Kuwait summons expatriates for violating family visa rules

The Residency Affairs Investigations Department recently summoned dozens of expatriates who brought their families to Kuwait in apparent violation of the ministerial decision regulating family joining visas (Article 22). The decision, amended in July 2024, allows expatriates to sponsor their wives and children on family visas if their salary is no less than KD 800, regardless of academic qualifications.

The summoned expatriates had initially met the salary requirement of KD 800 by obtaining work permits with qualifying salaries. They used these permits to apply for family visas, which were approved, a security source told Al-Anba daily.

However, according to the source, many of these individuals later changed jobs or reduced their working hours, bringing their actual salary below the required threshold.
The authorities deemed this a circumvention of the law and issued a one-month grace period for the expatriates to either:

• Rectify their residency status by returning to jobs that fulfill the salary condition, or
• Send their families back to their home countries.

Each summoned individual was also required to sign a written pledge to comply with the legal conditions within the given timeframe.

The source emphasized that the KD 800 salary condition was set based on comprehensive studies, establishing that this income level allows a head of household to adequately support a family and maintain a decent standard of living in Kuwait.

The Ministry of Interior, according to the source, applies this rule uniformly to all expatriates, regardless of nationality or educational background, so long as they meet the salary condition specified in the ministerial resolution.

The Ministry also relies heavily on the automated digital link between government agencies, which plays a crucial role in detecting any manipulation or fraudulent data — whether in residency permits or even in driving licenses issued by the General Traffic Department.

Issued in January 2024 by Acting Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, the original decision included:

• A minimum salary of KD 800 for sponsoring family members.
• Requirement that the sponsor’s job title aligns with their academic qualifications.

In July 2024, the decision was amended to allow non-university degree holders to sponsor their wives and children, provided they still earn KD 800 or more, based on the salary stated in their work permit.

Revised Article 29 says foreigners may obtain family residency (Article 22) if their monthly income is not less than KD 800, calculated based on the profession tied to their current residency – -exceptions apply to children under 5 years old born outside Kuwait to residents; individuals already present or born inside Kuwait.

These cases may be exempted from the salary condition by the Director General of Residency Affairs.

Article 2 — The Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry is tasked with implementing the decision, which is effective upon publication in the Official Gazette.

Driving License Cancellations for Violations

The same source confirmed that the General Traffic Department is actively revoking driving licenses for expatriates who no longer meet the eligibility requirements they originally qualified under.

For example, if an expatriate loses their job, or their salary drops below the limit, their license is automatically invalidated through the automated system.

Expatriates are urged to verify the status of their driving licenses via their Civil ID or the “Sahel” app.

Anyone caught driving with a revoked or invalid license will be considered as driving without a license and will face detention and referral to judicial authorities. Ignorance of the license’s invalidity will not be accepted as a legal excuse.

Exceptions to Driving License Eligibility

A separate ministerial decision also identifies certain exempt categories who may obtain driving licenses without meeting conditions related to — minimum salary, length of residence, university degree

This exemption applies to specific job categories and situations, ensuring that necessary mobility is available where justified.

This development reflects Kuwait’s continuing efforts to streamline residency policies, uphold demographic balance, and ensure legal compliance through digital governance and interagency coordination.