New Kuwait Family Visit & Dependent Visa Rules (2026): KD 800 Salary Rule, Degree Requirement & PACI Civil ID Renewal

Kuwait's Updated Residency & Dependent Sponsorship Regulations

The Ministry of Interior (MOI Kuwait) has officially reopened and updated criteria for Family (Dependent) Residency Visas (Article 22) and Family Visit Visas. The revised regulations balance humanitarian considerations with strict workforce qualifications, setting standardized income baselines and educational thresholds.

For expatriates residing in Kuwait City, Hawalli, Farwaniya, Ahmadi, and Jahra, mastering these rules ensures successful sponsorship of spouses and children while maintaining Civil ID validity through the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI).

1. Core Eligibility for Kuwait Dependent Visa (Article 22)

To successfully sponsor direct family members for residency, the applicant must meet all four statutory conditions:

• Minimum Salary: Exactly KD 800 per month as registered on the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) work permit. Combined spousal incomes or side contracts are not counted.
• University Degree: The sponsor must possess an attested university bachelor's degree matching their active profession in Kuwait.
• Specialized Exemptions: Certain medical, engineering, and judicial professions hold discretionary allowances under MOI directives.
• Child Age Limits: Male children can be sponsored up to age 21, while unmarried daughters have no age restriction provided they remain unmarried.

2. Kuwait Family Visit Visa Regulations & Ticket Rules

For short-term family visits (parents, siblings, spouse, and children):

3. Step-by-Step PACI Online Civil ID Card Renewal

Once the residency stamp (Iqama) is approved on the MOI portal (moi.gov.kw):

1. Visit the PACI Portal (paci.gov.kw) and select 'Civil ID Renewal for Non-Kuwaiti'.
2. Enter your Civil ID Number and serial number located on the back of your card.
3. Pay the renewal fee (KD 5 for smart chip card) via K-NET.
4. Download the Kuwait Mobile ID App (Kuwait ID) for instant digital identity verification, or book home delivery via PACI Delivery Service (KD 2).