Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has announced a sweeping increase in residency and visa fees, with several categories facing significant hikes, Kuwait Times reported. The revised charges, published in the official gazette on Sunday, will take effect one month from now. They are part of the executive by-laws introduced under the updated Residency Law issued last year.
The ministry has also confirmed the minimum monthly salary of KD800 required to sponsor a spouse and children. Fees for sponsoring dependants outside the immediate family — such as parents or siblings — have risen to KD300 a year.
The new regulations include revised fees, new conditions for dependents, and expanded options for visit visa extensions and conversions.
Visit visas now cost KD10
Under the new structure, all visit visas — including those for tourism, family visits, work entry or residency entry — will carry a flat fee of KD10. The by-laws also allow visit visas to be renewed once for the same period and permit their conversion into residency under certain conditions. Parents of newborns will also have up to four months to process residency stamping, an increase from previous time limits.
Higher renewal fees for residency
The renewal fee for standard residencies, covering government employees, private sector workers, foreign students, clergymen and similar categories, has doubled to KD20 per year.
Bedouns who have obtained another nationality fall under the same rule.
Residency fees for foreign investors and property owners (Articles 19 and 21) will be KD50 annually, while the newly introduced self-sponsored residency category (Article 24) comes with a steep KD500 annual fee.
Dependents see major hikes
Annual dependent fees have been revised across categories:
- KD20 for dependents of residents working in government, private sector or students.
- KD40 for dependents of foreign investors, property owners and clergymen.
- KD100 for dependents of self-sponsored residents (Article 24).
- KD300 — up from KD200 — for dependents other than spouses and children, such as parents.
Children of naturalised Kuwaiti women will pay KD20, while children of Kuwaiti women who gained citizenship by birth remain exempt.
Temporary residency and departure fees
Temporary residency (Article 14) will carry a charge of KD10 per month, with domestic helpers paying KD5. The same fees apply to extensions.
Foreigners cancelling their residency and preparing to leave the country must pay KD10 per month during the “departure period”.
Temporary residency is granted to those exiting Kuwait permanently, individuals in urgent circumstances, or visitors needing more time. It is valid for three months and renewable up to a year.
Residents seeking permission to stay outside Kuwait beyond the six-month limit must pay KD5 per month.
Also Read: ‘Visit Kuwait’ Platform Now Live to Streamline E-visas for Travelers
