Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has published the official procedures for changing the residential address registered in its civil information system. The requirements apply to Kuwaiti citizens and expatriate residents, with different supporting documents depending on the applicant’s status and housing arrangements.

According to PACI’s official transaction guide, Kuwaiti citizens may request an address change through the Sahel government application, by visiting the authority in person, or through a representative holding a valid general power of attorney issued by the Ministry of Justice. The documents required depend on whether the applicant owns the property, rents it or lives with relatives.

The authority states that an address change involving a family must cover the entire family rather than a single family member. For Kuwaiti citizens, the published instructions also establish a maximum registration limit of four families and 30 individuals at one address, subject to the relevant housing requirements.

When applying through Sahel, citizens living in their own property generally need the house ownership document. Those living in a parent’s home may also need the relevant ownership document, while additional inheritance documentation can be required following the death of a family head. Tenants must provide a compliant rental agreement containing the required property and contracting-party details.

For in-person applications, the authority requires the original Civil ID cards of all family members and two recent photographs for each individual aged five or older, alongside the applicable housing documents. These may include rental agreements, ownership records and signed residential declarations, depending on the circumstances.

Special rules apply in situations involving divorce, child custody and inherited property. Applicants may need to provide court judgments, evidence of custody, inheritance certificates or ownership documents to establish the legal basis for registering the family’s new address.

For non-Kuwaiti residents, PACI allows address-change applications through Sahel or through the applicant, guardian or legally authorised representative. The authority also requires the family’s registered address to be updated together where the family-address rules apply.

For a resident who directly rents a property, the rental agreement must identify the landlord and tenant and include the automated property-unit number. Supporting evidence may include a copy of the ownership document, an electricity bill issued within the preceding six months, or another officially accepted property record.

Applicants must also provide a passport copy and sign a declaration confirming the accuracy of the information. Two recent photographs are required for each person aged five or older. Residents sharing accommodation with another tenant may need additional declarations signed by the property owner or authorised representative, the principal tenant and the applicant.

Separate document requirements apply to employer-provided accommodation, bank-mortgaged properties and housing owned by companies or inherited by multiple owners. In these situations, PACI may require documents establishing ownership, management authority or the legal right to provide accommodation.

The published service fee is KWD 5.250, equivalent to five Kuwaiti dinars and 250 fils. This amount appears in the authority’s transaction guides for both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti address changes, with payment available through PACI’s official website or the Sahel application.

For expatriates who need to complete the procedure in person, the authority identifies its South Surra headquarters and relevant registration departments, as well as the Liberation Tower service location where applicable. Its published instructions include an evening service period from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the main headquarters, although applicants should confirm current operating hours before visiting.

PACI also provides an address availability enquiry service, allowing individuals to check the status of a registered residential address and determine whether corrective action is required. Residents can contact the authority on 1889988 for questions concerning Civil ID services and address changes.

These procedures are established government services rather than a newly announced measure. Citizens and expatriates are encouraged to consult PACI’s official transaction guide for the latest documents and requirements relevant to their particular housing circumstances.

Source: Kuwait Public Authority for Civil Information – Kuwait Government Online