MISA General License
For established companies opening a fully owned Saudi branch or subsidiary.
Overview
The General License is MISA's standard investment license for trading, services, industrial, contracting, and professional companies. It suits an established foreign business that wants to open a fully owned Saudi branch or subsidiary.
Nova Vertex handles document legalisation, the MISA submission, and every downstream registration needed to operate legally in the Kingdom.
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Eligibility and Criteria
- The parent company must generally have been established and trading outside Saudi Arabia for at least one year (sole proprietorships are typically not eligible).
- Minimum paid-up capital applies and varies by activity — services activities commonly start from around SAR 25,000, while trading and other regulated activities carry higher, activity-specific thresholds set by MISA.
- Audited financial statements and a clean commercial track record for the parent company.
- Compliance with Saudi labour, Saudization (Nitaqat), and sector-specific regulations once operating.
How the Process Works
01
Activity classification
Assess your business line and confirm the capital requirement that applies.
02
Document legalisation
Attest the parent company's incorporation documents and financials.
03
MISA submission
File the General License application with the investment and Saudization plan.
04
License issuance
License issued and Investment Registration Certificate recorded.
05
Commercial Registration
CR, municipal license, and Chamber of Commerce membership.
06
Statutory platforms
GOSI, ZATCA (VAT/Zakat), and Qiwa labour platform registration.
07
Banking
Corporate bank account opening and paid-up capital deposit.
Documents You Will Need
- Certified Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum/Articles of Association of the parent company, attested by the Saudi embassy.
- Audited financial statements for the most recent year.
- Board resolution and Power of Attorney for the authorised signatory in Saudi Arabia.
- Shareholder passport copies and company profile or activity description.
Estimated Timeline
Typically 6–10 weeks from submission of fully attested documents to a completed Commercial Registration, in line with MISA's standard multi-stage process for license, registration, and bank account opening.
Key Benefits
Full ownership for trading, industrial, service, professional, and contracting activities.
Ability to sponsor employee work visas and, where eligible, family residency.
Stronger standing for government tenders and large-scale commercial contracts.
A durable legal foundation for scaling operations across the Kingdom.
On-page note: Capital thresholds and government fees vary by activity and are updated periodically by MISA. We confirm the exact current figure for your specific activity during your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
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What happened to the old trading license?
Ministry of Investment consolidated all license types into general and entrepreneur. Existing trading licenses automatically became general licenses with broader activity scope.
Can I switch from general to entrepreneur?
Ownership restructuring is possible but involves legal steps. Consult us before making changes to avoid Ministry rejection.
Are government fees really free?
As of 2025–2026, MISA charges no fee for new general or entrepreneur licenses. This policy has been in place for approximately two years.