Kuwait: Residency permits issued for the first time under article 17 (Governmental labour), by nationality group and sex of holder (2019-2024)

	2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Arab countries	547	208	755	372	141	513	1,200	687	1,887	609	409	1,018	479	306	785	510	285	795
Non‐Arab Asian countries	373	262	635	301	154	455	298	295	593	135	46	181	133	74	207	112	93	205
Non‐Arab African countries	17	6	23	37	13	50	9	1	10	23	6	29	7	8	15	8	7	15
Europe	23	10	33	37	17	54	26	5	31	15	6	21	30	7	37	10	4	14
North America	35	4	39	22	8	30	32	1	33	15	3	18	28	6	34	33	4	37
South and Central America	1	1	2	6	2	8	2	3	5	2	1	3	5	0	5	1	0	1
Australia and Pacific	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	997	491	1,488	775	335	1,110	1,569	992	2,561	799	471	1,270	682	401	1,083	674	394	1,068

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/ purposeof permit, sex and regional origin of holder.
The data presented in the table are inflow data: all the non-national residents being granted a residence permit to work in the government sector, during the given year.

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.

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 capitalof 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: 31 July 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