Not many people think about retiring in another country. However, this can often be a lifesaver. For many, the 2008-2009 financial crisis hit hard. Many moved out, and pursued a life in countries outside of the States – and never looked back! Nowadays, Kuwait is often a popular choice with ex-pats. As a land transportation company Kuwait, we often have our hands full! But if you are planning on moving here for good, then you should also look into retiring in Kuwait. You will need a lot of planning and organizing – and we are here to help! In this article, find out some of the basic things you need to know about the process!
Work on the language
When moving to Kuwait, you might want to think about learning the language. The official language of the country is Modern Standard Arabic, though the majority of people use Kuwaiti Arabic – a variety of the language. However, you will also get along fine with English or French too – the prior is considered the business language, while the latter is the third most popular language in Kuwait.
But even still, knowing some Arabic is never bad. You do not need to be fluent – just enough to be functional. Get some basic skills so that people do not consider you a complete outsider. When you know their mother tongue, you will fit in much easier. It at least shows effort on your part to assimilate into the community, no matter how much you might pop out from it.
Luckily, learning a language nowadays has never been easier. There are many classes online that you can take – as well as apps that can help you with the language. You can also get in touch with some people in Kuwait and practice. After all, this is the best way to learn a language!
Think about money when retiring in Kuwait
Another thing that you might want to look into is online banking. Before you contact Easy Move Kuwait and start planning your move, you might want to switch all your financial accounts to online ones. You should also contact your bank about sending you all your statements and correspondence through emails as well.
This is because, even though you might be looking for a place to rent in Kuwait, you might want to keep your U.S. bank account running. This way, you can still manage credit card payments as well as receive your Social Security checks. You can claim these wherever in the world you are – as long as you are eligible.
You should also look into different banks in Kuwait. A lot of international banks will also accept direct deposits of Social Security checks, and this can make the process easier for you. You can check the Social Security Administration website for a list of countries that allow this – as well as the percentage of banks that make it work.
What’s more, it might be a smart idea to also have a local checking or savings account too. However, you should be careful with this – you will still need to file a U.S. tax return as a U.S. citizen. So, you will need to file the necessary documents, like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. There are also foreign transaction fees to consider. This can be 3% for debit card purchases or ATM withdrawals, as well as a flat $5 fee per transaction. These can easily add up if you’re not careful, and that’s why many opt for a Kuwait checking account.
You will need a residency visa as well
When you plan on spending some time in another country, you will need to apply for residency there. Otherwise, you will be considered a tourist – and will not have the same rights as the country’s citizens. Different countries have different regulations.
So, before you leave, you will want to make sure you know exactly what paperwork you will need to file. Make sure you gather it all up – including your marriage licenses, birth certificates as well as your proof of income. Some of these might even need authentication – so prepare for that too. Then, make sure you scan each document – and email your completed docs to a qualified visa attorney. Let them review it for you because it can be quite costly to show up with incomplete or incorrect paperwork.
If you are retiring in Kuwait, if you are coming from a place other than the Gulf Cooperation Council, you will need a residence visa – or iqama. You can apply for a work visa, domestic, or dependent visa. Of course, all of these will require you to have a different sponsor. If you have enough financial means, or you have lived in Kuwait for a while, then you can sponsor your own residence, too.
Think about the medical matters when retiring in Kuwait
Finally, you do not want to get ill without health insurance – wherever you are. You will probably need to get a checkup in your country before retiring in Kuwait – and you will need to bring your records with you. However, we strongly encourage you to research this topic further. It is imperative to know all you can about the way the health system of Kuwait works – and it is too large of a topic to fit here.
And in the end, a small disclaimer. Mostly throughout this article, we have written about retiring in Kuwait as a U.S. citizen. However, all of this information can apply to any other country as well. However, we again strongly encourage you to explore the topic deeper and how it affects the country you are coming from. The paperwork will differ, as well as what you might need – but the experience might not differ as a whole! Good luck!