What Kuwait's Ministry of Interior actually charges in 2026 under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 — and the health insurance fee that now blocks every iqama renewal.
Overview
Kuwait's residency and visa fee structure was comprehensively reformed by Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025, which came into force on 23 December 2025, implementing the Executive Regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners. The Ministry of Interior (MOI), General Directorate of Residency Affairs, administers all iqama (residency permit) issuances and renewals. Under the new framework, the annual iqama renewal fee for most expatriates has doubled to KWD 20 per year — covering private sector workers (Article 18), government employees (Article 17), foreign students, and religious figures. Investors, partners, and property owners pay KWD 50; self-sponsored residents under Article 24 pay KWD 500. All entry and visit visas are now standardised at KWD 10 per month regardless of purpose. Crucially, mandatory health insurance at KWD 100 per year has been doubled and is now a prerequisite — no iqama will be issued or renewed without it. The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), which manages work permits via the Ashal portal (e-portal.manpower.gov.kw), charges KWD 150 per new work permit. Verified against moi.gov.kw and official reporting on Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 as of June 2026.
Iqama (Residency Permit) Annual Fees — from 23 December 2025
| Residency category | Annual iqama fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private sector employees (Article 18) | KWD 20 | Doubled under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025. Previously KWD 10. |
| Government sector employees (Article 17) | KWD 20 | Same rate as private sector. |
| Foreign students, religious figures, widows/divorcees of Kuwaiti nationals with children | KWD 20 | Standardised category. |
| Domestic workers (Article 20) — sponsored by Kuwaiti families | KWD 10 | Lower rate retained. |
| Domestic workers sponsored by expatriate families | KWD 50 per helper (first two) | Escalating fee for additional helpers. |
| Foreign investors, partners, property owners | KWD 50 | Eligible for long-term residency of up to 10 or 15 years. |
| Self-sponsored residents (Article 24) | KWD 500 | Highest-cost category; requires significant financial means. |
Visit Visas, Work Permits and Dependent Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All visit visas (family, business, tourist, medical) | KWD 10 per month | Standardised rate. Valid up to 3 months, renewable up to 1 year. |
| Multiple-entry visit visa | KWD 10 per month of stay | Valid up to 1 year; each stay limited to 1 month. |
| Work permit (new) — PAM Ashal portal | KWD 150 | Per permit. Many sectors (healthcare, education, investment, industry) are exempt. |
| Work permit transfer before 3 years | KWD 300 | Where permitted under PAM rules; sectoral restrictions apply. |
| Spouse/child dependent iqama (most expatriate sponsors) | KWD 20 per person/year | Minimum sponsor salary: KWD 800/month. KWD 40 for dependents of investors. |
| Non-immediate family dependents (e.g. parents) | KWD 300 per person/year | Doubled under new regulations. |
| Mandatory health insurance (all expatriates) | KWD 100 per year | Prerequisite for all iqama issuance and renewal. Doubled from KWD 50. |
Long-Term Residency and Investor Categories
- 15-year investor residency: Foreign investors holding a valid licence under Law No. 116 of 2013 on Foreign Capital Investment may be granted residency for up to 15 years. Annual fee: KWD 50.
- 10-year residency: Available to children of Kuwaiti women, foreign nationals who own real estate in Kuwait, and other categories specified by the Ministry of Interior. Annual fee: KWD 50.
- Standard 5-year residency: The baseline term for most private and government sector expatriates remains 5 years, though Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024 enables extensions.
- Temporary residency (Article 14): Valid 3 months, renewable up to 1 year. Fee: KWD 10 per month for most categories; KWD 5 per month for domestic helpers.
- Absence rule: Residents absent from Kuwait for more than 6 months without MOI approval have their residency lapse. A KWD 5 monthly fee applies to permits authorising extended absence.
What Is Not Included in Iqama Fees
- GAMCA/Wafid pre-departure medical: Conducted in the home country at an accredited clinic; fees vary by country and clinic but are separate from MOI iqama fees.
- PACI Civil ID card: The Public Authority for Civil Information issues the Civil ID card (Bataka) which records residency details; this carries its own administrative fee.
- MOFA attestation of documents: Documents submitted for employment or family sponsorship require Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation on top of any iqama fee.
- PAM work permit exemptions: Government-owned companies, licensed healthcare institutions, universities, private schools, KDIPA-approved investors, agricultural, fishing, industrial, and charitable entities are exempt from the KWD 150 work permit fee under the December 2025 regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to renew an iqama for a private sector worker in Kuwait in 2026?
Under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025, which came into force on 23 December 2025, the annual iqama renewal fee for private sector employees (Article 18) is KWD 20 — double the previous KWD 10 rate. This fee is paid to the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Residency Affairs. In addition, mandatory health insurance of KWD 100 per year must be valid before the iqama will be renewed. Your employer typically processes the iqama renewal through the MOI e-services or the Sahel platform.
Does Kuwait require health insurance to be in place before renewing my residency permit?
Yes — as of December 2025, valid health insurance is a legal prerequisite for all iqama issuance and renewal in Kuwait. The mandatory health insurance fee is KWD 100 per year, doubled from the previous KWD 50. The residency duration may not exceed the insurance validity period. If your insurance lapses before your iqama expires, the MOI will not process a renewal until you reinstate coverage. This applies to private and government sector workers, dependents, and all other residency categories.
What salary do I need to sponsor my spouse and children for a Kuwait family visa?
The Ministry of Interior requires a minimum monthly salary of KWD 800 to sponsor a spouse and children under Article 22. Certain professional categories are exempted from this threshold by ministerial order. Once the sponsor earns the minimum, the annual dependent iqama fee is KWD 20 per person for spouses and children, rising to KWD 300 per person per year for non-immediate family such as parents. All dependents must also be covered by the sponsor's health insurance policy.
How much does a work permit cost in Kuwait and who is exempt?
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) charges KWD 150 per new work permit application, processed via the Ashal portal (e-portal.manpower.gov.kw). Broad exemptions apply: government-owned companies, licensed healthcare institutions, universities, private schools, investors approved by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), and agricultural, fishing, industrial, and charitable entities are all exempt from this fee under the December 2025 ministerial regulations. Transferring a worker before completing three years costs an additional KWD 300.
What is the fee for a Kuwait visit visa and how long can I stay?
Under the December 2025 regulations, all visit visa categories — family, business, tourist, medical, and government — are charged at a standardised rate of KWD 10 per month, regardless of purpose. A visit visa is typically valid for three months and may be renewed for similar periods, up to a maximum of one year in Kuwait. Multiple-entry visit visas are valid for up to one year, with each individual stay limited to one month. Certain visit visa types can be converted to a residency permit in approved cases.
Can foreign investors get long-term residency in Kuwait?
Yes. Under the framework introduced by Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024 and Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025, foreign investors licensed under Law No. 116 of 2013 on Foreign Capital Investment may be granted residency for up to 15 years. Property owners and children of Kuwaiti women qualify for residency of up to 10 years. Both categories pay an annual iqama fee of KWD 50. This represents a significant departure from Kuwait's historic short-term iqama model and is designed to attract longer-term investment commitment.