Now Expats in Kuwait Must Earn Minimum KD 800 to Sponsor Family Visa

23/11/2025

Now Expats in Kuwait Must Earn Minimum KD 800 to Sponsor Family Visa

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 23: The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, has issued the executive regulations for the decree on the law governing the residence of foreigners in Kuwait. These regulations provide comprehensive details regarding the conditions, fees, and procedures for all types of entry visas, as well as for visits and residency permits.

Family / Dependent Visa Requirements

Under the revised law, foreign residents seeking to sponsor family members must meet a minimum monthly salary requirement of 800 Kuwaiti Dinars. However, there are nine professions which are mentioned below that are exempted from this decision.

Residency Renewal Fees

- Renewal of a family visa for a spouse and children costs 20 KD per person per year.

- For other family members, the renewal fee is 300 KD per person per year.

However, the Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs may grant exceptions to this salary requirement in certain cases. These include foreign residents who are already residing in Kuwait, those born in Kuwait, or children under the age of five born outside Kuwait to parents residing in the country. Exceptions are granted in accordance with regulations established by the Director General.

Exempt Categories

The regulations specify nine categories of professionals and workers who are exempt from the salary requirement for family reunification:

Legal researchers working in the government sector.
Professors at universities, colleges, and higher educational institutes.
Supervisors, teachers, and social and psychological specialists employed in the government sector.
Engineers working in both the government and private sectors.
Religious personnel, including imams, preachers, muezzins of mosques, and Quran memorizers.
Medical and health professionals, including employees of the Ministry of Health and military medical institutions such as pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, and technicians in various specialties.
Media professionals, including journalists, correspondents, and employees of international news organizations.
Sports personnel, including coaches and athletes affiliated with government sports federations and clubs.
Funeral service providers, including those responsible for preparing the deceased for burial and conducting burial services.

These regulations aim to facilitate family reunification while ensuring that foreign residents meet reasonable income standards, with flexibility granted for certain professional categories and exceptional cases.