Kuwait has announced the resumption of expat family visas, starting from January 28.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Interior announced it would resume handling expat requests for family visas at all departments of residency affairs across the country under new terms and standards.

It means expats in the country will be able to apply to sponsor wives and children.

Kuwait family visas

Family visas for expats in Kuwait were suspended around two years ago in an attempt to regulate population and demographic numbers in the country. Certain conditions must be met, including minimum salary and employment rules apply.

This decision was made upon the directives of Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Acting Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, the Ministry’s department of security relations and media in a statement.

The requests will be accepted based on the ministerial decree No. 56 of 2024, which sets new rules for issuing entry permits for family reunions, it noted.

Among these terms are the expat applying for the Kuwait family visa:

  • Must have a salary of at least KD800 ($2,600)
  • They should have a university degree certificate
  • They must be employed in the same field as they studied (as per University  certificate)