KUWAIT: Dozens have been summoned and given a one-month deadline to regularize their status or repatriate their dependents.

In a decisive move to tighten compliance with its residency laws, Kuwait’s Residence Affairs Investigations Department has begun summoning expats who previously met the income threshold of KD800 (approximately $2,610) to sponsor family members but have since seen their salaries drop below the requirement.

The campaign follows Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, introduced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah. Initially requiring both a university degree and a relevant profession, the rule was amended in July 2024 to drop the degree condition—while maintaining the KD800 income requirement as the key eligibility criterion.

Most of those affected had used their earlier salaries to obtain dependent visas (Article 22) for spouses and children. Now, they must either adjust their employment or income situation to meet the rule—or send their families back to their countries of origin within 30 days.

Officials say the KD800 figure is based on socio-economic research and aims to ensure expats can afford a reasonable standard of living for their dependents.

While the family visa system remains open to all nationalities and professions—provided the income threshold is met—the regulation restricts eligibility to individuals employed in jobs that align with their declared professional qualifications. Some exceptions may be made for children under five or those born in Kuwait, subject to approval by the Director General of Residency Affairs.