Iqama duration not linked to passport validity • Some visit visas can be transferred to iqamas KD 800 minimum salary cap for family residency • Self-sponsored iqama fee raised to KD 500
KUWAIT: The interior ministry has raised fees on all residency and visa services, some substantially, confirmed the KD 800 minimum salary requirement for family residence and hiked fees to sponsor dependents other than spouses and children to KD 300 a year. The new fees are listed in the new bylaws of the new residence law, which was issued a year ago. The new fees and decisions were published in the official gazette on Sunday and will come into effect on Dec 23, 2025. The new bylaws allow extending visit visas once for a similar period and transferring visit visas into residency, and confirm the extension of the duration to obtain residency for newborns to four months.
Visit visas
Under the new bylaws, a KD 10 fee is imposed on all types of visit visas regardless of the type, including entry visas for work or residency or visit visas for tourism or visiting relatives.
Most types of visit visas are valid for three months including government, business, family, medical treatment and tourism. These visas can be renewed for a similar duration for a maximum of one year. Multiple-entry visas are valid for up to one year, but the visitor is allowed to stay for up to one month on each visit. Updated schedules for fines related to overstaying visit visas have also been approved according to the type of visa.
Some visit visas can be transferred into regular residencies. These include those coming on government visit visas, provided the holders are university graduates. The transfer rule also applies to domestic helpers, those who arrived on family visit visas and other cases to be approved by authorities.
Iqama renewal fees
The new bylaws double to KD 20 the annual renewal fee for most residencies, including residencies in the government and private sector, for foreign students, clergymen and the like, in addition to bedoons (stateless residents) who obtain citizenship of other countries. The residency fee for all types of foreign investors (articles 19 and 21) and real estate owners is KD 50 a year, while the annual fee for self-sponsored residency (article 24) is KD 500 and is introduced for the first time.
Dependents
Under the bylaws, annual fees for dependents – children and spouses – are increased to KD 20 per year for government, private sector and student residencies. The annual fee is KD 40 for dependents of foreign investors, real estate owners and clergymen. The fee is KD 100 a year for family members of self-sponsored residents (article 24). The annual fee is KD 300 – up from KD 200 – for dependents other than spouses and children, like parents.
The bylaws state that annual dependent fees for foreign children of naturalized Kuwaiti women is KD 20, while Kuwaiti women who are citizens by birth are exempt from paying fees for the residencies of their foreign children.
Expats can sponsor their wives/husbands and children provided they draw a minimum monthly salary of KD 800. The following are exempted from the salary precondition: Legal researchers in the government; professors at universities, colleges and high institutes; teachers, inspectors and social specialists in government; engineers in the government sector; imams at mosques and preachers; pharmacists and nurses in the military and health ministry; journalists and correspondents; coaches and players; undertakers, gravediggers and cemetery workers. Residency department directors can exempt people living or born in Kuwait, in addition to children aged 5 or under born outside Kuwait to parents residing in Kuwait, from the minimum salary condition.
Temporary residence
The bylaws impose a KD 10 monthly fee on temporary residency (article 14) for all categories except domestic helpers, which is KD 5 per month. A similar KD 10 monthly fee is for the extension of temporary residency. For foreigners who cancel their residencies and plan to leave for good, they are required to pay a KD 10 fee per month for what is called a departure period.
Temporary residency is given to those who plan to leave Kuwait for good, urgent cases assessed by the residency affairs department and those who arrive in Kuwait on visit visas. Temporary residency is valid for three months and can be renewed for similar periods for a maximum of one year. A fee of KD 5 per month is for obtaining a permit to stay outside Kuwait beyond the six-month limit.
Domestic helpers
Kuwaiti families of up to six members are allowed to recruit three domestic helpers, families of between six and nine members get four helpers and families larger than nine members get five helpers. Residency renewal fees per year for all these cases is KD 10. The fee increases to KD 50 for the first additional helper, KD 100 for the second and so on.
For expats, the annual residency renewal fee for two helpers is KD 50. The fee increases to KD 400 a year for the first additional helper, KD 500 a year for the second and so on. For diplomats, the fee for the first two helpers is KD 10 and rises to KD 100 for the first additional helper, KD 200 for the second and so on.
Domestic helpers must be at least 21 years old and up to 60 years old. The minister has the right to exempt someone from the age conditions.
Iqama procedures
Expats who enter the country on entry visas must complete procedures to get valid residency within two months. Expats applying for residency must have a passport valid for at least six months and the duration of residency is no longer linked to the validity of passports. Normal residency is valid for up to five years, while the duration is 10 years for foreign children of Kuwaiti women and property owners. Investors are given residency for 15 years. Granting residency is linked to obtaining health insurance from the health ministry.
Foreigners who have no work can get residency provided they submit proof of income in accordance with article 24. Property owners can also get residency after submitting proof of ownership.
Deportation
A foreigner may be administratively deported from Kuwait, even if their residency is still valid, in several cases. Deportation may be ordered if the individual has no source of income within Kuwait, or if they work for an employer other than the one stated in their residency without approval from their government employer or without authorization from the competent authorities.
Deportation may also be ordered if the interior minister determines that it is required for public interest, public security or public morals. This includes cases where the individual has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving honor or trust, has received three criminal convictions within five years with at least one involving a custodial sentence, or has received four criminal convictions of any kind within five years.
