Kuwait Services (VISAS)

No Objection Certificate

A visitor can also enter Kuwait on a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The certificate is issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (for domestic employees) or by the Chamber of Commerce (for businessmen). This has to be arranged in advance by the Kuwaiti sponsor or employer. The NOC can be arranged for in the following ways:

Prior to arrival

The Kuwaiti Consulate or Embassy based in the employee's country is sent the intimation to issue the NOC which is collected by the employee. S/he can then enter Kuwait directly for employment. A residence visa is then issued once the s/he has entered the country.

After the employee's arrival

The employee enters Kuwait on a Business visa, after which an application is made for an NOC for employment. Once this is obtained the person has to leave and re-enter Kuwait with the NOC.

Residence Visas

Employees

Once the employee has arrived on an NOC, the process of stamping the residence or the 'Iqama' starts. This can, in some instance, take weeks. The formalities have to be completed within 60 days of entry, otherwise a daily penalty fee of KD 2 will be levied. It is important to note that after a person has entered the country on an NOC, he or she cannot leave the country until the residence permit has been issued. Also he or she will not be able to drive a vehicle in Kuwait until a valid Kuwaiti Driving Licence is issued, unless, of course a temporary licence is obtained in the interim. One can only apply for a Driving Licence once the Residence Visa has been obtained and the Civil ID has been issued.

Spouses and dependants

Expatriate employees working for the Government sector whose monthly salaries are not less than KD 450 per month (a lowering of the salary limit is under consideration) are granted a residence permit for their spouses and children. The employee acts as the sponsor and has to pay the following annual fees for the family:

Spouse: KD 100 for the first year and KD 10 renewal fee for consecutive years plus KD 40 per year for Health Insurance fees.
Up to 3 children: KD 100 each for the first year and KD 10 renewal fee for consecutive years plus KD 40 per year for Health Insurance fees.
Fourth child onwards: KD 200 each for the first year and KD 10 renewal fee for consecutive years plus KD 40 per year for Health Insurance fees.

Similarly, the salary limit for employees in the private sector is KD 650. The rates for the residence fees are the same as above except that the KD 100 fee is limited to two children and not three --from the third child onwards the fees go up to KD 200 each for the first year.

Employees are allowed to sponsor one domestic servant, provided both parents are working and there is a necessity to have someone to look after the children.