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kw_rbi

Long-Term Residency for Foreign Investors Licensed by KDIPA (Law No. 116 of 2013; Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026)

Kuwait · Middle East

Source: Mobility Asset DatabaseLifecycle: UnknownExtended ResidencyEconomic Residency

Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.

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Publication state
Mobility Asset Database
Lifecycle status
Unknown
Facts checked through
Sep 21, 2026
Source snapshots
Database edition

Identity and current status

The route identity and current status.

Present
Year establishedPublished
2025
Governing lawPublished
Law No. 116 of 2013 on the Promotion of Direct Investment; Executive Regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law (Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025, Article 21); Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026
Responsible authorityPublished
Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA); Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Residency Affairs

What the program provides

What the program gives the holder.

Present
What the program providesPublished
Up to 15 years of Kuwaiti residence for owners, partners and senior executives of large KDIPA-licensed investments

Best suited for

Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Eligibility

Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.

Present
Minimum ageUnknown
Unknown
Clean criminal record requiredPublished
Yes
Local health insurance requiredPublished
Yes
Nationality restrictionsPublished
No
Basic eligibilityPublished
Owner, partner or approved senior executive of a KDIPA-licensed entity with investment value of at least KWD 5 million and capital of at least KWD 1 million deposited in Kuwait, active operations and the required Kuwaiti hiring quota
Generational limitPublished
Not applicable

Household inclusion

How spouses and children are treated.

Present
Family sponsorshipPublished
Yes
Spouse includedPublished
Yes
Children includedPublished
Yes
Child age limitUnknown
Unknown
ChildrenPublished
Spouses, parents and children may be included; family permits run for the investor's approval period

Documents

Evidence categories and filing documents.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Process and timeline

How you apply and how long it takes.

Present
Processing timePublished
From 1 week
Can apply without travelingPublished
Yes
How you applyPublished
Online through the KDIPA investor portal; KDIPA recommends and the Ministry of Interior issues the residency
Required in-person stepPublished
Entry on the investor residence entry visa issued at KDIPA's request to complete residency issuance in Kuwait
What the processing time measuresPublished
KDIPA must decide within 5 working days of a complete file (Cabinet Resolution 651/2026, Gulf News); Ministry of Interior issuance time not published
Official application routePublished
https://icrp.kdipa.gov.kw

Costs and investment

Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.

Present
Minimum investmentPublished
$16,300,000
Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
None required
Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
$16,300,000
Processing feePublished
$163
Application feeUnknown
Unknown
Total cost to applyPublished
$163
Monthly income requiredUnknown
Unknown
Monthly pension income requiredPublished
None required
Monthly rental income requiredPublished
None required
Savings requiredUnknown
Unknown
Proof of sufficient fundsUnknown
Unknown
Local bank deposit requiredPublished
Yes
Minimum local bank depositPublished
$3,260,000
Minimum investment as published (Sept 2026)Published
KWD 5,000,000 investment value, including at least KWD 1,000,000 capital deposited in Kuwait
Other investment routes (Sept 2026)Published
Foreign property owners have a separate residency category of up to 10 years (Article 25 of the 2025 executive regulations); no value threshold found
Cost notesPublished
Investor residency fee KD 50 a year plus KD 40 a year per dependent (about US$163 and US$130 at KWD≈3.26); visas cost KD 10 a month under the new rules

Presence and maintenance

Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.

Present
Stay required to keep statusPublished
None
Physical presence requiredPublished
No
In-country visit requiredPublished
Yes
Move-in windowUnknown
Unknown
Length of residencyPublished
180 months
Residency is lifetimePublished
No
RenewablePublished
Yes
Maximum durationUnknown
Unknown
Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
No
Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published
No minimum stay; investor residency (Article 21) is exempt from the rule that cancels residency after more than six months abroad
Tax residency rulePublished
Not defined — Kuwait's tax law sets no individual residency test because it imposes no personal income tax on residents or expatriates
Personal income taxPublished
No personal income tax

Rights and onward pathways

Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.

Present
Time to permanent residencyUnknown
Unknown
Time to citizenshipUnknown
Unknown
Work for a local employerUnknown
Unknown
Start a businessPublished
Yes
Remote or freelance workUnknown
Unknown
Local healthcare accessUnknown
Unknown
University accessUnknown
Unknown
Can buy landUnknown
Unknown
Local bankingUnknown
Unknown
Permanent residence timeline basisPublished
Not applicable
Citizenship timeline basisPublished
Not applicable

Risks, limitations, and uncertainty

Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.

Present
Investment note (Sept 2026)Published
The competitor's 'no minimum' claim is outdated: Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026 (announced by KDIPA 14 June 2026) sets KWD 5 million investment and KWD 1 million capital. USD at KWD≈3.26. Entity must also meet Kuwaiti employment quotas
Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published
Business route for large investors only: the entity must keep active operations in Kuwait and renewal (filed 60 days before expiry) requires continued compliance. No path to permanent residence or citizenship.

Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure

Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.

Present
Official program websitePublished
https://kdipa.gov.kw/kuwait-strengthens-long-term-residency/
Investment source (Sept 2026)Published
https://kdipa.gov.kw/kuwait-strengthens-long-term-residency/ | https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-launches-15-year-residency-programme-for-investors-1.500573812
Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published
https://kdipa.gov.kw/kuwait-strengthens-long-term-residency/ | https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-launches-15-year-residency-programme-for-investors-1.500573812 | https://kuwaittimes.com/article/38094/kuwait/other-news/official-explains-key-residency-rules-for-expats-in-kuwait/ | https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/gms-flash-alert/flash-alert-2025-272.html | https://www.lexis.ae/2025/12/24/kwt-new-residency-rules-for-expats-come-into-force/ | https://eiglaw.com/kuwait-residency-regulations/ | https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-policy-monitor/measures/5219/kuwait-introduces-long-term-residency-permits-for-foreign-investors

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.

This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.