Kuwait Introduces KD 150 Fee to Convert Visit Visa to Residency

  • Publish date: since 6 hours Reading time: 1 min read

New residency update takes effect immediately; domestic workers remain exempt.

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Kuwait Implements New Residency Rules for Expats

Planning to change your visit visa to a residency permit in Kuwait? There is an important new update you need to know. Kuwait has officially introduced a KD 150 fee to convert visit visas into regular residency permits.

This new rule is part of the government's plans to update the country's residency procedures. The decision was published in the official gazette, Kuwait Alyoum, under Ministry of Interior Decision No. 1091 of 2026, and the rule has taken effect immediately.

How does the new rule work?

The new amendment adds a clause to Article 39 of the residency laws. Under this update, applicants must pay a fee of KD 150 when converting their visit entry visa into a regular residence permit.

Who is exempt from this fee?

The Ministry of Interior has shared some good news for households. Domestic workers and individuals in equivalent categories are completely exempt from paying this KD 150 fee.

All relevant authorities in Kuwait have been instructed to implement these new changes right away. If you are planning to update your residency status soon, please make sure to keep this new step in mind for a smooth process!

AI contributed to the creation of this article.