2 open routes
The routes to living in Kuwait.
Our verdict. Kuwait suits a business owner with scale: owners, partners and senior executives of a KDIPA-licensed entity with an investment value of KWD 5 million and capital of KWD 1 million can receive residence of up to 15 years, renewable, for themselves and eligible immediate family. There is no personal income tax. For a home buyer, the gaps matter more: a property-owner residence of up to ten years exists in the rules in force since 23 December 2025, but no minimum value or application details have been published, and neither route sets a path to permanent residence. Next to Bahrain's Golden Residency, the investor bar is many times higher.
Long-term investor residency (up to 15 years) - KDIPA-licensed investors
Changed17changed 2026-06-14 (KDIPA announced Council of Ministers resolution under Art. 13 of Law 114/2024); 15-year investor category first set in Executive Regulations (Ministerial Resolution 2249/2025) effective 2025-12-23
- Minimum
- KWD 5,000,000 · about $16.29m
- What counts
- Owner, partner or approved senior executive of an entity licensed by KDIPA under Law 116/2013; the entity must keep an investment value of KWD 5m+ and capital of KWD 1m+ for approved activities, maintain active operations in Kuwait and meet a minimum Kuwaiti-employment requirement
- Processing
- Not published
- Permit
- Up to 15 years, renewable (resolution covers grant and renewal)
- Time you must spend there
- No rule published
- Path to a passport
- No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
- Family
- eligible immediate family members
- Tax
- Kuwait levies no personal income tax on individuals
Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20
Property-owner residency (up to 10 years)
Open47the residency rules took effect on 23 Dec 2025, but no minimum property value or application details have been published
- Minimum
- No minimum
- What counts
- Ownership of real estate in Kuwait; no published minimum value found
- Processing
- Not published
- Permit
- Up to 10 years, renewable
- Time you must spend there
- No rule published
- Path to a passport
- No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
- Family
- dependants sponsored at KWD 40 a year
- Tax
- Kuwait levies no personal income tax on individuals
Official source · checked 2026-10-20
Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.
Kuwait residency by investment