment must be upwards of $300,000 USD.

Other Requirements

In order to qualify for Saudi citizenship, a person has to be a Muslim. Saudi authorities will also perform an investigation into the person\’s background and ensure he/she does not have any outstanding debts with the government or taxes that are owed.

The process of applying for renewal of residency

The process is fairly simple. Applicants will need to provide the following:
-At least two copies of their original Saudi Arabian passport with at least six months validity remaining on each copy
-A photocopy of the applicant\’s valid residency visa or entry stamp
-A photocopy of the applicant\’s Clean Record Certificate indicating that they have no criminal record