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(Repost from Desert Girl) How to find an Apartment in Kuwait

There is a great post from Desert Girl on how to look for apartments in Kuwait for Expats.

http://desertgirlkuwait.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-find-apartment-in-kuwait.html

Christopher all the way from Cambridge, Massachusetts ("Ma shooft Yousef" bil Arabi), sent me a little e-mail recommending that I “write a few lines” about how to find an apartment in Kuwait. Well Christopher, it like dis: I can’t ever just write a FEW lines about anything, so here goes the entire deal on how to find a home in Kuwait. By the by, this goes for finding a villa also (pretty much).

What you will need

A good attitude: Patience. Lots of it; However you can get it, get it. A “happy place”
Chocolate (or whatever your crutch is)
Kleenex (incase it gets to be too much for you and you need a good sob).
A car (taxi) Lots of relaxing/tranquil music (maybe Yanni or Kenny G). Gas.
Someone who speaks Arabic
Copies of Waseet or Alhadaf classified papers

The process

Remove all weapons and sharp objects from your vehicle and/or person. This will help avoid a prison sentence when dealing with realtors and building guards (called “hariss” here).

Ok, seriously, if you are an English-only speaker, you really do need someone to help you translate – either from the classified ads or by going around building-to-building and asking the guards if there are vacancies. Sometimes, you can find a mandoob (expeditor/gopher guy) where you work or you can ask them to refer you to someone who can translate for a small amount of money. If you can’t find someone at work, or don’t feel comfortable asking for personal favors, taxi offices can often help and they can play a dual role in driving you around to find a place if you are new.

Zero to 30 days in Kuwait

If someone is new to Kuwait, they probably won’t get their civil ID for the first 30 days, so the employer should provide accommodations during the first month.

30 days to 6 months in Kuwait

After the first 30 days in Kuwait, I strongly recommend getting into a short term or furnished place first, so you have the time to look for your ideal home. It isn’t a quick/easy process.

During this timeframe, you are still in culture shock, but you are beginning to get it. You have to look for a place to live, but you are still freaked out by the idea and don't really want to be locked into something permanent because it is all so new. AAA Housing and Frost Real Estate are the two most reputable companies in Kuwait. I see them as "halfway houses" for people who are new to Kuwait and transitioning into life here. They provide the comforts of home in familiar surroundings and se haba English.

AAA only does furnished accommodations; Frost will provide unfurnished with benefits (phone, satellite TV, maid and laundry services on request). Both AAA and Frost furnishings are to western standards (both have websites). Expect to pay more for both.

6 months plus in Kuwait

So you are ready to find your ideal place. You have a pretty good "lay of the land" since you've been here for 6 months. You know what the traffic is like. You have either seen or heard about the places that you want to live. You have several options: Realtors, classifieds, and “hoofing it” by driving around to places you might want to live and asking for vacancies.

Realtors

Don’t expect miracles: Bait and switch is common. Untruths are common. It will be frustrating to say the least. You will make an appointment to meet and they will be late or send someone else. Some realtors will smoke and have poor personal hygiene. They will never ever have photos of their properties.

Finding a realtor: Ask questions of people you work with, check online and in the Kuwait Pocket Guide. Classified papers like Waseet and Alhadaf will have listings of available apartments and realtors (in English when/if you can find them).

Realtors generally work in specific areas: Seaside/Salmiya, Salwa/Rumaithia, Fahaheel/Mangaf. Ask what areas they work out of.

Work the list: Compile lists of realtors and go through the list to touch base. Don’t expect them to follow up; they’re generally not that professional. Don’t expect them to respond to you through their websites as many don’t ever check their e-mail. Call.

Realtors who commonly deal with Westerners: Target, Q8Expats, Eastern Homes, York Real Estate, Century 21. (There are more, but these are the ones I deal with.)

Commission: Note that realtors take a half month rent commission from you as the renter and another half month rent from the building owner. This is standard.

Write to me (mailto:amerab@gmail.com) you would like to get my personal list of favorite realtors. I'm not going to post it as it is subject to change and I'm too damn lazy to update it all the time.

Hoofing it – going building-to-building

Driving around in an area where you might want to live is probably the best way to find a good deal in the exact area you want to live. This is where your interpreter/cabbie comes in handy. “Fee shuqqa fathi?” means “Is there an apartment available?” Kuwaitis generally drive around Kuwait looking for apartments because landlords often don’t advertise or use realtors (both cost money). Wear comfortable shoes because there will be lots of running in/out of places. Most apartments in villas won't have elevators.

Note: if you find a place you LOVE and it is completely occupied, make friends with the hariss and offer to give him some money (I recommend 30 to 50 kd) to get you in as soon as one becomes available. I take this money to be an investment. Get the guy's number and call him back every now and then to see if anyone has moved. Take him some cookies. (I have my eye on 3 properties for both myself and The Romanian right now.)

Dreams of grandure

Please don’t expect to find what you are used to in the West in Kuwait’s local apartment market. Aint gonna happen. Many buildings don’t even use interior designers for placement of walls. Most places do not require occupants to re-paint or even clean the apartments once they have vacated. Many landlords won’t even sweep the floors before showing the apartments to potential tenants. Some apartments still have squat toilets (which you can ask the landlords to remove/replace; they are stinky. Purchasing your own sanitary equipment is not expensive either.) Landlords often won’t change water boilers, so that is an expense you may have – don’t freak out. They aren’t expensive compared to the West (around 70 kd). The building guard can generally get you another and have it installed.

Zoning - We Don't Need No Stinkin' Zoning!

If you live on a farm (in Western countries), you might hear roosters crowing in the morning. If you live in a high-rise residential complex in Kuwait you might hear roosters crowing in the morning. You might see a sheep tied to a lamp post in your neighborhood (means that it will be slaughtered by homeowners/landlord - take your children away from windows). Get used to it. "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore."

Unfurnished apartments in Kuwait often do not have kitchen appliances or closets. If you have a lot of clothes and are a single occupant, consider getting a 2 bedroom so you can create your own walk-in closet (SHOOOOOES!). Many apartments here also have a “maids” room (which is more like a cell) that can be used for storage (I had shelves put in). (Large wardrobe closets can be found at the Friday Market for around 85 KD each. There are also lots of carpenters (inexpensive) if you have something special in mind (Carrie Bradshaw, eat your heart out!)

The good thing is that many places in the local market don’t ask you for a security deposit – although that trend is changing.

Things to look for/things to ask

Who are the neighbors? If a building is full of single guys, it will most likely be used as a party place only on the weekends. “F flats” as they are known is where many a married guy will bring his mistress on the weekend for a drink and more. If the apartment has 2 doors and the windows are covered by either aluminum foil or lining sticker rolls, for sure, it has been used for either a party or an F flat. Be cautious as you may have unwanted visitors at night if they don't know that the former occupant has moved. The best way to find out what is going on in a building is to go back and visit on a weekend night after 10:30 pm. Keep in mind that the audio systems used for parties here can be heard from passing planes (I jammed out on a BA flight leaving Kuwait one night, flying over a party in the desert playing 50 Cent…)

Something to consider: While you think it might be nice to be in a complex with 100% Westerners, know that the company housing the majority of Western employees in Kuwait (CSA) has a policy specifically against this. They house their employees in buildings with a percentage of westerners to a percentage of occupants of other countries (locals, etc.) for security purposes. Don't make yourself an easy target, even though I personally have never found this to be a big concern (it may be to others). (I've always lived in multi-national buildings/areas in the US.)

Where is the mosque? If the mosque minaret is next to the bedroom window, you might want to consider another place unless you like to be woken up at dawn and reminded to pray. Westerners usually aren’t accustomed to the call to prayer; No disrespect to anyone's religious beliefs.

Does the apartment have both central A/C and heat? Lots of apartments here won’t have heat in the winter and it gets coooooold. When they tell you that you don’t need it, consider getting out of the shower in the morning when the temperature is down around zero (not saying that it will actually get that cold in Kuwait – but it has).

Do the windows have double-paned glass? A big selling point for apartments in Kuwait is that they are “on the main road”. As Westerners, we might not like the fact that the place is 5 feet from a highway. People like to honk their horns in the morning – especially when they are picking up kids for school. Double-paned glass is also important when the temperature gets up to holy-shit-that’s-hot.

Are there temperature controls on the water? This is kind of a trick question because most realtors and building guards won’t know the answer. Consider this – it is holy-shit-that’s-hot degrees outside and you want a cold shower: if there is no temp control on the water, you gonna boil like a lobster at a Cape Cod outing and there is nothing you can do to get cold (turning off the water boiler and using the hot for cold in the summer sometimes resolves this issue).

Does the apartment have internet/DSL and satellite TV? If not, no big deal. There are lots of places who will install it for you, but that means additional running around and cost.

Who pays for electricity and water? Often, the landlord will pay or you can pay slightly extra per month (around 5 kd) and they will take care of it for you. If not, refer to "Utilities" section below.

Is parking provided? Believe it or not, I know of 3 new buildings with a maximum of seven spaces to each building. Don't assume that there will be underground parking. Don't assume that there will be any parking! If you are looking for an apartment during the day, go back there at night to see how people are parked. Drive by and see what the traffic conditions are. Also, it gets holy-shit-that’s-hot here and shaded parking is a factor.

Responsibilities of the building guard (hariss)

Takes out your trash. Kuwait buildings are not equipped with something as simple as a trash shoot. Trash is generally left in the stairwell and the hariss collects it at night.

Washes your car. If you drive a high-end car, you might want to consider buying and providing cleaning equipment to your hariss and asking him to wash it only with water. Sometimes they will just wipe it down with a rag and your paint job suffers tiny little scratches.

Porter: Assists you in carrying items to your apartment.
Assists in small handyman jobs.
Brings cooking gas.

Payment to the hariss: For washing the car and taking out the trash, the standard payment is 5 kd per month (required or your trash will pile up). If he demands 10kd (1. too much and b. he shouldn't demand), then there is a problem, Houston; unless it is your decision to pay him extra. I’ve found that if you bring your hariss a covered plate once in a while, tip a little extra, or maybe even bring him some used/new clothing, he will do just about anything in the world for you.

Lease agreements

You will need a civil ID in your name for the lease and perhaps a copy of your passport. Make sure that they provide you a copy in English.

I freaked out when I came to Kuwait because I didn’t know if I was going to like the place that I selected after a few months. I was new and I couldn’t tell, so I was worried about breaking the lease and having to pay up (as it is in the US). Not so in Kuwait. You have a 1 year lease, but you can leave by giving your landlord 30 days written notice.

Furnishings

There are lots of furniture stores in Kuwait: Ikea, Midas, Safat Al-Ghanim, The One/Bo Concepts. Kuwaitis like to change furniture all the time, so there is lots of competition. However, the prices are high compared to the US (dunno about the UK cause I’m ‘merican). Dhajeej area (between 6th Ring Road and the airport) has lots of small places that will build furniture for you. I brought one of these guys a photo of a Roche Bobois sofa and Crate & Barrel table and I had both of them made within 2 weeks at 1/3 of the price. After 5 years, both pieces have weathered very well. The cool thing is that I’m indecisive and so I had 3 sets of sofa covers made. These shops will also coordinate curtains to furniture. If you are into decorating, it can be a lot of fun.

There are also antiques places around Kuwait, but most of the treasures aren't Kuwaiti, they're Indian. Write to me for info on antiques places around Kuwait.

Decor

Now, this is something that you might not think about right away, but in the US, most landlords are very particular about what you can and can not do to decorate apartments. I lived in one building where they wouldn't even allow you to hang pictures on the wall. Kuwait is a free for all on interior decor. Don't like the flooring? Change it. Don't like the kitchen tiles? Change them. I'm leaving my apartment now after 11 years and I have changed just about everything. It was fun. Consider this: There is no minimum wage in Kuwait, so anything labor-intensive will be less. You can have things done cheaper than in the US.

Appliances

Al Ghanim is the biggest and most reputable. Their service is pretty good and they pick up/deliver. You can purchase appliances through them on monthly installments.

Considerations: If you are buying a refrigerator with an ice maker, check the water hook up in the apartment first. Most stoves ("cookers") are heated with propane gas. Tanks are switched out once they are used. The hariss or the neighborhood convenience store (called "dikan" or "baqala") will deliver for less than a dinar.

Utilities

Landline phone: Ask your company's mandoob for his help. You can get a landline for 100 kd per year and all local calls are free. You will need your civil ID. You will not receive a bill or notification when payment is due. You should go to the ministry of communications in the area where you live (or have a mandoob go for you) annually to pay up.

Electrity and Water: Often provided by the landlord. If it isn't, again ask the mandoob for his assistance. You will need to go to the Ministry of Electricity & Water in your area with your civil ID and 100 KD deposit to have the electricity put on. 90% of the time, you will never receive an electricity bill. The average is 5KD per month on an apartment. You should have your mandoob (if possible) go to check with the ministry annually to see how much you owe and to pay up. (Personal note, I got busted after 11 years with an 800 KD bill. I giggle.)

Miscellaneous

Convenience stores: Lots of neighborhoods have convenience stores that you can call and they will deliver just about anything (including propane for the stove)

Addresses in Kuwait are almost non-existent. Until very recently, most streets weren't named/identified. Note your address on your lease. Mail will usually NOT be delivered to your residence. Consider a post office box (at your areas Ministry of Communications for 4 kd per year) or having mail delivered to your office.

Emergency Services: 777. They may/may not answer. Have a plan. Know where the closest ER is. Know who to call (your employer, a friend, etc.)

Security: If your apartment doesn't have a peep-hole in the front door, have one installed. Beggars often find out where a Westerner lives, and will knock on your door relentlessly. Inform your hariss. Security cams are available at some places in Hawalli and you can have them installed over your door. Consider an apartment starting on the 2nd floor and up because thieves can break in through windows while you are out. If you are away for a long time, put your valuables in a bank safe deposit box. Break ins are becoming more common in Kuwait.

Be Aware of Con Artist Realtors: I met with a building owner and discovered something quite scary: Harisses who work with realtors to dupe you into paying a commission that they don't deserve. What happens is that YOU go to see a building and the hariss tells you that the building is being managed by a third-party realtor and that even though YOU have gone to the building and found it yourself, you must pay the commission to the realtor handling the building rental/management. I have had 2 experiences with this lately. At one building, the hariss didn't speak English and a bee-bop realtor man walked right past the hariss and told me that I had to pay a commission to him. Thankfully, I knew the building owner and dropped his name. Here's the skinny: They may ask you to sign a rental agreement with the realtor and you might not know that you actually have to sign with the building owner. Since the hariss is the one working the deal, you wouldn't know it. The building owner told me that this is a very dangerous con because then you are out not only your deposit but you don't have a valid rental agreement. So, how do you find out what is real and what isn't? The hariss should immediately tell you who the building owner is: if the Realtor commission is legitimate, then they will have no problem with you contacting the building owner's office. If they are hesitant, then you know something is hinky. I'll write more about this when I find out more. - end -

I thought it was really weird the first time I drove to a complex and asked the hariss if there were any free apartments. After he showed me a beautiful place, I was ready to sign the rental agreement. As soon as I sounded interested in it, he said, "By the way, you have to pay a commission to the real estate office. It is standard. They manage the rental of the building." I thought it was really weird, and I almost paid it, but it was a bait-and-switch deal so I just walked anyways. I had a Kuwaiti friend who was with me and he didn't even question it. He didn't think more about it until I talked to him tonight, so he said he is going to ask around and look into it.

The UAE had a big problem with unscrupulous Realtors - majority from Egypt. What happened was that they would find a property and ask the owner to sign an agreement at x amount of money (let's say 500 kd per apartment). Then, they would turn around and rent the apartment at y amount (lets say 800 kd). So, the real estate prices were going sky high. The Sheikh finally canceled all the Realtor visas and kicked everyone out. It was like a mafia.

If you have any questions, you can always feel free to write to me at amerab@gmail.com an I will try to assist.

Full Vice Presidential Debate with Gov. Palin and Sen. Biden

For those who couldn't watch the debate;

Job listings in the GCC

Here is a group that send job posts from all GCC newspapers to your inbox.

Just email them at: : jobs_gulf_info-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Arab News (Saudi Arabia) (Jan 01, 2007 to date ) Sep 29, 2008 Sep 28, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 More.............. Arab Times (Kuwait) (Jan 01, 2007 to date ) Sep 28, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 Sep 23, 2008 More............. Khaleej Times (UAE) (Jan 01, 2007 to date ) Sep 29, 2008 Sep 28, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 More.............

Gulf Daily News (BAHRAIN) - (Aug 04, 2008 to date ) Sep 29, 2008 Sep 28, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 More.......... Miscellaneous Jobs Sent by Members / Friends (Jan 01, 2007 to date ) Sep 29, 2008 Sep 28, 2008 Sep 27, 2008 Sep 26, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Sep 24, 2008 Sep 23, 2008 Sep 22, 2008 More.............

REGISTER TO VOTE NOW!

Elections are getting close
Register to vote now
Sunday October 5th, 2008 You can register at the US Embassy in person from 1500 - 1900

Kuwait City, Kuwait
September 29, 2008

MEMORANDUM

To: All American Wardens

From: Consular Section

Subject: Warden Notice 2008 – 19

Please circulate the following message without additions or omissions immediately to all American citizens within your area of responsibility.

Begin Text.

The deadline for voter registration for November election is getting close but it is still not too late to register. Don’t miss the opportunity to exercise one of your most important rights as an American citizen.

There are two ways to register to vote while you are abroad. For most states you can register online via the Federal Voting Assistance Program website at www.fvap.gov or you can register in person at the Embassy during American Citizen Services hours Sunday through Thursday 1-3 or Monday through Thursday 9-11.

The Embassy will also be open for extended hours, on Sunday, October 5th from 1500-1900 to allow Americans who are unable to come to the Embassy during regular hours to register to vote. These special hours are for voting assistance only; no other American Citizen Services will be performed.

All citizens should bring two forms of ID, including a U.S. issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Please ensure that you bring your U.S ID inside, as you will need information from it for your voter registration form.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the embassy at VoteKuwait@state.gov or KuwaitACS@state.gov.

End Text.

American citizens with any questions or concerns may telephone the Embassy at
259-1581, 259-1583 or 259-1240. In case of an emergency outside business hours, American citizens may reach the Embassy duty officer by calling 259-1001.

For the latest security information, Americans should regularly monitor the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays.)

This message may be accessed on the Embassy website, http://kuwait.usembassy.gov

American citizens in Kuwait who would like to receive future Warden Messages from the Embassy directly by e-mail may sign up for this service by sending an e-mail to the following address: join-wardenmessagekuwait@mh.databack.com

American citizens resident and visiting in Kuwait who are not registered with the Embassy, or whose registration information has changed, are urged to register as soon as possible.

They may now do so on-line at the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp
Please note that the Consular Section is closed for American and most local holidays. The current list of holiday schedule for the year 2008, may be viewed via the link below: http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/holidays.html

Processing Work Permit in Kuwait

Hello,

So you are in Kuwait and need to process your residency papers, usually the Company Messenger (Mandoub) is your to go guy, but here is a run down of the whole process just for the sake of knowledge.

Mandoub
Most offices in Kuwait have a mandoub, a representative whose job is to process the ‘official’ paperwork of his company. A mandoub is usually an expatriate Arab. His value depends on his knowledge of the required forms and procedures and his ability to push paperwork through government bureaucracy. To deal with certain ministries the mandoub must be officially registered.

Obtaining Residence
To live in Kuwait, expatriates other than GCC citizens must have an iqama, i.e. a residence permit. A person discovered without a valid iqama is fined and deported.

There are different types of iqama, which are allotted article numbers in the immigration regulations. The three main types are work visas, domestic and dependent visas, all of which require a sponsor. An expatriate may however sponsor his own residence, with or without being permitted to work, provided he has lived in Kuwait for many years and has substantial financial means.

Work Permits, No-objection Certificates & Work Visas
A person in Kuwait on a visit visa is not permitted to take up employment. Work visas are iqamas granted under articles 17 (for public sector employees) and 18 (private sector employees) of the immigration regulations. To obtain residence on a work visa an offer of employment must first be accepted. The Kuwaiti sponsoring employer then applies for a work permit from the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor, for which the sponsor needs a copy of the employee’s passport showing full personal details, and any other Kuwait entry visas. A private sector sponsoring employer must then obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Ministry of the Interior which he does by submitting the employee’s personal details.

If the employee is living in a country that has a Kuwaiti Embassy the employer will send him a copy of the work permit, which the employee will take, with a medical certificate, to the Kuwaiti Embassy for endorsement. The Kuwaiti Embassy will have received a copy of the work permit through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those sponsored by private sector companies will require their NOCs and a copy of the employer’s authorized signatory as registered for business purposes. A good conduct certificate, which is obtained from the police in the last place of residence, may be required for some nationalities. Applicants are also required to provide a medical certificate stating that their general state of health is good and that they are free of specific epidemic diseases. The Embassy will then provide an entry visa for Kuwait on submission of the application form.

If the employee is living in a country that has no Kuwaiti Embassy then the sponsor will submit the work permit and NOC to the Ministry of the Interior to obtain the entry visa. If an employee is on a visit visa to Kuwait when he accepts employment, then, once the work permit and NOC are ready, he must leave Kuwait and return on the entry visa the sponsor obtains for him. This can be a short round trip to Bahrain by air for the day.

Once he has entered Kuwait on the entry visa, the employee is required to undergo medical tests and obtain a fingerprint certificate before he can process his residence visa.

Medical Tests
The medical tests are taken at the Ports & Borders Health Division, Gamal Abdul Nasser Street, in Shuwaikh, just west of KISR but before the Chest Hospital is reached. Requirements are passport, copy of NOC, a single photograph and a KD10 revenue stamp. Revenue stamps are available from post offices, or from private traders outside the test area who charge a small premium over the nominal value of the stamp.

To take the tests, a pink card must be obtained from a reception window. There is no system of appointments and most people must queue for the various procedures. These include blood tests for serious infectious diseases, such as AIDS, and a chest x-ray. A meningitis vaccination is also given. It takes about a week for the results, which are given in the form of a certificate from the Ministry of Public

Health, to come through. Persons found to be infected with epidemic diseases are deported.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Personal head-and-shoulder type photographs are needed in Kuwait on innumerable occasions. Passport-size photographs are usually acceptable, but the circumstances in which photographs will be needed are not entirely predictable and it is best to stock-up before beginning immigration procedures. The regulation sizes for official purposes are:

Passport-Size 4.0x5.0cm (maximum)
3.5 x 4.5cm (minimum)
Civil ID Card 3.0 x 4.0cm
Driving Licence 2.0 x 3.0cm

For a civil ID card the overall length of the face must be within a range of 2.2 to 2.5cm, while for a driving license the overall length of the face must be within a range of 2 to 2.25cm. The photograph for a civil ID card must show the face without spectacles, but if a person habitually wears spectacles then the photographs for a driving license must show them being worn.

Expatriates employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and food processing are required to go for health check up every year and obtain the certificate. Also people from the following countries will require annual check-ups: Somalia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Eritrea, Senegal, Kenya, Chad, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritania, Benin, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Mauritius, Bhutan, Zaire, Guinea, Togo, Mali, Seychelles, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Malawi, Malta, Guinea-Bissau, Fijji, Cuba, Haiti, Zambia, Angola, Congo and Namobia.

Health Insurance Scheme
From April 10, 2000 Ministry of Health has imposed health insurance on expatriates. No new residence is stamped or old renewed unless the expatriates have paid the state health insurance premiums, KD 50 for the head of the family, KD 40 for the wife and KD 30 for every child below the age of 18. The duration of expatriates’ residence is linked directly to the period covered by health insurance. One year health insurance paid entitles only one year residence permit.

Though Kuwaiti nationals are exempted from the scheme, foreign women married to Kuwaitis and children of Kuwaiti women married to foreigners are required to pay KD 5 insurance premium.
The law stipulates that the employers pay the premiums for their employees.

Health Insurance Validity
Expatriates who transfer from one sponsor to another will not have to pay insurance again for the period covered earlier.

Health Insurance Cards
The Ministry of Health started issuing Health Cards to expatriates from July 2003 at the following centers:

• Capital Governorate - Ministry of Health Administration Complex in Sabah Health Zone
• Hawally Governorate - opposite Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital
• Farwaniya Governorate - near Khaitan Clinic
• Ahmadi Governorate - near Fahaheel Clinic
• Jahra Governorate - near Naeem Clinic
• Also at various immigration offices in each of the governorates the centers are established to issue Health Cards.

Expatriates are required to submit two passport size photographs, their ID Card and KD1 fee to register and obtain the card. These electro-magnetic health cards will take a few minutes to issue and will provide data on bearers medical history.

Fingerprinting & Security Clearance
There are four fingerprint departments where expatriates can have their fingerprints registered and obtain security clearance. These are located in Khaled Ibn Al Waleed Street, Sharq, near the toy shops (for persons living in the City governorate), Al-Ghazali Street, Farwaniya (for persons living in Hawalli and Farwaniya governorates), Ahmadi and Jahra.

To have fingerprints registered, an employee’s passport, copy of the passport, four photographs and a letter from the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor are required. An application form must be completed in Arabic and there are always freelance typists around who will do so for a small fee.

It takes about a week for the finger-prints to be processed and the security clearance certificate to be issued by the Criminal Evidence Department of the Ministry of the Interior. The certificate is picked up from the same place.
Application for Residence

The actual application for an iqama is made at the Immigration and Passport Department of the Ministry of the Interior in Shuwaikh (the jawazaat or ‘passport office’), just off the Airport Road near the Q8 compound between the 3rd and 4th Ring Roads. First time applicants for residence must bring along the following documents in the form of both originals and photocopies:

• declaration on the prescribed form completed and signed by the sponsor
• passport
• work permit
• NOC
• medical certificate
• security clearance (fingerprint) certificate

Four passport size photographs are also required. A maximum of five years residence can be granted. The fee is KD10 per year of residence, with an additional KD2 in the first year. If the sponsor is a government organization then, by law, the employee must bear the cost. If the sponsor is a private company the cost is a matter of negotiation between the sponsor and the employee.

Application for Residence
The actual application for an iqama is made a the Immigration and passport Department of the ministry of the Interior in Shuwaikh (the Jawazaat or passport office) just off the Airport road near the Q8 compound between the 3rd and 4th Ring Roads. First time applicants for residence must submit the following documents in the form of both originals and photocopies:
*declaration on the prescribed *work permit * NOC *passport * security clearance(fingerprint)certificate
Four passport size photography are also required. A maximum of five years residence may be granted. The fee is KD 10 per year. If the sponsor is a government organization then, by law, the employee must bear the cost. If the sponsor is a private company the cost is a matter of negotiation between the sponsors and the employee.

Renewing Residence
After the initial residence has expired it can be renewed, provided the expatriate intends to continue under the same sponsor. Renewal is a fairly simple matter. Applications are made at the jawazaat in Shuwaikh and the process should be started a month before the expiry of the current residence.

Medical tests are not required on renewal. However the employee’s work permit must first be renewed with the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor. The application for renewal must be supported by:

• the employee’s passport and a copy of it,
• the renewed work permit, and
• a copy of the sponsor’s signature as required for business purposes.

Normally the sponsor or his official ‘mandoub’ will attend at the jawazaat to renew the employee’s iqama. Where the employee does so himself, he must have a letter from his sponsor authorizing him to do so.

DEPENDENT VISAS
Once he has obtained his own residency, a male employee may sponsor his wife and children to live with him in Kuwait. Permission to sponsor wife and children is granted only to those who meet the minimum salary condition.

A working wife cannot sponsor her husband as a dependent. Sons over 21 years cannot be sponsored as dependents, though adult daughters and parents may. Dependent family members may not work without transferring to a work visa under Kuwaiti sponsorship. This transfer is now allowed after one year. Earlier it was three years.

An entry visa for a dependent is obtained from the jawazaat (Passport Office) in Shuwaikh. An application form must be typed in Arabic and bilingual typists are available for a charge of 500 fils. The following supporting documents are required:

• sponsor’s salary certificate
• copy of the sponsor’s civil ID
• copy of the dependent’s passport
• authenticated marriage certificate or child’s birth certificate

The marriage certificate and child’s birth certificate must be authenticated by the sponsor’s embassy and certified by the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Once they have entered the country the formalities for a dependent’s iqama (art 22) are similar to those for a work visa. The dependent must be medically tested and fingerprinted. The photographs and documents required are the same as shown on page 39. The sponsor’s declaration is an undertaking by the family supporter that he will maintain the dependent.

The residence fees for each dependent (wife or child) are KD100 in the first year and KD10 a year thereafter. However the fee for a parent is KD200 a year. These charges apply to all expatriate sponsors whether they are working in the public or private sectors.

New Born Baby
When a baby is born to expatriates in Kuwait, the parents must obtain a dependent’s iqama for the child. There is no minimum salary requirement and the father of child born in Kuwait can sponsor his infant’s residence irrespective of his salary level.

But first the parents must obtain a birth certificate for the child. The hospital where the child was born will provide a notification of the birth. This must be taken to the registry of births in the governorate in which the birth took place to obtain the official birth certificate. The hospital will provide the address. The additional documents required to obtain the birth certificate include: application form duly completed, photocopies of parents’ passport and civil IDs, and authenticated marriage contract. The birth certificate is usually ready to be picked up at the registry after about a week. The fee is KD10.

When the notification is being submitted at the registry, the parents will be asked to write down the proposed first name of the child. For expatriates who do not speak Arabic the name will be written phonetically in Arabic.

To obtain residence the baby’s name must first be added to the parent’s passport or a separate passport must be obtained for the infant. To obtain a passport for the child, different embassies have different rules, but most non-Arabic embassies require a certified translation of the child’s birth certificate while some require the birth certificate to be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait.

Once a passport has been procured or the child has been added to one of its parent’s passport, the procedures for obtaining the child’s residence are the same as for any dependent. An infant born in Kuwait however is not required to undergo medical tests and fingerprinting. The documents required include the originals and copies of the father’s passport, the civil IDs of both parents, marriage certificate, work permit and letter of employment indicating salary. The application for the infant’s residence must be made within 60 days of the birth to avoid a fine of KD 200.

Where the father works in the private sector, the administrative fee for the new-born infant is KD100 in the first year for the first and second child, and KD200 in the first year for the third and subsequent children. But if the father works in the public sector, there is no charge in the first year for the first three children, while the charge for each subsequent child is KD100 in the first year. The actual residence fee is KD10 a year.
Parents on domestic servant visas cannot keep their child in Kuwait and must obtain an exit visa for the infant from the Ministry of the Interior, for which the following documents are required: passports and civil IDs of both parent’s, marriage contact translated into Arabic, and the child’s birth certificate. There is no fee for the exit visa but, to avoid a fine of KD 200, formalities must be completed within 60 days of the birth.

Domestic Servant’s Visa
Resident expatriates may sponsor one full-time servant to care for their household. A male expatiates must have his wife must be living with him if the servant is a female. The age limits for maids are 20 to 50 years. Family members may not be sponsored on servant’s visas.
The sponsor is not required to have a minimum salary and, provided both husband and wife are working and the family includes children, expatriate families are usually allowed to bring in a maid. The decision rests with immigration official who take into account the size of the family’s home, its monthly income and whether the family really need a maid.
An entry visa for a servant is obtained from the jawazaat in Shuwaikh. An application form must be typed in Arabic and bilingual typists are available for a charge of 500 fils. The following supporting documents are needed:
· Salary certificates of sponsor and his wife
· Copy of house rental agreement
· Copy of sponsor’s and wife’s passport
· Proof of ages of children (eg, copy of local birth certificates or passport)
· Copy of the sponsor’s and wife’s civil ID
· Copy of the servant’s passport plus eight passport sized photography
· Copy of the work contract for the servant
To travel to Kuwait, a servant may need to undergo certain formalities in his or her home country. These can be ascertained from the appropriate embassy.
Once he or she has entered the country the formalities fop a servant’s resident visa are photographs and documents needed are the same as for a work visa except for the work permit. The residence fee is KD 10 a year but there is also a charge of KD 200 in the first year.
There are many agencies in Kuwait which specialize in obtain domestic servants for Kuwaitis and expatriates. Some are reliable. A few have unsavory reputations.

NEW PASSPORTS
If an expatriate’s passport expires before his residence visa runs out then his iqama can be transferred to the new passport.

When an expatriate applies to his Embassy for a new passport, his old passport will probably be canceled. He should make sure that the pages containing his residence visa are not stamped ‘canceled’, otherwise he may find that he has to apply for a new residence rather than being allowed to transfer his residence from his old to his new passport.

Once he has obtained his new passport, an expatriate should take it along with the old passport to the jawazaat in Shuwaikh within two months of the date of issue of the new passport, where a typed application is presented. The required supporting documents are:

• copies of all documents used to obtain the original residence
• letter from sponsor
• old passport

Four photographs are also required. Provided everything is in order the iqama may be stamped in the new passport there and then.
Where the validity of his passport has been extended and his residence is still valid the expatriate need do nothing.

Passport Lost
If in Kuwait - Report to the Shuwaikh Immigration Department within three days for completion of necessary procedures before approaching the respective embassy for issuance of a new passport.

• If out of Kuwait - Expatriates residing in Kuwait lose their passports while on holidays abroad and are issued a new document by their respective embassies, must notify the Kuwaiti embassy or the consulate in that country before getting a permit to enter Kuwait.

TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SPONSOR
An expatriate can usually transfer his residence to a new sponsor provided his current sponsor is agreeable. For government employees, domestic servants and dependents, there are few restrictions on transfers between sponsors in the same sector.

However the rules governing the right to transfer to a new sponsor in the private sector are complex. Transfers are usually restricted to the ‘same sector’. For example, a teacher may normally only transfer to a new job as a teacher and may not transfer to a sponsor in industry. Domestic workers can transfer to the private farming sector under the same sponsor after one year’s residence in Kuwait. However. domestic workers desiring to change their ‘20 residence’ to ‘18 residence’ should cancel their residence, leave the country and return on a new work permit. But a person on a domestic servant’s visa may not transfer to an 18-visa until five years have elapsed since he or she obtained residence. And a person on a ‘project’ visa, i.e. someone who was hired by a private sector firm for a particular government project, may not normally transfer to private sector after the project is completed but could transfer to another government sponsor.

According to the transfer rules which were introduced in April 2001, expatriates working in the private sector are permitted to transfer residence to another sponsor after one year with their current sponsor and his consent. The transfer fee, payable to the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor (MSA&L), is KD10 plus KD2 for the new work permit. This fee is additional to the KD10 per year payable to the Ministry of the Interior for the new iqama. An employee of a liquidated company, or of a company that has merged with another, may also transfer without paying this fee, and no matter how short a time he has been with his current employer.

But before he can change his sponsor a resident expatriate must obtain a ‘letter of release’ from his current sponsor. This letter is used by the new sponsor to obtain a new work permit for the expatriate. Where a current sponsor refuses to provide the ‘letter of release’, the matter can be taken up with the Labor Department in the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor. Where the Department finds that the employer has no valid reason for withholding the release, or finds that the employer has broken terms in the labor contract or has violated the Labor Law, the Department may sanction the transfer irrespective of the current sponsor’s wishes.

Where residence is transferred, the expatriate does not need to leave the country and come back again, nor does he have to be medically tested. Otherwise formalities to obtain the new iqama are similar to those for obtaining residence in the first place. Once these have been completed, the old iqama is canceled and the new iqama stamped in the passport. The fee is KD10 a year and there is no rebate for any unexpired years of the old residence.

An expatriate who is not allowed to transfer his residence under the regulations may instead, if he wishes to change sponsor, resign his job, leave Kuwait and return on a fresh work permit. He or she does not need to return to his/her own country but can go to any other neighboring country in the region.

Transfer Procedures
But even if an expatriate is allowed to change his sponsor under the rules he must, in all cases, even if his contract has expired, have the consent of his current sponsor. This consent is evidenced by the sponsor’s signature on a letter of release In addition, to effect the transfer, a copy of the current sponsor’s commercial license is required.

Formalities to obtain the new iqama are similar to those for neither obtaining residence in the first place, though a medical test in nor necessary. The fee for the new work permit is KD 2, and the iqama costs the usual KD 10 a year though there is no rebate for any unexpired years of the old residence. In some cases a transfer fee, payable to the MSA&L, of KD 10 is charged.

Other Residence Visas
Besides work, dependent and domestic iqamas, expatriates may obtain other kids of residence, such as a student residence, or a three-month residence for medical treatment.
Temporary Residence
Expatriate may be granted temporary residence under article 14 in special cases where they do not need or cannot get ordinary residence. This allows for a stay for up to a year, Formerly only given to visitors with personal emergencies, such as illness, Western businessmen seem to obtain temporary residence without difficulty. Recently the Immigration Department has been granting two or three-month temporary residence to the immigration relatives (Father, Mother, Sister, but not Brothers) of residents, whose visit visa have expired.
Temporary residence may also be given to expatriates who have resigned but who need to remain in Kuwait for some time in order to settle their financial affairs or a court case.
The cost is KD 10 A temporary residence is canceled if the holder leaves the country.

Self-Sponsorship
Expatriates who have spent long years in Kuwait may sponsor themselves under article 24 of the regulations and obtain a residence for two to five years, provided they can support themselves financially and can produce a certificate of good conduct. This form of residence can be renewed upon expiry. Self-sponsored expatriates may sponsor their wives and children and are entitled to run their own business.

Exit Permits
Expatriate employees of ministries and some other government institutions must obtain exit permits before they can leave Kuwait. Other expatriate do not require exit visas.

Absence Abroad
A residence visa is canceled if the holder is absent aboard for a continuous period of six months. The only exceptions are for those who:
· Are studying aboard
· Are receiving necessary treatment aboard, or
· Are required by virtue of their work to be aboard,
Provided permission in all three cases is obtained before leaving Kuwait.
For a student studying overseas, application for permission is made to the immigration office in the applicant’s residential area. An official letter from the child’s college stating that he or she is studying there, authenticated by the Kuwait embassy in the for country and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait is required. A typist outside the immigration office will type a letter of application in Arabic, which must state the reasons for the application, for 500fils. Other documents needed include copies of passport and civil ID plus four passport-sized photographs. The permission is given in the form of letter.
This letter must be shown to the immigration officer both on departure from Kuwait and on return. The permission is valid for the term of the holder’s residence. It can be used for several entries and exits, and does not need to be renewed until residence is renewed.

CIVIL ID
Once an expatriate has obtained his residence then he must obtain a civil identity (ID) card (bitaqa-almadaniyah), no matter what type of residence he is on. Civil ID cards are issued by PACI, the public Authority for civil information. After his first card has been issued, the holder’s civil ID number remains the same even if he changes his sponsors or leave Kuwait and comes back several years later on a different residence visa.

The civil ID card shows the holder’s civil number, full name, date of birth ( which is also included in the algorithm for the ID number) local address, blood group, sponsor’s name, type of visa, etc, and date of expiry of the card. Wherever the card expires or an expatriate change sponsor, renews his residence or changes his address, his civil ID card must be amended accordingly. PACI has several offices, each with different functions.

Photographs
Wherever applying for the first time or renewing or replacing civil ID card, four photographs, showing the face without spectacles, are always required for those over 11 years of age. Photographs are not required for elderly Kuwaiti females.

Registration Procedures
To register for a civil ID for the first time, the documents required are:
· Passport
· Copy of passport pages showing personal details and residence stamp
· Security clearance (Fingerprinting) from those over 16 years
· Original birth certificate if born in Kuwait
· Blood group certificate those over 5 years
· Proof of house address (eg, rental agreement and rent receipts)
· Declaration signed by sponsors
For a first time domestic servant’s civil ID all the above documents, except the first, are needed. For the first civil ID for the baby born in Kuwait, just a copy of the baby’s birth certificate, and a copy of the sponsors passport(showing personal details, residence stamp and the addition of the baby) or the baby’s own passport (showing personal details and residence stamp) are required.
When changing or renewing a civil ID, an expatriate no matter what type of visa he is on, only needs to submit a copy of his passport (showing personal details and the residence stamp) and his sponsors declaration. To have an amended card issued following a change of address, the current card plus proof of the new address (eg, rental agreement) must be submitted. To replace lost card, a photocopy of the lost card and the expatriate’s passport is required.
First time applicants on a work or dependent’s visa must go in person to the PACI office in Farwaniyah, as must all those who wish to replace a lost card. Those on a work or dependent’s visa who are renewing or changing their civil IDs, and first time applicants for a document’s servant’s civil ID, and applicants for the first civil ID of a baby born in Kuwait, can buy the application form and special envelopes from ”Express-Envelope” machines located in Coop supermarkets (250fils), follow the instructions and submit their applications in these special machines.

Charges, Time Limits & Penalties
The charge for civil ID card is KD 2 when it is first issued and each time it is renewed. The charge is paid when the card is collected, there is a fee of KD 10 to replace a lost card.
An expatriate must apply for a civil ID card within 30 days of getting his residency, and must renew his card within 30days of getting his residency, and in Kuwait, the time limit for first registration is 60 days from the date of birth. In all cases the irrespective of the length of the delay, though in practice PACI only levy a one-off fine of KD 20.

Collection of Civil ID Card
For Online inquiry go to PACI
It takes about 10 days for a civil ID card to be processed.
Expatriates can ascertain the status of cards under process through PACI’s computerized telephone answering system by calling 889988 and keying in their civil ID number (for renewals) or the serial number on the outside of the envelope in which the application was submitted.
The civil ID card can only be picked up in person at the PACI office in South of Surrah (sixth ring road) beside ministry of electricity and water from an electronic dispensing machine. The actual machine to be used is ascertained by dialing the above telephone numbers. Two dinars plus the old civil ID card (if held) must be fed into the machine to obtain the new card.

Passport & other Documents
Many sponsors (including ministries) insist on holding their employees passport, even after residence formalities have been completed. Expatriates resent this. Though Kuwaiti Law is silent on this matter, in August 1997 a court ordered a company to return a passport to a former employee on the grounds that a passport belongs to the holders.
An expatriate should note that a passport is the property of the issuing government and that the holder is under a duty not to allow it to pass into the possession of an unauthorized person, and so allowing his sponsor to hold his passport indefinitely may be contrary to the law of his own country. And an expatriate whose passport is held by his sponsor may not be able to travel immediately in an emergency should his sponsor be out of the country or otherwise understandable. A majority of expatriate are laborers living in camps, where important documents can be easily lost or traded. In addition as exit visas for fiduciary bonds are relatively unknown in Kuwait, there is always the risk that an expatriate who controls valuable assets may abscond from the country.
The best tactic for an expatriate whose sponsor refuses to return his passport is to seek advice from his embassy, and insist that the advice be given in writing. The expatriate could also write to the issuing authority in his own country asking for ‘permission ‘ to allow his employer to hold his passport indefinitely.
The Human Rights Committee at the National assembly claims a special interest in ensuring that employers return their employees passports after the completion of immigration formalities.

SOURCE