Kuwait abolishes minimum salary requirement for family visit visas

Dubai: Kuwait has abolished its minimum salary requirement for foreign residents seeking to bring family members on visit visas, as part of an overhaul of entry rules aimed at fostering openness and strengthening social ties, authorities announced this week.

The changes, announced by Col. Abdulaziz Al Kandari of the General Residency Department’s Electronic Services Administration, eliminate a long-standing financial barrier for expatriates, who were previously required to meet a specific income threshold to sponsor relatives. 

 Now, any legal resident in Kuwait can apply to host visiting family members, regardless of earnings.

The reforms also expand the range of eligible relatives to include fourth-degree blood relations and third-degree in-laws, extending beyond immediate family, and scrap a mandate forcing visitors to arrive via Kuwait’s national airline. 

Sheikh Fahad Al Yousuf, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has ordered the cancellation of the "national carrier" requirement, allowing visitors to enter Kuwait by land, sea, or air via any airline without restriction, the statement confirmed.

Colonel Al Kandari emphasized that these measures aim to streamline procedures and strengthen family bonds, reflecting the state's commitment to greater openness and facilitating the movement of individuals.