Once the employee has arrived on a NOC, the process of stamping the residence or the 'Iqama' starts, this can in some instance take weeks. The formalities have to be completed within 60 days of entry otherwise a daily penalty fee of KD 2/- will be levied. It is important to note that after a person has entered the country on a NOC he or she cannot leave the country until the residence permit has been issued. Also he or she will not be able to drive a vehicle in Kuwait until a valid Kuwaiti Driving Licence is issued, unless, of course a temporary licence is obtained in the interim. One can only apply for a Driving Licence once the Residence has been obtained and the Civil ID has been issued.

From 10th April, 2000 health insurance was made mandatory for expatriates. No residence is renewed unless the premium for health insurance is paid and the renewal period is also linked to the period of health insurance coverage. Expatriates holding health insurance from local private insurance companies will be allowed to renew their residence for the period of validity of the insurance. However, for holders of private insurance, the Ministry will charge KD 4 for each visit to health clinic besides the one dinar charge. They will also have to pay for medicine, laboratory tests and radiology scans. Visit to the outpatient clinic will cost KD 6, stay at public hospital KD 10 per day, KD 80 per day at an intensive care unit and KD 5 per day for stay at a psychiatric hospital. Expatriates covered by private insurance companies will also have to pay KD 10 per visit to a birth registration clinic. The charge for normal delivery is KD 200 inclusive of a three day stay at a hospital. Any overstay will cost KD 10 per day.

Most large organisations employ a 'Mandoob' who is the official representative for processing the documentation. The documents for a Residence visa are:

• Copy of the NOC with the entry stamp

• Copy of the employee's passport

• Medical certificate of fitness which includes TB and AIDS test - involving blood test and chest X-Ray

• Police clearance certificate, including finger prints

• Health Insurance Fees of KD. 50 per year for an adult if done through government health authorities.

SPOUSES & DEPENDENTS
Expatriate employees working for the Government sector or the Private sector whose monthly salaries are not less than KD 250 per month are granted a residence permit for their wife and children. The employee acts as the sponsor and has to pay the following annual fees for the family:

1. Spouse
KD 100 for the first year and KD 10 renewal fee for consecutive years plus KD 40 per year Health Insurance Fees.

Employees are allowed to sponsor one domestic servant, provided both the parents are working and there is a necessity to have someone to look after the children. A fee of KD. 200 per year will be charged from the sponsor (Non Kuwaiti) for sponsoring a domestic servant.