Kuwait Residency Renewal

If you plan to live or work in Kuwait you should know that to achieve this goal you will need to have a residency visa.

So as a holder of this legal document you will be able to reside and work in the country legally during its validity.

But if you have a residency visa that is about to expire or has already expired, it is necessary to renew it. In this post we will give you the steps to follow to renew your Kuwait residency visa.

What is the Kuwait residency visa?

It refers to a mandatory visa also known as iqama, which must be applied for by all those foreigners who have the intention of settling in Kuwait.

In the case of those persons coming from GCC countries (members of the Gulf Cooperation Council) they are not required to apply for a residence visa to stay in Kuwait.

Considerations to take into account for the renewal of residency in Kuwait

Regarding the renewal of the Kuwait residency visa, this procedure can be carried out online by those foreigners in possession of a valid residency permit.

In addition, these foreigners must have been hired by a company or sponsored by a private individual.

It should be noted that in order to renew the Kuwait residency visa, applicants must meet the requirements.

Having said that, let's take a look at the different ways in which the Kuwait residency visa renewal can be done.

Kuwait Residency Insurance Renewal

Prior to renewing your Kuwait residency visa, you will need to renew your medical insurance. This can be done through the official website of the Ministry of Health which can only be accessed from Kuwait.

Once you are on the Ministry of Health website the next thing you will need to do is click on the e-Services box.

Then click on the drop-down menu and from the options available there select the one that says Health Insurance Registration.

This will take you to another page where you will have to enter your username and password to log in.

Once you have done this proceed to select the type of insurance you want.

After this enter the requested data in the appropriate boxes and accept the terms and conditions established by the Ministry of Health.

Once you have done this, click on the Pay icon and follow the instructions indicated to carry out this operation.

How to do the Kuwait Residency Renewal

After having completed the process for the renewal of the medical insurance it is time to proceed with the renewal of the residence visa.

The first thing you will need to do is to enter the official website of the Ministry of Interior.

Once inside click on the tab identified with the option Renew Residence located in the menu on the left side of the screen.

This will take you to another page where you will have to enter your civil ID number and click on the Next button.

Click on the Continue button if you have no infractions on your record. Otherwise, we suggest you to resolve it.

Next enter the duration of your residence (1 year) together with your cell phone number.

Once you have done this check the box to confirm this information and then click on the Submit button.

Finally make the payment for the renewal process.

In addition to this, you will need to renew your civil identity card in order to obtain the extension of your residence visa. This process can be done through the PACI website.

Kuwait Residency Renewal Requirements

In order to renew your residency in Kuwait you should have the following general documents ready:

Passport valid for at least one year.
Completed application forms
Copies of civil identity card
Copies of driving license (optional)
Passport size photographs
Proof of your financial situation

In case you are trying to renew the residency visa for your family members you will need to submit the following documents:

Copy of the passport
Copy of the residence permit
Carnet type photographs of each family member
Marriage Certificates/Birth Certificates to justify your relationship

Residence permit renewal status check in Kuwait

To check the status of your residency visa you will need to enter the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website.

Once inside you may be asked to provide your passport number, visa number or civil identity number.

Kuwait Residency Renewal Fees

The fee for the renewal of the Kuwait residency visa is 10 KWD per person, i.e., the sponsored person, spouse and two children.

In case they have an additional child the fee for this child will be 100 KWD, while for parents and in-laws the fee for them will be 200 KWD per person.

Please consult with the General Directorate of Residency (Division of the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait) for more accurate and updated information on Kuwait residency renewal fees.

Types of residence visa in Kuwait

There are three types of Kuwait residency visas; all of them require a sponsor to be processed.

Only when the person has accumulated a considerable amount of time in Kuwait and has sufficient financial resources it will be able to sponsor its residency.

Having said that, let's take a look at the different types of residency visas that Kuwait offers:

Dependent Visa

This visa also called family visa is designed so that people employed in Kuwait can have the opportunity to bring their family members to live with them in the country.

Thus, a person who has obtained a visa as a dependent in Kuwait can then bring his wife and children through the processing of this visa.

National visa

This refers to a visa that allows a person residing in Kuwait to bring another person who has been hired as a full-time domestic employee.

Employment visa

This visa is granted to all those who are hired to work in the public or private sector, in accordance with the immigration regulations, specifically articles 17 and 18.