Kuwait has removed the minimum income requirement for expatriates seeking to bring family members on visit visas, according to government authorities.
The policy change comes in light of the country’s plan to review entry procedures affecting foreign residents and their families.
According to Gulf News, the announcement was made by Colonel Abdulaziz Al Kandari from the General Residency Department’s Electronic Services Administration. Under the new rules, any legal resident in Kuwait can apply to host family members for visits, regardless of income level, eliminating a restriction that had been in place for years.
Eligibility Expanded for Family Visits
In addition to removing the salary threshold, Kuwait has broadened the categories of relatives eligible for visit visas. The updated policy now permits residents to invite fourth-degree blood relatives and third-degree in-laws.
This includes extended family members such as cousins, great-uncles, and other distant relatives, in contrast to the previous rule, which focused mainly on immediate family members.
Visitors No Longer Required to Use National Airline
Another change involves the removal of a rule requiring visitors to enter Kuwait only via the national carrier. Sheikh Fahad Al Yousuf, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has instructed authorities to cancel this requirement. Visitors can now arrive in Kuwait by land, sea, or air using any airline.
This change aims to make travel arrangements more flexible and alleviate logistical constraints for visiting families. The new rule applies to all nationalities and is effective immediately, according to the official statement.
While these developments indicate an administrative shift toward accommodating the needs of Kuwait’s large expatriate population, the long-term impacts have yet to be assessed. The move has been viewed as a response to ongoing calls from foreign residents for more inclusive visa policies.
Administrative Implementation and Oversight
Implementation of the changes will be managed by the General Residency Department, which will continue to oversee visa issuance through its electronic services. Residents are expected to follow the standard application process, but without the previously required documentation to prove income levels.
Officials have not indicated any changes to the duration of visit visas or other procedural timelines. The Ministry of Interior is expected to provide further details through its official communication channels as the new rules are applied.
