150 Dinar Fee to Convert Visit Visa to Ordinary Residence

The Official Gazette, “Kuwait Today,” published in its Sunday, August 2, issue, Decision No. 1091 of 2026 by the Ministry of Interior, amending certain provisions of Ministerial Decision No. 2249/2025 concerning the Executive Regulations of the Law on the Residency of Expatriates.

Article One stipulates the addition of a new clause, numbered (4), to paragraph “ninth” of Article 39 of Ministerial Decision No. 2249/2025, which sets a fixed fee of 150 dinars for converting an entry visa for visit purposes into a regular residency permit, in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Decision. This fee shall not apply to domestic workers and those treated as such, as per Article 20 of the same Decision.

Article Two tasks the competent authorities, each within its respective jurisdiction, with implementing the Decision, which shall take effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

According to the Decision, this fee is linked to the conversion of a visit visa into a residency permit under the provisions of Article 16 of Decision No. 2249/2025, which specifies five cases for such conversion, as follows:

An entry visa for visit purposes may be converted into a regular residency permit in the following circumstances:

1. For individuals arriving with a government visit visa issued by one of the state’s ministries, public authorities, or public institutions, limited to holders of university degrees and individuals with specialized technical skills, subject to the approval of the Director General of the General Administration of Residency Affairs.

2. For domestic workers and those treated as such.

3. For individuals joining a family member who arrived with a family visit visa or a tourism visit visa.

4. For individuals who entered Kuwait with a work entry visa, initiated the procedures to obtain the requirements for residency issuance, and were compelled to leave the country, remaining abroad for a period not exceeding one month.

5. For any other cases deemed appropriate by the Director General of the General Administration of Residency Affairs.