Kuwait Introduces Comprehensive New Residency System with 9 Residence Permits and 12 Visit Visas

  • 24/11/2025

Kuwait has introduced a comprehensive new residency system through executive regulations that categorize foreign entry into 9 types of residence permits and 12 visit visa categories. The system, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, establishes clear guidelines for entry, residency, and deportation.

Key provisions include:

  • Regular residency limited to 5 years, extendable to 10 years for specific categories

  • Investor residency available for 15 years

  • 12 designated entry points including Kuwait International Airport and various land/sea ports

  • Residence fees ranging from 10 dinars (domestic workers) to 500 dinars (investors)

  • Family reunification requiring minimum 800 dinar monthly salary with 9 profession exemptions

  • Administrative deportation for those without income, working illegally, or deemed security risks

The 9 residence categories cover:
Government employment, private sector work, domestic workers, commercial/industrial activities, family reunification, study, foreign investment, temporary government contracts, and temporary oil sector work.

Visit visas include:
Government, business, family, private, medical treatment, multiple-entry, tourist, sports, cultural/social activities, transit, transport drivers, and emergency visas.

The regulations also specify conditions for converting visit visas to residence permits and outline absence limits from Kuwait, with most residents required to return within six months to maintain their status.

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