How long does it take to get citizenship in Saudi Arabia?

The naturalization process in Saudi Arabia takes 16–48 months on average (25 months typical). You need 10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years) before applying.

What are the steps to get Saudi Arabia citizenship?

1. Application via Absher (0.5–2 months). 2. Ministry of Interior review (12–36 months). 3. Royal Decree (3–12 months)

What is the residency requirement for Saudi Arabia citizenship?

You need 10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years) to be eligible for naturalization in Saudi Arabia. Very restrictive.

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Immigration Tracker

Saudi Arabia — Citizenship Timeline

10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years) → 3 processing steps → passport

Average Total

25mo

Range

16–48mo

Speed Rank

#19 of 20

Residency Req.

10 years continuous (Premium Residency holders: 5 years)

Processing Steps

1Application via Absher1mo avg (0.5–2 months)

2Ministry of Interior review18mo avg (12–36 months)

3Royal Decree6mo avg (3–12 months)

Total processing time

Slow25 months average

Important Notes

Very restrictive. Must renounce previous nationality. Arabic proficiency required. Premium Residency (2019) offers a faster path. Kafala system abolished Jun 2025 — workers can now change jobs freely.

How Saudi Arabia compares

Average naturalization processing time, all 20 countries. Saudi Arabia highlighted.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Interior, Premium Residency Center · Last updated: 2026-09

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