Kuwait has introduced a KD150 fee for eligible applicants who convert a visit entry visa into a regular residency permit.
The new charge was introduced through Ministry of Interior Decision No. 1091 of 2026, which amended the executive regulations of Kuwait’s Foreigners Residence Law.
The rule took effect after its publication in the official gazette.
KD150 is a conversion fee, not automatic approval
The most important point for expats is that paying KD150 does not mean any visit visa can automatically be changed into residency.
Applications still need to meet the conditions set by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior.
Reports following the rule change showed that many applicants were rejected because they did not qualify under the permitted categories.
Some cases may also require approval from the General Department of Residency Affairs or other senior officials.
This means residents should check their specific visa category before making plans based on a possible conversion.
Who may be covered?
The new fee applies when an eligible visit entry visa is converted into regular residency under the applicable residency rules.
Different residency categories have different conditions.
For example, some family-related conversions require the sponsor to meet income and relationship requirements.
Employment-related conversions are also limited to certain cases and are not available to every visitor.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior also lists separate requirements for different visit and residency procedures on its official website.
Domestic workers are exempt from this KD150 fee
According to the announced amendment, domestic workers and equivalent categories are exempt from the KD150 visit-to-residency conversion fee under the applicable provisions.
This exemption is important for Filipino households and workers because Kuwait has a large domestic-worker sector.
However, being exempt from this specific fee does not remove the need to meet other residency requirements.
What Kuwait expats should do
Before paying fees or making plans to change immigration status, expats should confirm whether their visa can legally be converted.
They should also check whether additional costs apply, such as residency, insurance or other processing fees.
Official procedures and requirements can be checked through Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior residency services.
