Kuwait is implementing stricter restrictions on family visas for expatriates, resulting in numerous summons for foreign residents who have violated the country’s residency regulations, reports Gulf News.
According to Kuwaiti authorities, the Residence Affairs Investigations Department has undertaken a concerted drive in recent weeks to identify expatriates who initially surpassed the minimum salary level of KD800 ($2,610) but later fell below it owing to job changes or lower income.
These individuals, most of whom had utilized their higher incomes to get family residency permits (Article 22) for spouses and children, have now been forced to regularize their status within one month or return their dependents to their home countries.
The enforcement action follows Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, which was introduced in January by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah.
Initially, the resolution required candidates to have a university degree and work in a profession that matched their skills, as well as earn a monthly salary of at least KD 800.
A July 2024 change abolished the degree requirement while keeping the income barrier as the principal condition for sponsoring family members.
The Interior Ministry has stated that the family visa process is still open to all expats, regardless of nationality or educational background, as long as the salary criterion is met.
However, under Article 29 of the new regulation, eligibility is confined to individuals who work in jobs that are commensurate with their claimed profession. Discretionary exceptions may be allowed for children under the age of five or those born in Kuwait, subject to approval by the Director General of Residency Affairs.