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.

Residence permits by type/ purpose of permit and country of citizenship of holder (Kuwait) (2011) (some nationalities)

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  14 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 TOTAL
Country of citizenship Temporary permits Governmental sector permits Private sector permits Business Domestic help Dependant permits Study Self residence permits
ARAB COUNTRIES total
Iraq 90 173 4,184 5 79 10,596 0 251 15,378
Syria 1,380 5,248 51,583 76 332 73,141 2 239 132,001
Lebanon 379 1,082 17,563 48 31 23,066 0 142 42,311
Jordan 443 2,610 17,211 28 15 32,641 3 204 53,155
Palestine 64 242 3,137 4 8 4,471 0 122 8,048
Egypt 8,109 45,710 273,654 26 1,502 128,272 13 305 457,591
Other Arabs 330 2,574 9,881 1 832 10,894 41 76 24,629
Total Arab nationalities 10,795 57,639 377,213 188 2,799 283,081 59 1,339 733,113
OTHER COUNTRIES  
Iran 543 699 24,999 53 562 16,700 9 228 43,793
Philippines 1,832 3,489 47,857 0 79,346 7,360 33 47 139,964
Pakistan 1,880 2,730 88,307 22 2,659 26,981 32 20 122,631
India 9,582 20,739 287,789 47 242,368 86,705 18 47 647,295
Bangladesh 5,422 6,619 114,636 4 61,915 6,932 7 5 195,540
Sri Lanka  1,658 572 17,066 0 87,482 4,020 21 11 110,830
Other nationalities 5,570 4,258 60,335 28 116,139 23,338 586 137 210,391
TOTAL ALL NATIONALITIES 37,282 96,745 1,018,202 342 593,270 455,117 765 1,834 2,203,557

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.

 

Temporary permit: An expatriate may be granted temporary residence under article 14 of the immigration regulations in special cases where he does not need or cannot get ordinary residence.

This allows the expatriate to stay for up to one year, for personal emergencies such as illness, or after resignation from employment in order to settle financial affairs or a court case.

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.

 

2. Institution which provides data

 

Ministry of Interior

 

3. Period of data coverage

 

December 31st, 2011

 

4. Data availability

 

2011′ data is tabulated in MoI’ 2011 Statistical Yearbook, in Chapter “Immigration statistics” (not available online). The volume may be directly obtained from MoI.

 

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