Gulf Labour Markets, Migration, and Population (GLMM) Programme

An international independent, non-partisan, non-profit programme hosted and supported by the Gulf Research Center. The programme provides data, analyses, and recommendations contributing to the improvement of understanding and management of Gulf labour migration, population, and labour markets, engaging with and respecting the viewpoints of all stakeholders.

Kuwait: Residence permits by nationality group and sex of holder (2010-2013)

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2010 2011 2012 2013
Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Number Males Females Number
Arab countries 488,869 207,861 696,730 504,976 217,599 722,575 521,880 228,546 750,426 557,854 244,359 802,213
Non-Arab Asian countries 865,363 441,855 1,307,218 892,847 445,493 1,338,340 928,994 462,046 1,391,040 979,031 479,130 1,458,161
Non-Arab African countries 4,450 44,036 48,486 5,800 67,603 73,403 7,897 75,247 83,144 9,448 83,556 93,004
Europe 5,350 4,520 9,870 5,589 4,627 10,216 5,741 4,813 10,554 5,877 5,044 10,921
North America 12,269 7,027 19,296 12,115 7,076 19,191 11,934 7,377 19,311 11,079 7,165 18,244
Central and South America 614 468 1,082 627 494 1,121 632 499 1,131 618 491 1,109
Australia and Oceania 814 634 1,448 785 631 1,416 785 623 1,408 799 627 1,426
Other 7 7 14 10 3 13 9 4 13 8 3 11
Total 1,377,736 706,408 2,084,144 1,422,749 743,526 2,166,275 1,477,872 779,155 2,257,027 1,564,714 820,375 2,385,089

Source: Ministry of Interior
ANNEXED NOTE

1. Definitions

Residency procedures do not apply to GCC nationals.
The bidoun, a stateless population, are not included in the residency documents holders.
Data presented in the table are stock data: all the non-national residents holding a residence permit on December 31st, the given year. The table excludes the Bedoon, the non-Kuwaiti GCC citizens and those in irregular situation.

Dependent permit: spouse, children or elderly dependent relatives can join visa holder (sponsor) in Kuwait, if the expatriate has obtained a residency and is earning a minimum of KD250 a month (private and governement sector alike).

A working wife cannot sponsor her husband as a dependent. Also, sons over the age of 21 years cannot be sponsored as dependants, though adult daughters and parents may be permitted. Dependent family members are not allowed to work on a Dependent Visa, unless they transfer it into a work visa under Kuwaiti sponsorship. This can be done only after 6 to 12 months of holding a dependent visa.
Every children including new born babies must hold a residency permit. The application for the infant’s residence must be made within 60 days of the birth
The Dependent Visa holder is permitted to stay as long as the sponsor holds a valid visa.
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 10000 KD at least; being able to produce a certificate of good conduct, being effectively residing in Kuwait with his/her family, 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.

The present figures do not include the holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents).
Totals for the year 2012 presented here differ slightly from totals in other tables pertaining to this year published in the database.

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 report “Migration Statistics 2013”, published by the CSB.
The report processes Ministry of Interior’s (Directorate of Migration’s) raw figures of permits granted to foreign residents by type/ purpose of permit, sex and regional origin of holder, for the years 2010 to 2013.
The report (in Arabic, PDF format with Excel tables) is available on CSB’s website (Population Statistics, then Migration Statistics)
http://www.csb.gov.kw/Socan_Statistic.aspx?ID=56

Date of access: May 2015.

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