High turnout for family visas as MoI eases requirements

• The Ministry of Interior canceled the requirement of a university degree for obtaining family visas.

• ⁠Residency Affairs Departments, especially in Farwaniya, Ahmadi, and Hawalli, saw heavy crowds on the first day of implementation.

• ⁠Approximately 540 applications were received, with around 320 visas issued. The remaining applications had deficiencies needing rectification.

The Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) recent decision to ease family visa requirements has been met with enthusiasm from residents in Kuwait.

This welcome change simplifies the process for reuniting families and has garnered praise for First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Minister of Defense Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef.

Previously, a university degree was mandatory for obtaining a family visa. The MoI’s new policy replaces this requirement that focused on the applicant’s profession.

The impact of the relaxed requirements was immediate, according to reports by Al-Rai newspaper.

Residency Affairs Departments across Kuwait, particularly in Farwaniya, Ahmadi, and Hawalli, witnessed a significant surge in applicants.

Residents flocked to these departments to submit applications for family joining visas for their spouses and children under 14 years old.

Sources revealed that the system received approximately 540 applications, with a majority originating from residents of Arab countries.

While roughly 320 visas were successfully issued, the remaining applications were placed on hold due to incomplete documentation.

A frequent issue was the lack of properly authenticated birth certificates. For a seamless application process, applicants must ensure their birth certificates are authenticated by the Kuwaiti embassy abroad, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, and the applicant’s home country’s embassy in Kuwait.

Applicants must also ensure they possess all required documents including a passport with validity exceeding one year, sponsor’s new work permit and sponsor’s recent salary certificate.

In recognition of the initial surge in applications, the Ministry of Interior has taken proactive measures to expedite the processing of complete applications.

This includes issuing instructions to streamline the process and ensure a quicker turnaround time.

Officials anticipate the application volume to stabilize within a few days as users become more familiar with the new system.