IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Kuwait has increased the minimum monthly salary requirements for foreign nationals sponsoring family and visit visas.

What does the change mean? Employees must earn at least KWD 500 ($1,480) per month to sponsor dependent visas.

  • Implementation date: Immediate and ongoing.
  • Visas/ permits impacted: Family visit visas.
  • Who is impacted: Employees sponsoring spouses and dependents for family and visit visas.

Background: Kuwait last increased the minimum salary required for foreign nationals to sponsor their family members in Oct. 2016.

According to Article no. 30 of the Ministerial Decision no. 957 of 2019, foreign employees in the following 14 professions are exempted:

  1. Doctors and pharmacists
  2. Counselors, judges, prosecutors, legal experts and researchers in the legal/law field
  3. Educational instructors in universities, colleges and higher education institutions
  4. Principals, vice principals, counselors, teachers and laboratory assistants in the public sector
  5. Qualified financial and economic consultants
  6. Preachers, muezzins and Quran teachers
  7. Engineers
  8. Librarians in private and public sectors
  9. Workers in the Ministry of Health and social services
  10. Social workers and psychologists working in the public sector
  11. Coaches and players in national sports and athletic associations
  12. Journalists, TV and radio anchors and reporters.
  13. Pilots and aircraft hosts
  14. Funeral undertakers and burial assistants

Analysis & Comments: The change represents an 11% increase in monthly salary requirements and will mostly impact foreign employees at the lower end of the salary scale.

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