Family Visa Kuwait: The Ultimate Guide for Expat in 2025

Planning to bring your family to Kuwait? Whether you’re a first-time expat or already living and working in the country, understanding the process of obtaining a family visa is crucial. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from eligibility and requirements to the application process, costs, and latest updates.

What is a Kuwait Family Visa?

A Kuwait family visa, also known as a dependent visa, is the kind of visa that allows you to bring along your family members with you to Kuwait. It can either be processed while coming to Kuwait or during residence in the country and covers spouses, children, and sometimes, parents. 

Types of Kuwait Family Visa

There are two different types of Kuwait family visas, and they are:

• Family Visit Visa: This type of family visa enables the family members of a Kuwait resident to come visit them for a short period of time. Usually lasting for about 30 days, the family visit visa is only for temporary stays and does not afford the holder any residency.
• Family Residence Visa: This Kuwait family visa is the bone of contention here. It is the kind of visa that allows a foreign national to enter and reside in Kuwait on the sponsorship of a relative in the country.

Eligibility Criteria for a Kuwait Family Visa

To become eligible to sponsor or be sponsored on a Kuwait family visa, each party must attain certain respective criteria. Here is a breakdown of the eligibility criteria for sponsoring a family visa and being a dependent.

Sponsor’s Eligibility

• Legal Resident: Only legal residents of Kuwait are allowed to sponsor a family visa. Therefore, the sponsor must possess a valid residency permit or Iqama. This could be a work visa, student visa, or permanent residence permit.
• Salary of 800 KD: Before a Kuwait resident can sponsor family members on a visa, they must first prove their financial capabilities in supporting the dependent expenses. Currently, the minimum salary requirement for a Kuwait family visa is 800 KD.
• Criteria for no degree: As of recent updates (late 2024/early 2025), foreign nationals without a university degree can sponsor their spouse and children under the age of 14 if they meet the minimum salary requirement. Previously, a university degree was often necessary.
• Specific professions: Foreign workers in fields like engineering, medicine, and higher education can still sponsor their spouses and children of all ages (including those between 14 and 18), regardless of their academic qualifications and provided they meet other criteria like the salary requirement.

Dependent’s Eligibility

• Legitimate Family Member: The dependant must be a legal and immediate family member of the foreign worker in Kuwait. This typically falls under spouses and children, and in some cases, parents also.
• Must Prove Relationship: Claiming to be a family member is not just enough; dependants must provide documents strongly proving their relationship with the Kuwait resident to be eligible for a family visa. Official documents such as a marriage certificate (for a spouse) or a birth certificate (for a child) might be the best bet here.

Documents Required for a Kuwait Family Visa

To secure a Kuwait family visa, applicants must be able to provide certain documents to validate the process. The table below highlights the documents required for the application of a Kuwait family visa:

• Visa Application Form: A completed visa application form containing all necessary details is required. The form is obtained from the General Directorate of Residency Affairs and is the responsibility of the sponsor.
• Salary Certificate: Sponsors of a Kuwait family visa must provide a recent salary certificate proving that they meet the minimum salary requirement.
• Copy of Civil ID/Passport/Residency Page: Sponsors must present a copy of their valid Civil ID, passport, and residency page to the General Department of Immigration during the visa application.
• Proof of Accommodation: The sponsor must present proof of ready accommodation for the incoming family member or members. This can be in the form of a tenancy agreement, etc.

• Valid Passport: The dependant must possess a valid passport for identification. The passport is required to have a validity period extending at least six months beyond the intended stay in Kuwait or a minimum of 2 years.
• Passport-size Photos: Usually, one or two recent passport-size photographs with a white background are required.
• Health Certificate: A medical examination is usually required, including tests for contagious diseases like Hepatitis B & C, Malaria, Filariasis, Syphilis, and a chest X-ray for Tuberculosis. For applicants over 12 years old, an HIV test is also typically needed. The health certificate should be recent (e.g., issued within three months of submission).
• No Criminal Record: Dependents must present a police clearance certificate from their home country or area of last residence confirming that they have no criminal records.
• Vaccination Records: As per requirements, dependents under the age of 5 must have a vaccination record.

How to Apply for a Kuwait Family Visa

Applying for a Kuwait family visa is a process that involves both the dependent and the sponsor. With each having their own responsibility, here’s the application process of a Kuwait family visa:

• The sponsor in Kuwait prepares the required documents and books an appointment with the General Department of Immigration online.
• At the scheduled time and office branch, the sponsor visits the immigration authority, together with all the required documents.
• The sponsor will present the necessary documents, fill an application form, and complete other procedures as required by the responsible official.
• Once the application steps are complete, a fee of 3 KD is paid by the sponsor to forward the application.
• For the dependents outside Kuwait, once the initial approvals are obtained in Kuwait, they will likely need to apply at the Kuwaiti Embassy in their home country, presenting the required documents.

Schedule an Appointment for a Kuwait Family Visa Application

Before you can visit the immigration department for the application of a family visa, it is required that an appointment be booked first. This can be done through the following method: ^[1]

• Visit the Kuwait Meta Portal “from here”.
• If you have an account already, enter the following in the provided spaces:
  • Your Civil ID number
  • Your Meta Portal password

• If you don’t have a Meta Portal account, click “Register as a new user”.
  • Enter Civil ID number.
  • Enter Civil ID card Serial Number.
  • Enter mobile number.
  • Enter email address.
  • Click “Register”.
  • Complete the verification process.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the “Appointment Search” Area.
• Under the service categories, click “Ministry of Interior”.

• Go to the “General Department of Immigration” And click “Services”.
• Click “Apply” On the required service.
• Select a branch office.
• Choose a date and time for the appointment.
• Confirm the appointment.

Kuwait Family Visit Visa Duration 2025

The typical duration of a Kuwait family visit visa is one month (30 days) from the date of entry. While extensions might be possible under certain circumstances (like medical emergencies or family matters), they are typically granted for short periods and require application to the immigration authorities before the original visa expires. It’s important to note that the Kuwait family visit visa is not convertible into a residence permit while the visitor is in Kuwait.

Kuwait Family Visit Visa News Today 2025

The latest Kuwait family visit visa news includes some recent changes made to the family visa program. The changes aim to streamline the process and enhance security, according to Ministerial Decree No. 56 of 2025. For example, a minimum salary requirement of 800 KD is now needed for sponsoring spouses and children, while a minimum salary of 400 KD is required for sponsoring parents.

As per recent changes, sponsors applying for a family residence visa generally need to possess a university degree relevant to their field of work, although there are exceptions for certain professions. This requirement, however, isn’t explicitly mentioned for visit visas.

Conclusion

As an expatriate in Kuwait, a family visa is one of the surest and most sustainable ways of reuniting with your family. By checking the eligibility criteria and fulfilling all requirements, one can easily secure a dependent visa for their family members and bring them over. It is important to note that while all requirements may be met, the Kuwait Immigration Department retains sole discretion for approving family visas.