Kuwait City: Kuwait has introduced new regulations allowing eligible foreign investors to obtain residency permits valid for up to 15 years, as part of efforts to encourage direct investment and strengthen the country’s business environment.
The new rules, published in the official gazette Kuwait Today, are based on Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026 and apply to investors covered under Law No. 116 of 2013 on the promotion of direct investment. Residency permits will be issued by the General Directorate of Residency Affairs upon recommendation from the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority.
The residency programme covers investment entity owners, partners, managers, senior executives approved by the authority and their family members. To qualify, the investment entity must hold a valid investment licence, maintain a minimum investment volume of KD 5 million, have capital of at least KD 1 million, and operate an active business within Kuwait.
Applicants must provide a valid passport, criminal record certificate and supporting documentation, while the investment entity must commit to employing Kuwaiti nationals according to approved workforce requirements. Authorities are required to decide on complete applications within five working days.
The new regulations also allow residency renewal as long as the investment entity continues to meet all required conditions. Residency may be cancelled in cases involving fraud, forged documents, corruption convictions, loss of eligibility requirements, licence cancellation or prolonged inactivity of the investment project.
Under the rules, investors whose residency expires may remain in Kuwait for up to 90 days to settle obligations, with the possibility of extending the period to a maximum of 180 days under approved procedures.
