Kuwait Announces Major Overhaul of Residency System With Higher Fees

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced sweeping changes to the country’s residency system. The update introduces new visa categories, higher fees, and tighter regulations that affect expatriates, sponsors, and domestic workers.

The new regulations will come into effect on December 23, 2025.

Visa and Residency Fee Increases

Under the new law, visa fees have been raised across the board. A flat fee of 10 Kuwaiti dinars now applies to all types of visit and entry visas. These visas are typically valid for three months and may be renewed once. Multiple-entry visit visas may last up to one year.

Residency permit fees have been adjusted based on the applicant’s status. Annual fees now include:

• Public/private sector workers: 20 dinars
• Investor residency: 50 dinars
• Property owners: 500 dinars
• Domestic workers under Kuwaiti sponsorship: 10 dinars
• “Self-residency” category (with proof of income): 20 dinars

Dependents and Family Residency Rules

To sponsor family members, expatriates must earn at least 800 dinars per month. Dependents other than spouses and children must pay an annual 300-dinar sponsorship fee. 

Dependent fees vary by sponsor type:

• 20 dinars for dependents of public/private sector workers
• 40 dinars for dependents of investors and religious workers
• 100 dinars for dependents of property owners

Certain groups, such as spouses and children of Kuwaiti nationals, as well as children of Kuwaiti women, are granted full or partial fee exemptions.

Domestic Worker Limits and Fees

Kuwaiti families may sponsor up to 5 domestic workers based on household size. Basic annual fees remain 10 dinars, but extra workers will cost more, starting at 50 dinars for each additional hire. 

For non-Kuwaiti resident families, the annual fee is 50 dinars for the first two workers, then 400 dinars for the third, 500 dinars for the fourth, with higher fees applied for each worker after that.

Temporary Stay, Overstay Fines, and Departures

Temporary residence permits cost 10 dinars per month (5 for domestic workers). Exit permits after residency cancellation carry the same fee. These are valid for three months and may be renewed up to one year.

For example, fines for delays in exceeding the duration of a visit visa, delaying birth registration, or expiring residency without leaving, and other violations start at 2 dinars per day, then gradually increase based on the infraction. Caps will depend on visa type.

Application Requirements and Deportation Rules

Sponsors are fully responsible for submitting applications online and providing correct documentation. The residency procedure must be completed within two months of arrival. Newborns must be registered within four months and have valid health insurance.

Administrative deportation may apply even with valid residency, for reasons such as unauthorized employment, public security concerns, or repeated legal offenses.