The government service also covers residence cancellation and certain transfers to government-sector residence under Article 17 or family residence under Article 22, depending on the applicable legal conditions and documentation.

These procedures are important for expatriate workers and private-sector companies because maintaining lawful employment and residency requires compliance with immigration rules, work permit requirements and other administrative obligations.

Requirements for First-Time Article 18 Residency

The Ministry of Interior states that first-time applicants must provide a designated residency application signed by the sponsor, together with the original employment entry visa used to enter Kuwait and the worker’s original passport.

Required documents also include a criminal record certificate from the worker’s country, authenticated by the relevant foreign ministry and the Kuwaiti embassy, with a translation where required and a validity period of three months from issuance.

The applicant must additionally satisfy medical fitness and criminal status requirements in Kuwait and provide two photographs, a valid sponsor signature authorization, the relevant work permit and a health insurance certificate.

Documents Required for Residency Renewal

Renewal requirements are different from those applicable to first-time issuance, although the ministry continues to require the designated residency application form signed by the sponsor.

Applicants must provide two recent personal photographs with a blue background measuring 4 by 6 centimetres, the original passport and a valid signature authorization with a copy.

The renewal documentation also includes a work permit issued by the Public Authority for Manpower or verified through the government system, a health insurance certificate and a copy of the authorized representative’s identification.

Online Services for Article 18 Residency

On December 25, 2025, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced the introduction of an electronic service for issuing Article 18 private-sector work residency permits for the first time through its official website.

The official government service page also identifies the Sahel government application as an available channel for residency services, alongside in-person procedures where the relevant transaction requires physical attendance.

Employers and applicants should select the appropriate service, verify the required supporting documentation, submit the necessary information and complete payment through the official channels applicable to their specific transaction.

Official Residency Fees and Additional Costs

The Kuwait Government Online service card for Article 18 residency displays a fixed fee of KWD 20 and a variable fee of KWD 0 for the general service listing.

However, because the same government page covers several residency transactions, the listed fixed fee should not automatically be treated as the complete cost of every application, renewal period or transfer procedure.

Additional requirements may involve health insurance, work permit processing or Civil ID issuance, so applicants should distinguish these costs from immigration service charges and confirm the final payable amount through the official transaction system.

Cancellation and Transfer to Other Residence Categories

Article 18 residency services also include residence cancellation, which requires the sponsor-signed application, signature authorization, the worker’s original passport and Civil ID, together with the relevant work permit cancellation documentation.

The Ministry of Interior lists procedures for transferring a private-sector employee to government residence under Article 17 or to family residence under Article 22, with different supporting documents and approvals for each category.

Employers and workers should examine the specific transfer requirements before submitting an application, especially where dependent family members hold residence permits connected to the worker’s existing sponsorship status.

Important Guidance for Expatriates and Employers

Obtaining a work permit does not necessarily mean that every immigration and residence procedure has been completed, since employment authorization and residency processing involve distinct official requirements.

Applicants should verify the validity of their supporting documents, ensure that sponsor and worker information is accurate and monitor applications through the Ministry of Interior or available government service channels.

The relevant official authorities remain the primary sources for confirming eligibility, documentary requirements, payable fees and any subsequent changes affecting Article 18 residency procedures in Kuwait.

Source: Kuwait Ministry of Interior, General Department of Residency Affairs and Kuwait Government Online.