How to Renew Dependent Visa in Kuwait

You could have read various articles pertaining to application for Dependent Visa in Kuwait but I’m sure none of them will provide you the process of renewing the Kuwait dependent visa step by step. What these articles are talking about are the general guidelines so generic that they have failed to mentioned other things or requirements that a person must keep in mind while doing the visa renewal transaction.

I’m working here in Kuwait for more than a year now. With this span of time I’ve experienced different transactions required for expat in terms of documentation formalities of bringing the family member. From application of visit visa, residency, up to application of civil id or iqama. If you are a person who doesn’t want headache in dealing with these different formalities, you would be better off hiring a “mandoub” to finish the necessary documentation for you. Otherwise, you can arrange it yourself and treat all the problems you encountered along the way as lessons then charge it to your experience.

Since the title is about Renewal of Dependent Visa I’m going to focus on that topic. Besides, I just have had a successful renewal of the dependent visa of my wife and my son this morning, so I feel that this is the right moment to create a post and share to you how I completed the visa renewal process and hopefully you find this useful. The renewal process I’m going to layout here is base in my actual experience.

Considering that:

- Your employer had renewed your residency visa.
- You are living with your family in Kuwait applied as dependent to you in which their visa is about to expire
- You didn’t use “mandoub” or other agency to arrange your dependent visa or health card

These following steps can be followed to renew the dependent visa smoothly:

1. Renew their health card insurance. Basically, the health card insurance validity depends on the year of validity of the dependent visa. Let’s say my wife and my son’s dependent visa will expire in one year, most probably their government health cards have also one year validity period. I need to renew it first before I can renew their dependent visa. To renew the health card you must prepare the following: photocopy of existing health card, latest id picture of your dependent. Though they are not requiring photo of children below 12 years of age or the elders, it is recommended to bring their photos as well just in case they ask you have an id picture to show. Once you are are sure that you have all the requirements needed for the health card renewal follow this simple steps:

Wake up early and go the the insurance office where you applied the health card of your family member. It is very important to go there early as I believe they have a quota to achieve each day. I have an experience going there at 10:00am in the morning and when I ask for the que number the guy told me to return the next day. I just wasted my time and my 2KD fee. I’m sure you don’t want to experience the same.

Proceed to the booth to get the que paper. Que paper is normally a piece of paper with a que number written on it. Just prepare the old health card and your civil id in case the person in charge ask it.

Wait for your turn, there is a LED device there that changes the number every time the buzzer is activated.

Once you see your que number, proceed to the counter as mentioned in the LED device. Present him the photocopy of the old health card, give the id picture. You will also pay here 41KD for adult and 31KD for child so make sure you have enough money with you.

Wait for your dependents name to be called and voila! you have just renewed their health card. You will also receive health card and papers with their stamp and signatures so don’t forget to take it. You will need this for renewal of dependent visa.

2. Prepare application for renewal of dependent visa. This is form typed in Arabic which is available in most translation centers. You can buy it at 500fils each. Paste a 6×4 photo with blue background on it. I repeat paste it don’t staple it.

Tip: If you want to save, you can have the required 8 pcs of 6×4photo for 750fils if you acquire it in translation centers. Far lower compare to the 1.5 KD price in the normal rush ID studio.

3. Checklist for the necessary documents needed for renewal. To stay away in trouble due to missing requirements, you can use this checklist for verification purposes.

- application form with attached standard 6×4 picture with blue background
- health insurance paper
- copy of dependent’s passport
- copy of sponsor’s civil id

4. Wake up early prepare early and go to Immigration and Passport Department of the Ministry of Interior. The dependent visa renewal will be filed at the Immigration and Passport Department of the Ministry of Interior and should be there first hour in the morning . You must also check the area where your dependent is residing so you won’t mistakenly go to the wrong office as the ministry has its own area of responsibilities.

5. Get a que number.

6. Verification of application, affixing of 10KD stamp. Once your papers are signed and stamped by the person in charge, you may now get a 10 KD stamp in machine stationed within the immigration office. Affix the 10KD on the blank page on each dependent’s passport.

7. Approval of the Renewal of Dependent Visa. With the 10KD stamp pasted on the blank page of the dependent’s passport together with the signed application form from the previous step, submit those documents to incharge stationed in the renewal booth for approval. The person will affix new residency on the passport reflecting the extended date. A red stamp will also be carried out on the exact place where the 10KD stamp is affixed.

8. Finished.

That’s it, as simple as that. To sum it up, it took me around 2 hours to renew their health card and another 1 hour for the renewal of dependent visa in immigration office which produces 3 hours combined transaction time.

Next step is Renewing their Civil ID - this is our topic on the next post.

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