Kuwait City, Dec 23 — The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, has issued the new executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law, detailing all conditions, categories, and fees related to entry visas, visit visas, temporary stays, domestic worker sponsorships, and residency permits. The new regulations take effect one month after publication in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Today), becoming effective on December 23.

Article 39 outlines all fees for entry visas, residency permits, family reunification, domestic worker sponsorship, temporary stays, extensions, and other services provided by the General Directorate of Residency Affairs.

ENTRY VISAS FOR RESIDENCY — 10 KD PER MONTH FOR 9 TYPES

Each of the following residency-related entry visas costs 10 KD per month:

Government sector work
Private sector work
Domestic workers and similar categories
Commercial or industrial activity
Family reunification
Study visa
Foreign investor entry visa
Temporary government contract
Temporary work in the oil sector

ENTRY VISAS FOR VISITS — 10 KD PER MONTH FOR 9 TYPES

Article 39 sets a fee of 10 KD per month for each of the following visit visas:

Government visit
Business visit
Family visit
Private visit
Medical treatment visit
Multiple-entry visit
Tourist visit
Visit for sports activities
Visit for cultural or social activities

OTHER ENTRY VISAS — 10 KD

Three additional entry visas also cost 10 KD each:

Transit entry visa
Entry visa for drivers of transport vehicles (trucks and buses)
Emergency entry visa

RESIDENCY FEES (REGULAR RESIDENCE PERMITS)

20 KD per year for 5 categories

Government sector workers — Article 17
Private sector workers — Article 18
Foreign students — Article 23
Illegal residents obtaining residency for the first time with foreign passports, including retired military personnel and families of foreign martyrs — Article 30
Religious figures, imams, and preachers of Husseiniyas — Article 31

10 KD per year for 2 categories

Domestic workers for Kuwaiti families — Article 20
Foreign widow or divorcee of a Kuwaiti with children — Article 28

50 KD per year for 3 categories

Foreign partner — Article 19
Foreign investor — Article 21
Foreign property owner — Article 25

500 KD per year — Self-Sponsored Residency

Residency for a foreigner who sponsors himself — Article 24

FAMILY REUNIFICATION FEES — SPOUSE & CHILDREN

20 KD per year for 3 categories

Government employees — Article 17
Private sector employees — Article 18
Study visa residents — Article 23

40 KD per year for 4 categories

Foreign partner — Article 19
Foreign investor — Article 21
Property owner — Article 25
Religious figures — Article 31

100 KD per year

Self-sponsored resident — Article 24

FAMILY REUNIFICATION FEES — OTHER RELATIVES (10 CATEGORIES)

Article 39 sets the following fees:

Children of a Kuwaiti woman naturalized through marriage — 20 KD
Foreign wife / foreign husband of a Kuwaiti — 10 KD (Article 26)
Children of Kuwaiti citizens by birth — Exempt (Article 27)
Family reunion for parents, siblings, etc. — 300 KD (Article 29)
Wives and children of illegal residents with foreign passports — 20 KD
Wives and children of foreign martyrs — 20 KD
Foreign children of Kuwaiti citizens — 10 KD
Foreign parents of Kuwaiti citizens — 10 KD
Wife and children of GCC citizens — 20 KD
Spouse and children of GCC citizens — 20 KD

DOMESTIC WORKER FEES (ARTICLE 20)

Annual Residency Fees

Domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families — 10 KD
Domestic workers sponsored by foreign families — 50 KD
Domestic workers sponsored by diplomats — 10 KD

Number of Workers Allowed Based on Family Size

3 workers — for families of 6 or fewer
4 workers — for families of more than 6
5 workers — for families of more than 9

Additional workers allowed for each disabled family member (with official proof).

Additional Domestic Worker Fees

First additional worker for Kuwaiti family: 50 KD, increasing by 50 KD for each subsequent worker
Renewal fee for domestic workers: 10 KD per year
For foreign families: first additional worker 400 KD, each next +100 KD (renewal 50 KD/year)
For diplomats: first additional worker 100 KD, each next +100 KD (renewal 10 KD/year)

Transfers between employers count as new residency unless exempted for special family cases (death, incapacity, imprisonment, etc.).

RECIPROCITY RULE

Fees for nationals of countries with bilateral agreements may differ according to reciprocity.

TEMPORARY STAY, DEPARTURE NOTICE & VISIT EXTENSIONS

Temporary residency — Article 14:
- Domestic workers: 5 KD per month
- Others: 10 KD per month
Departure notice — Article 34: 10 KD per month
Visit extension — Article 15: 10 KD per month

OTHER SERVICE FEES

Changing nationality: 10 KD
Permission to be absent outside Kuwait: 5 KD per month
Exemptions:
- Wife of a Kuwaiti / husband of a Kuwaiti woman
- Parents of Kuwaiti citizens
- Domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaitis
Representative ID issuance: 5 KD