Kuwait halts issuance of family residence visas

Kuwait has reportedly halted the issuance of family residence visas for the parents and siblings of foreign workers in the country.

Kuwait Times cited security sources as saying applications have been stalled until the country’s National Assembly approves a new health insurance fee list.

The list is expected to see healthcare fees in the country increase “exponentially”, according to the publication. It was unclear if this meant charges beyond the increase from KD50 ($165) to KD130 ($430) a year, reported in October.

The decision includes non-Kuwaiti parents and siblings under the sponsorship of citizens and expats but not husbands and children of Kuwaiti women.

Parents and siblings already in the country are being charged the increased rates when they renew their permits.

Around 1,500 are said to have done so this month of a total of 13,000 required to do so.

Kuwait is currently undertaking measures to separate the healthcare facilities used by expatriates and citizens.

The plans will eventually see foreigners banned from public hospitals when enough private hospital beds are made available over the coming years.

Read: Kuwait eyes increased expat healthcare fees, denial of certain treatments