Migration status (Purpose of permit)	Reference number of permits	Type of permit	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
work	17	Government sector	39,338	40,501	40,290	39,176	38,450	37,288	36,644	37,736	37,120	37,744
	18	Private sector	109,251	113,758	119,512	126,111	132,305	124,442	119,639	138,891	158,327	175,553
	19	Business	18	18	20	16	20	19	35	37	42	58
	20	Domestic work	363,233	353,687	340,583	354,827	377,566	339,705	296,576	405,677	422,698	410,061
residence	22	Dependent	339,672	344,292	340,577	340,237	340,415	328,320	309,339	323,490	311,831	337,667
	23	Study	171	214	229	226	211	171	131	163	206	206
	24	Self-residence	1,114	1,149	1,215	1,257	1,311	1,340	1,444	1,381	1,337	1,385
Total residencies 1 year and more			852,797	853,619	842,426	861,850	890,278	831,285	763,808	907,375	931,561	962,674
Temporary	14	Temporary re sidence	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	12,343	14,887	17,510	11,471	9,914	14,268
Total residencies			n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	902,621	846,172	781,318	918,846	941,475	976,942

Source: Central Statistical Bureau, Migration Statistics Bulletin, given years.

ANNEXED NOTE

1. Definitions

Data taken from Ministry of Interior’s (Directorate of Migration’s) annual records of residency permits granted to foreign residents by type/ purpose of permit, sex and regional origin of holder.
The data presented in the table are stock data: all the non-national residents holding a residence permit on December 31st, the given year.
The present figures include permits delivered for all purposes of stay in Kuwait:

1- Labour in all sectors: governmental sector (n°17); private sector (n°18); business (freelance) (n°19) and domestic sector (n°20)
2- Residence: as family dependent (permit n°22); studies (n°23) and self-residence (n°24).

Residency procedures do not apply to GCC nationals and to Bidouns (stateless residents of Kuwait).
The table thus excludes the Bidouns, the non-Kuwaiti GCC citizens and those in irregular situation.
The number of holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents) is not available before 2019. 

Dependent permit: spouse, children or elderly dependent relatives can join visa holder (sponsor) in Kuwait,
if the expatriate has obtained a residency and meets the salary requirements.
A working wife cannot sponsor her husband as a dependent. Sons over the age of 21 years cannot be sponsored as dependents,
though adult daughters and parents may be permitted. Dependent family members are not allowed to work on a Dependent Visa.
Every foreign resident including new born babies must hold a residency permit.
Self residence permit: Expatriates may sponsor themselves under article 24 of the regulations and obtain a residence for two
to five years under several conditions, among which: being aged 60 and more, having worked no less than 25 years in Kuwait,
owning a capital of 10,000 KD at least; holding a certificate of good conduct, effectively reside in Kuwait, etc.
This form of residence can be renewed upon expiry. Self-sponsored expatriates may sponsor their wives and children.
Permits 17, 18, 19 and 20 are only granted after Ministry of Labour issues a work permit.

2. Institution which provides data 

Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), Ministry of Planning.

3. Period of data coverage

December 31st, given years.

4. Data availability 

The present data is taken from the “Migration Statistics” reports, published annually by the CSB.

The report (in Arabic and English, PDF format with Excel tables) is available on CSB’s website
(Population Statistics, then Migration Statistics)
https://www.csb.gov.kw/Pages/Statistics_en?ID=56&ParentCatID=1
https://www.csb.gov.kw/Pages/Statistics?ID=56&ParentCatID=1

Date of access: 29 May 2026.

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change; 
that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from;
that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

Keywords: Kuwait, Foreign Population, Employment, Legal Document, Residence Conditions, Family Reunification

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