General Department for Residence Affairs has clarified that in addition to the minimum salary cap of KD500, required for an expatriate to be eligible to apply for a dependent visa, foreigners who are employed in ‘marginal professions’ cannot sponsor their dependents even if they earn a monthly salary of KD500. However, the residency affairs department did not specify what the ‘marginal professions’ were.
The department has also made clear that, contrary to reports in some media which stated that children above the age of 12 will not be granted dependent visas, there has been no alterations made in the age limit for children. Expatriate children aged 18 and above, and studying in universities in Kuwait, can still renew their residence provided they submit a bonafide certificate from the concerned university.
With regard to visit visas, the department noted that an expatriate with a minimum salary of KD250 per month can apply for a maximum three-month visit visa for his wife and children, and a maximum one-month visit visa for their parents or siblings.
However, the department added that the concerned authorities had the final say in such matters and could issue a visit visa even if the salary was KD200 per month, or extend the validity of the visa beyond the maximum period of stay.
