Hundreds of expatriates in Kuwait have faced the rejection of their applications to convert visit visas into residency permits. According to a security source, these denials stem from a failure to meet the stringent conditions established by a recently introduced ministerial decree.
Many expatriates had submitted their requests at residency affairs departments across the country’s six governorates, operating under the assumption that the new measures applied universally to all visitors. However, officials have rejected numerous filings, while other applications remain under review pending final approval from relevant authorities, as reported by the Arab Times.
The security source emphasized that the conversion of visit visas into residency permits under Articles 17, 18, 20, and 22 is not a guaranteed right for all expatriates or nationalities. Each case is assessed individually and is subject to the final approval of the Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs.
Furthermore, certain categories of applications require additional clearance from senior officials within the Ministry of Interior. This oversight ensures that all residency changes align with the state’s current regulatory framework and security requirements.
Under the Applicants must also pay the mandatory conversion, health insurance, and residency fees.
Specific humanitarian provisions allow for limited exemptions. These include parents bringing children under the age of five if the mother already holds valid residency, and husbands sponsoring wives whose residency expired less than one year ago, provided they receive official authorization.
The source clarified that visit visas issued specifically for spouses and children cannot be converted into Article 18 work permits. Conversion to employment residency is strictly limited to specific categories, such as individuals who entered Kuwait on government-issued visit visas and possess higher academic qualifications or specialized technical skills, alongside certain domestic workers under existing regulations.
Authorities have stated that all future applications will continue to be evaluated based on the needs of the labor market and the specific conditions outlined in the ministerial decree. This approach aims to regulate the expatriate population more effectively.
The government has also implemented a new KD150 fee for the visit visa conversion process. These changes coincide with broader national initiatives, including the unveiling of a 15-year residency program for investors, new visa services for workers, and
Under the new rules, expatriates seeking family reunification may convert visit visas for spouses, sons under 18 and daughters under 21 if they earn a minimum monthly salary of KD800, in addition to paying the required c
Source: Gulf News
