Interior Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Nationality and Visa Affaris Maj Gen Mazen Al-Jarrah revealed a proposal to increase fees for all services extended to expats such as business, tourist and family reunion visas for children, parents or siblings by a percentage that in some cases reaches 100 percent and even higher. He said there will not be any free services, adding that these fees will be collected only for the first time, then for the following years the fees will be KD 20 for each person. Jarrah said these fees will not affect citizens and those they sponsor in any way, and the current fees will remain the same for them.

Jarrah said current fees are no longer suitable because they were set many years ago and have not changed, pointing out that fraud is rampant because of the low fees to get free healthcare and medications worth tens of thousands of dinars, which creates a burden on the state budget.

The proposal also sets the renewal of work permit fees at KD 15 per year, issuance of a work permit for the first time will cost KD 20, transfer fees will be KD 30 and fees for issuing a work permit KD 50 in addition to a bank guarantee of KD 250.

A Fee of 30 KD will be charged for Commercial visa, which is free at present. Tourist visa will be charged 90 KD per person. Temporary visa, visa extension fee will be increased to KD 10 from the existing 2 KD. A Government sector visa and Private sector visa fee will be increased to 20 KD from the existing 10 KD.

Self sponsorship visa (Article 24) fee is set to KD 250, which is KD 100 at present.

Family visa for children will cost 150 KD while Family visa for adults cost 400 KD, sources disclosed.

Al-Jarrah asserted the decision is final and on the verge of being approved, reiterating this is an urgent proposal aimed at stopping unscrupulous people from manipulating laws. He added that despite the increase, Kuwait’s fees are still considered the lowest compared to other GCC countries.