A new long-term residency program launched by Kuwait aims to attract a sophisticated investor pool by prioritizing quality over volume. The new program will allow eligible foreign investors and their family members to obtain residency permits valid for up to 15 years.
News of the program’s establishment appeared in Kuwait’s Official Gazette, “Kuwait Al-Youm,” which published Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026, setting out the conditions for granting residency permits to foreign investors, according to media reports.
In order to qualify for the program, applicants must meet specific investment and capital requirements that include:
- A total investment of a minimum of KD 5 million ($USD 16 million at current exchange rate)
- Have at least KD 1 million ($USD 3.2 million) in capital with proof that the capital has been deposited in Kuwait
- Maintain a genuine operating presence in the country
- Compliance with Kuwaitization requirements (minimum employment levels for Kuwaiti nationals)
The residency is available not only to investors themselves but also to owners of licensed investment entities, business partners, company managers, senior executives approved by KDIPA, and immediate family members.
Residency can be granted for up to 15 years and is generally renewable if the investment remains in compliance with program requirements. Should the qualifying investment no longer meet the requirements, the residency may not be renewed.
Application processing is reviewed by KDIPA within five working days.
Not Like The Others
Unlike traditional “golden visa” programs that allow individuals to simply buy property or make a passive investment in a fund or other vehicle to obtain residency, Kuwait requires significant capital commitments and assurance of ongoing local participation by the investor. In that way, the new program is more focused on attracting quality, high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, family offices, and large business owners who are looking to make active investments in the country.
Though Kuwait’s program has one of the highest investment thresholds, it offers one of the longest residency periods among programs in the Middle East, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
The announcement of the program comes at a time when Kuwait, like other countries in the Middle East, seeks to diversify its economy beyond its heavy dependence on oil. Oil accounts for roughly 85% to 90% of Kuwait’s export earnings
And while the 2026 announcement is a step toward diversification by enticing foreign direct investment, it is better viewed as a tightening and formalization of an investor-residency framework that Kuwait began rolling out late last year, when it approved new residency regulations introducing long-term residence permits. The June resolution sharpens it by establishing detailed eligibility criteria and mandating specific investment thresholds.
Prior to 2025, there was a golden visa-type program in Kuwait, similar to those offered in other Middle Eastern countries. Most expatriates lived in Kuwait through employer-sponsored residency, family sponsorship, or other traditional immigration categories. Long-term residence independent of employment was much more limited.
