Quick Switch to Article 19 Residency Kuwait

The transition to Article 19 of the Kuwaiti Residency Law allows expatriates to enter companies and institutions as owners, partners, or managing partners, or to be registered in the commercial register after meeting the conditions for transitioning to Residency 19.
Table Of Content
Article 19 Residency
Below is the text of Article 19 of the Kuwaiti Residency Law:
Regular residency may be granted to a foreign investor or partner in a commercial or industrial activity based on an application submitted by the interested party, accompanied by a license to conduct the activity issued by the competent government authority. The aforementioned license must be submitted when applying for residency renewal.
Quick Switch to Article 19 Residency Kuwait
You can follow the simple steps below to transfer to Article 19 residency in Kuwait:
- Visit the General Directorate of Immigration in your governorate.
- Submit a residency transfer application.
- Submit the required documents.
- Pay the fees.
Conditions for Switch to Article 19 Residency Kuwait
Below are the main conditions for converting to Article 19 residency in Kuwait:
- The resident must be registered as a partner on the current work permit file.
- The non-Kuwaiti partner’s share must be at least 100,000 Kuwaiti dinars of the company’s total capital.
- The partner must be registered on the main license.
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Documents for Switch to Article 19 Residency Kuwait
Below you can find a list of the documents required for converting to Article 19 residency in Kuwait: [1]
- Residence conversion application form.
- Work permit from the Public Authority for Manpower.
- A copy of the articles of association.
- Two passport photos with a blue background.
- Passport and a copy thereof.
- Health insurance certificate.
Fees for Switch to Article 19 Residency Kuwait
The fees for converting to Article 19 vary depending on the type and duration of residency, whether for the first time or renewal. These fees may reach KWD 300 for conversion, KWD 10 for renewal, and KWD 5 for obtaining a new civil ID.
Conclusion
New laws in Kuwait require Article 18 residents to convert their residency to Article 19 to address labor violations and the negative impact on investment opportunities for citizens.
Questions & Answers
You can change your residency in Kuwait by visiting the General Directorate of Immigration, submitting the required documents, and paying the transfer fee to the new residency.
To obtain an Article 19 visa in Kuwait, a residence application must be submitted along with a work permit issued by the Public Authority for Manpower, the original passport, and the civil ID card.
Converting Article 19 residency in Kuwait takes several days after submitting the application, verifying the validity of the documents, and meeting the required conditions.
Investors must convert their residency to Article 19 residency in Kuwait to avoid having their licenses suspended.
Article 19 residency in Kuwait can be converted at the General Directorate of Immigration in the governorate to which the resident belongs.