Kuwait shifts toward fully digital residency services
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Kuwait is accelerating efforts to fully digitize residency services, with authorities aiming to eliminate the need for in-person visits as part of a broader modernization drive led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.
Brigadier Mazen Al-Mutairi, Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs, said the country currently processes about 25,000 residency permits per week, though figures vary depending on seasonal demand. Weekly arrivals range between 17,000 and 20,000 people, including tourists, business travelers and family visitors.
He noted that residency volumes are not fixed and fluctuate throughout the year, adding that the long-term objective is to move all services online so applicants no longer need to visit government offices.
The push comes alongside the implementation of new executive regulations for the residency law, which took effect on Dec. 24. The updated framework reorganizes how foreign nationals enter and remain in Kuwait, defining approved entry points, visa categories and residency procedures.
The regulations also introduce changes to fees across residency and visa services. Authorities confirmed the KD 800 salary requirement for family residency and increased the annual fee for sponsoring dependents other than spouses and children to KD 300.
New residency categories have been added, including permits for investors, freelancers, private business owners and specialized professionals. The updated framework also regulates domestic worker residency, sets limits on the number of workers allowed per household and outlines eligibility criteria for dependents.
To support the transition, the Interior Ministry has expanded its digital services to cover first-time residencies for private-sector employees and residency transfers within the same sector. Government entities are now electronically connected to the system, enabling them to issue visas and renew residencies online.
Al-Mutairi said the electronic administration, which manages the 24-hour “Kuwait Visa” platform, has reduced visa processing times to under five minutes. He added that Kuwait continues to welcome visitors of all nationalities, provided entry requirements and regulations are met.