KUWAIT CITY : Following recent government announcements allowing expatriates in Kuwait to bring their spouses and children on visit visas with the possibility of converting them into dependent residency, confusion has emerged among applicants. Despite widespread expectations, many typing centres report that the conversion option is not yet available in practice, leaving families uncertain about timelines and procedures. The discrepancy between official statements and on-ground implementation has raised questions about when the new regulation will be fully activated and uniformly applied across residency departments. Below is a question from an Arab Times reader.

Question
Dear Arab Times,
Recently Kuwait govt. has announced that the expatriate can bring their spouse and children in visit visa and convert them into dependent visa.. However, when we checked for the application the typing centres are telling it’s not yet implemented.. Any idea when this rule will be implement?

Answer
Kuwait's Ministry of Interior has officially announced measures allowing expatriates to bring their spouses and children on visit visas with the option of converting them into dependent residency. The policy framework exists, residency departments and typing centres are still awaiting clear executive instructions and system activation, which is why conversion applications are currently not being accepted.


What does the rule say
1. New Visit-Visa Family Rules Are Already in Effect
Kuwait has expanded and reopened family visit visas for expatriates as part of broader immigration reforms implemented in 2025. Under these updated visit visa rules:

There is no longer a minimum salary requirement for family visit visas (including spouses & children) — meaning more expats can invite family members on visit permits.
Family visit visas can be issued for single or multiple entries and can be valid up to one year, although each stay usually cannot exceed around 30 days.
These changes were introduced in August 2025 and are active now — but visit visas are still temporary and separate from standard dependent (sponsorship) residency.
2. Conversion to a Dependent (Residence) Visa Is Not Automatic

In November 2025, Kuwait updated residency regulations under Article 16, which now specify five cases in which a visit visa can be converted into a regular residence permit (which includes dependent/family residency), subject to approval by the General Administration of Residence Affairs.
One of these cases explicitly covers family visit visas — if the purpose is to join an immediate family member legally residing in Kuwait, conversion may be permitted under Article 16’s criteria.

Also in Nov 2025, a rule was passed by increasing the salary cap for sponsoring a dependent visa. ( Expatriates seeking to sponsor family members (spouse and children) on a dependent/residence visa must have a monthly salary of at least KD 800.)
Currently, only some expats have been granted who meet the conditions (financially & on humanitarian grounds). For the full roll-out timeline, no official public date has been announced yet for when all typing centres and all scenarios will fully support the visit-visa to dependent-visa conversion. Authorities are in the process of fully implementing the rule in early 2026.