The Ministry of Interior issued Ministerial Decision No 1091 of 2026 which amends provisions of Ministerial Decision No 2249 of 2025 governing the executive regulations of the Residence Law for Foreigners. The amendment published in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm adds a new clause setting a fixed KD 150 fee for converting a visit entry visa into a regular residence permit in line with Article 16 of the regulations. Domestic workers and those in similar categories are exempted from the charge under Article 20 while all applications stay subject to the Director General of Residency Affairs who factors in labor market conditions and decree requirements.
Informed sources within the security apparatus reported that hundreds of expatriates recently had visit-to-residency applications turned down for failing to meet the ministerial decree conditions. Conversions under residency articles such as 17 18 20 and 22 require precise criteria with many cases needing explicit approval from the Director General of Residency Affairs and at times senior Ministry of Interior officials. The framework ensures every request aligns with national priorities and prevents unchecked shifts between visa categories.
Family reunification applications demand that the sponsor earn a minimum monthly salary of KD 800 to bring a wife along with sons under 18 years of age or daughters under 21. The KD 150 conversion fee applies on top of required health insurance coverage and official stamp duties for these cases. Such sponsorships proceed only after full verification that all supporting documents satisfy the established thresholds set by the regulations.
Humanitarian and exceptional circumstances permit parents holding residency to sponsor children under five years old when the mother already possesses legal status in the country. A husband may similarly sponsor his wife if her prior residency expired within the past year provided all other conditions hold. These narrow allowances fall under the discretionary authority of the Director General of Residency Affairs who reviews each instance against the full decree text.
Work permit conversions from visit visas face tight restrictions and generally limit approvals to those previously issued ministry or government visas who hold high qualifications. Domestic workers may transfer status according to standing labor regulations while individuals returning from involuntary leave lasting less than one month can shift to a business visa. The Directorate General of Residency Affairs maintains complete discretion over approvals to match labor market demands and overall residency policy objectives.
Public Authority for Civil Information figures place Kuwait’s expatriate population at more than 3.3 million accounting for over two-thirds of the country’s total residents. The updated conversion rules and associated fee arrive as authorities continue refining procedures under the Foreigners Residence Law to balance administrative efficiency with regulatory compliance. Recent reforms have focused on standardizing documentation checks and reducing processing ambiguities across residency offices.
