Kuwait issues comprehensive executive regulations for foreign residency law

The First Deputy Prime Minister has issued Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025, detailing the Executive Regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners.

The resolution, which consists of 41 articles, will take effect one month after its publication, setting out clear procedures for entry, exit, and residency for foreign nationals in Kuwait.

Under the new regulations, a foreigner may not enter or leave Kuwait without a valid passport or equivalent travel document issued by their home country or a recognized authority, which must be presented at the port of entry, reports Al-Jarida daily.

Entry and exit are limited to designated ports, including Kuwait International Airport, Al-Abdali, Al-Salmi, Al-Nuwaiseeb, North and South Ahmadi Ports, Shuaiba, Shuwaikh, Al-Zour, Doha, the Fourth Refinery Port, and Umm Al-Maradim.

Foreigners must hold a valid entry visa issued by the General Directorate of Residency Affairs, at a Kuwaiti port of entry, or by a competent Kuwaiti authority abroad. Nationals of countries granted exemptions through ministerial decrees, based on reciprocity, may enter without a visa.

The regulations define multiple types of entry visas for residency. These include visas for government and private sector employment, domestic workers aged 21 to 60, commercial or industrial activity, joining family members, study, foreign investment, temporary government contracts, and temporary work in the oil sector.

Each visa category specifies eligibility conditions and the competent authority responsible for issuance. Exceptions to certain conditions may be granted by the relevant minister in accordance with existing laws.

The resolution represents a comprehensive framework aimed at streamlining entry, residency, and employment procedures for foreign nationals while maintaining compliance with Kuwait’s legal and regulatory standards.