Kuwait announces resumption of family visa for expats

Kuwait: Good news for expats living in Kuwait. Starting January 28th, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in Kuwait has started accepting applications for family visas from expatriates living in the country. This is a change from around two years ago when family visas were temporarily stopped to manage the population.

The decision to resume family visas was made under the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Acting Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah.

Family visas were suspended about two years ago to regulate the population and demographics in Kuwait. Expatriates living in Kuwait can now apply for family visas. Certain conditions must be met, including a minimum salary requirement and adherence to employment rules.

New Rules for Application:

• The acceptance of applications follows the guidelines outlined in ministerial decree No. 56 of 2024, which sets new rules for issuing entry permits for family reunions.

Conditions for Expatriates Applying for Family Visa:

• The expatriate must have a minimum salary of KD800 ($2,600) on their work permit (Izne Amal).
• They should have a university degree certificate, stamped and attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in their home country and attested at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait.
• They must be employed in the same field they studied, according to their university certificate.

Exceptions:

• Expatriate children born in Kuwait or those born outside Kuwait and under the age of five can get a family visa if both parents are working in Kuwait, regardless of the university degree and salary conditions.
• Some categories of expatriates are exempt from the university qualification requirement, but they still need to meet the salary condition.

These changes aim to make it easier for expatriates to bring their families to Kuwait, and it’s essential to understand and fulfill the specified conditions for a successful application.