Kuwait’s new residency requirements include a KD 10 monthly cost for all entry and visit visas

The Executive Regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law No. (2249) of 2025 went into force on December 23, 2025, according to Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior. Revised rules pertaining to entrance visas, residence permits, and compliance requirements for foreign nationals are introduced in the new regulations.  A new residence entry visa for international investors has been introduced under the revised framework. In accordance with Law No. 116 of 2013, the entry visa will be granted upon request from the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). Subject to rules established by the Council of Ministers and backed by a formal letter from KDIPA, qualified foreign investors may be given an ordinary residence visa for a maximum of 15 years.  Updated requirements for granting entry visas to domestic workers and other comparable groups are also outlined in the regulations. Entry visas will only be granted at the employer’s request, and applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 60.  Furthermore, the Ministry has instituted a four-month registration period for international infants, following which sanctions would be imposed. For the first month after the deadline, fines are KD 2 per day; after that, they rise to KD 4 per day.  There will now be a monthly price of KD 10 for all entry and visit visas, regardless of category.  The new regulations also make it clear that domestic workers with Article 20 residency permits may stay outside of Kuwait for up to four months. The residence permit will be revoked if the sponsor does not file for an exit permit within this time frame. The Ministry stated that anybody who left the country before the regulation’s effective date will not be covered by this clause.  The revised rules are intended to improve compliance, expedite residence processes, and bring Kuwait’s immigration system into line with changing administrative and economic goals.