Kuwait City — Kuwaiti authorities have launched a strict enforcement campaign targeting expatriates who no longer meet the salary requirements for family residency visas, summoning dozens for violating the country’s residency laws.
Salary Threshold Under Scrutiny
The Ministry of Interior’s Residence Affairs Investigations Department has intensified inspections in recent weeks, focusing on expatriates who had initially secured family residency permits (Article 22) based on a minimum salary of KD800 (approx. $2,610). Authorities say many of these individuals have since experienced job changes or salary reductions, putting them below the eligibility threshold.
One-Month Deadline to Rectify Status
Those found in violation have been given a strict one-month deadline to either regularize their residency status or send their dependent family members back to their home countries. The ministry emphasized that failure to comply will result in legal action, including potential deportation.
Part of Wider Immigration Reform
This campaign is part of Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to tighten immigration controls and ensure that residency permits reflect current economic conditions and job statuses. Officials have warned that further inspections are planned, and violators should take immediate steps to avoid penalties.
The move has sparked concern among affected expatriate families, many of whom now face difficult decisions about whether to remain in Kuwait or separate temporarily to comply with the new directives.
