In a significant policy shift affecting expatriates, Kuwait has announced that all foreigners entering or residing in the country will be required to pay mandatory health insurance fees starting December 23, 2024. The new regulations, issued by the Ministry of Health under Minister Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi, implement executive rules of Law No. 1 of 1999, establishing a transparent and unified system.
Detailed Fee Structure for Visas and Residency
The executive rules clearly define the financial obligations for different categories of foreigners. For those applying for residency visas, a health insurance fee of 5 Kuwaiti dinars will apply across eight visa types. These encompass employment in government and private sectors, commercial activities, family reunification, study, foreign investment, and temporary work in government contracts and the oil sector.
When it comes to visit visas, the fees will align with the private sector health insurance system. This covers nine permit types, including government, business, family, private, medical, tourist, and cultural visits. A standard fee of 5 dinars also applies to transit visas, entry for transport drivers, emergency visas, and a newly introduced category.
Substantial Costs for Residency Permits and Sector-Specific Relief
Obtaining a residency permit in Kuwait will now come with a heftier health insurance cost. The fee is set at 100 dinars for ten categories, including government and private employees, investors, students, self-sponsored individuals, property owners, and certain religious figures.
However, the regulations provide some relief for specific private-sector workers. Employees in agriculture, fishing, animal herding, and dairy companies will pay a reduced fee of 10 dinars as per Article 18. A notable exemption benefits Kuwaiti families sponsoring domestic workers: the first three workers are exempt, with a 10 dinar fee applying only from the fourth worker onward.
Exemptions and Important Clarifications
The Kuwaiti government has outlined several full exemptions from these health insurance fees. The exempt categories include:
- Foreign women married to Kuwaiti citizens
- Widowed or divorced Kuwaiti women with foreign children
- Foreign children and parents of Kuwaiti citizens
- Children of Kuwaiti women from foreign husbands
- Up to three domestic workers in Kuwaiti households
- Members of diplomatic missions and official delegations
- Bedouns (stateless residents coordinated with the relevant agency)
- Foreign newborns for four months until passport issuance
The Ministry has issued crucial clarifications: exemptions are valid only if the foreigner holds the specific residency permit mentioned in the rules. The insurance coverage is tied to the visa's issue date and duration, not the passport's validity. Furthermore, if a residency permit is reissued due to an administrative error and an exemption is granted, any fees paid earlier will be refunded.
This sweeping reform aims to streamline healthcare funding for foreigners in Kuwait. For the large Indian expatriate community and other nationals planning travel or work in the Gulf nation, understanding these new financial requirements is essential for compliance from the December 23 deadline.
