Business Desk 
Jan 05, 2025
Kuwait’s new residency law, which announced stricter penalties for residency and visa violations, officially came into effect on Sunday.
The updated regulations, having aim to ensure compliance with residency rules for foreign nationals and impose significant fines for violations, like failing to renew residency permits or overstaying visit visas.
Under the new regulations, individuals and companies found to be in violation of residency and visit visa rules will face hefty fines.
Key settlement fines under Kuwait's new law
Here are the key settlement fines under Kuwait's new law regulations:
Residency permits
Foreign people entering Kuwait on the following types of entry visas must secure a residency permit to be prevented from penalties:
- Family joining
- School enrolment
- Government work
- Private sector work
- Commercial or industrial work
- Medical treatment
- Temporary government contracts
Penalties for failing to obtain a residency permit:
- KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
- KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
- Maximum fine: KD1,200.
Escaping cases
If a worker’s residency is cancelled due to the termination of employment, and a new residency permit is later issued, the penalties are:
- KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
- KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
- Maximum fine: KD1,200.
Domestic workers
For domestic workers whose residency expires or is not renewed, and who fail to leave Kuwait:
- KD2 per day for delays.
- Maximum fine: KD600.
For domestic workers who do not obtain a residency permit at all:
- KD2 per day for delays.
- Maximum fine: KD600.
Expired residency
If a foreigner’s residency expires, and it will not be renewed, failure to leave the country incurs the following fines:
- KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
- KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
- Maximum fine: KD1,200.
Newborn notifications
If you fail to notify authorities of the birth of a child within four months results in:
- KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
- KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
- Maximum fine: KD2,000.
Temporary residency
Exceeding the specified duration of temporary residency results in:
- KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
- KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
- Maximum fine: KD1,200.
Visit visas
Overstaying after the expiration of a visit visa results in:
- KD10 per day for each day of overstay.
- Maximum fine: KD2,000.
This applies to various types of visit visas, including:
- Governmental visits
- Private visits
- Tourism
- Commercial purposes
- Family visits
- Multiple-entry visas
- Transport vehicle drivers (trucks, buses, etc.)
- Cultural, sports, or social activities
The new rules are part of Kuwait’s efforts to tighten its residency system along with ensuring better compliance with its immigration laws. The Kuwaiti government has stated that the new fines are part of a broader effort to reform the country's immigration system.
