What is a MISA license and who needs one?
A MISA license is the mandatory first step for any entity with foreign ownership in Saudi Arabia, whether full or partial. Without it, the commercial registration cannot be issued for an LLC with a foreign partner, a branch of a foreign company or a regional headquarters.
You need a MISA license if you are a foreign company opening a branch or subsidiary, a foreign individual setting up a company, or a Saudi company taking on a foreign partner. Companies wholly owned by Saudis do not need it.
The new Investment Law, issued by Royal Decree M/19 in 2024 and in force since early 2025, removed the investment licence requirement and replaced it with investor registration with MISA before investing, plus an annual update. Many people still call it a MISA license, and names and steps on the platform may change, so we track these changes before every application.
Types of MISA license
MISA licences are classified by activity, and each type has different requirements. Choosing the right type at the start matters, because it sets the documents, any other regulators whose approval is needed and the expected capital, and changing type after issuance means a new amendment request and extra time. The main types are:
| Licence type | Suits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Consulting, technology, marketing, contracting and more | The most common type |
| Industrial | Factories and production lines | Also needs an industrial licence from the sector body |
| Trading | Wholesale and retail | Per the 2026 Investor Guide: SAR 30 million capital for 100% foreign ownership plus investment commitments; check before applying |
| Entrepreneur | Start-ups backed by an approved incubator or accelerator | Needs an endorsement from an approved body |
| Professional | Regulated professions | Needs a licence from the professional body |
| Regional headquarters | International groups managing the region from Riyadh | A separate programme with its own conditions |
Categories and conditions are indicative and change. We identify the right type for your activity before applying.
MISA license requirements
The core MISA license requirement is that the activity is open to foreign investment and the investor can prove their legal and financial standing. MISA also looks at whether the capital fits the activity and planned scale, and at how clear the ownership structure is and who controls the company, so a simple shareholder structure, clearly documented in the resolution, helps. Typical requirements include:
- An activity not on the list excluded from foreign investment.
- An existing parent company with audited financial statements, or an individual investor who can show financial standing when asked.
- Capital suited to the activity; some activities have a minimum set by MISA or the sector regulator.
- A general manager appointed for the Saudi entity.
- Foreign documents attested and translated into Arabic.
- Premises or an address in the Kingdom at the commercial registration stage.
Documents required
Documents vary slightly by investor type, but most applications need the list below, attested in the issuing country and at the Saudi embassy, then given a certified Arabic translation. Some countries can use an apostille instead of embassy attestation. Attestation and translation usually cost SAR 2,000 to 6,000.
- Commercial registration or certificate of incorporation of the parent company.
- Articles or memorandum of association of the parent company.
- Audited financial statements for the latest financial year.
- Shareholders' or board resolution to invest in Saudi Arabia, appoint the manager and set the capital.
- Passport copies of the shareholders and manager.
- Power of attorney or delegation for the service provider to file on the platform.
MISA license process and timeline
MISA registration is completed online in five steps. The Investor Guide gives a service time of 10 working days once the application is complete; in practice we plan on about 20 to 25 days, including responding to queries and paying the fee.
The longest stage is often document attestation in the investor's country, which can take from one week to several weeks depending on the country and embassy, so we advise starting it as soon as the activity and entity are set. The platform stage itself moves faster when the file is complete and consistent from the start.
Activity check
We confirm the activity is open and set the licence type and required capital.
Prepare documents
Attest and translate documents and prepare the shareholders' resolution and power of attorney.
Submit the application
Create the investor account on the MISA platform, submit the application and upload documents.
Follow up and respond
We follow the application and answer any MISA queries until the licence is issued.
Commercial registration
After the licence we notarise the articles, issue the CR and complete the other government registrations.
Timelines are indicative and depend on the activity and document completeness. Confirm before applying.
Common reasons a MISA license is delayed
Most MISA license delays come from the documents, not from the ministry, and good preparation avoids them. The causes we see most often:
- Documents not attested by the Saudi embassy, or a missing attestation stage.
- The parent company's or shareholders' names differ between documents and translations.
- Outdated or unaudited financial statements.
- An activity that does not match the approved classification, or a restricted activity needing another regulator's approval.
- Capital that does not fit the activity or the planned scale of business.
- A shareholders' resolution that does not clearly state the manager, their powers and the capital.
We review your documents before attestation and submission to reduce the chance of rejection or correction requests.
MISA license cost and renewal
MISA sets the registration fee and notifies it when the application is approved, and an application is void if the fee is not paid in time, so we do not publish a fixed figure here and confirm the current fee with you before applying. The other costs of setting up a foreign entity include commercial registration (SAR 1,380 to 2,300), articles notarisation (SAR 500 to 2,000), Chamber of Commerce (SAR 2,000 to 3,000 a year) and document attestation and translation (SAR 2,000 to 6,000).
The new Investment Law requires an annual update of the registration, and an update whenever partners, capital or activities change. Missing the annual update can require re-registration and affect the company's services, so we remind clients ahead of the date and handle updates and amendments.
Grow More is an independent private firm, not a government body. Government fees are paid at cost with receipts, and our fee is a fixed quote agreed before work starts. We never ask for passwords or OTP codes, and we update you at every step.
Government fees shown are indicative and change from time to time. Grow More is an independent private firm, not a government body; we confirm current fees in your quote before we start.