How much does a residence permit cost in Kuwait?

The official Kuwait portal does not publish a single figure for this — it depends on the permit duration and the applicant. The table marks the fee as unverified and links the portal rather than quoting a number from a visa agency.

Do these fees include medical tests, insurance and typing?

No. Government fee schedules usually cover the permit, the ID card and the service charge only. Medical fitness tests, health insurance and typing centre charges are separate and vary by emirate, city and provider.

Who pays — the employer or the worker?

Under Kuwait labour law the employer normally bears the cost of the work permit and residence sponsorship for a sponsored worker. Some employers deduct ID or service fees; the law and the employment contract decide, and the official portal named on each row is the authority.

1 verified fees · checked 2026-11-14

Visa, residence and ID fees in Kuwait

What the government charges, taken from the official portal — not from a visa agency. Fees that depend on duration or applicant are explained rather than averaged.

Kuwait — official fees
Item	Fee	Basis	Source
Civil ID card - renewal for non-Kuwaitis id-card	KWD 5	KD 5 per card, paid through the PACI website or the Sahel app. A KD 20 violation is recorded if registration is more than 30 days after the residence is issued (60 days after the work permit for articles 18/19).	Official ↗
Residence permit (iqama) fee - not published on the MOI portal residence	Not published	Not stated. The MOI Residency e-services only collect the fee against a visa number; the amount is not published on the page.	Official ↗

Excludes medical tests, insurance and typing. Each row links the portal it was read from.

How the process runs

The steps as the official portal describes them.

Renew automatically by phone (1889988), on paci.gov.kw, via the Sahel app or by SMS
Provide a valid civil number, valid passport and the residence stamp extract
Pay KD 5 online before the card is printed; collect the card or use the delivery envelope service
Cards not collected within 6 months are destroyed and must be re-applied for (fee payable again)

Frequently asked questions

How much does a residence permit cost in Kuwait?: The official Kuwait portal does not publish a single figure for this — it depends on the permit duration and the applicant. The table marks the fee as unverified and links the portal rather than quoting a number from a visa agency.
Do these fees include medical tests, insurance and typing?: No. Government fee schedules usually cover the permit, the ID card and the service charge only. Medical fitness tests, health insurance and typing centre charges are separate and vary by emirate, city and provider.
Who pays — the employer or the worker?: Under Kuwait labour law the employer normally bears the cost of the work permit and residence sponsorship for a sponsored worker. Some employers deduct ID or service fees; the law and the employment contract decide, and the official portal named on each row is the authority.

SourceOfficial government portalsUpdated14 Nov 2026Read from the linked portal on the date shown. Fees change by decree — confirm before paying.

How the process runs

Frequently asked questions

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