Civil Address Change Leaves Expat And Infant Trapped In Nightmare

Civil Address Change Leaves Expat And Infant Trapped In Nightmare
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Published on: 27-Aug-2025

A Mahboula expat finds himself and his infant child stranded in a bureaucratic nightmare after a seemingly simple address change has spiraled into a major administrative ordeal. The man, who moved into a Mahboula apartment in Block 2 at the end of March 2025, has diligently paid his monthly rent of KD 210, keeping all K-Net receipts as proof. Hoping to update his official address, he paid an additional KD 50 online for the building owner’s signature — a standard procedure required by Civil ID authorities.

But what should have been a routine process turned into a harrowing ordeal. Upon visiting the PACI office in Jahra, officials rejected his request, revealing that the signature provided came from a nominee lacking a valid Power of Attorney to sign on behalf of the owner. The fallout has been severe:

His new Civil ID cannot be issued, while his old ID has already expired.
His baby’s Civil ID is also on hold, leaving the child in a legal limbo.
Mobile ID updates are failing, causing daily complications in accessing essential services.

The expat insists that all other documents were submitted correctly and that he has solid proof of payments — yet the disputed signature remains an insurmountable barrier. What began as a routine administrative task has now turned into a stressful battle against red tape, leaving the family in uncertainty and distress.

To resolve the issue with your Civil ID address change in Kuwait, consider the following steps:

1. Verify the Signature Authorization

The rejection occurred because the building owner's nominee lacks a valid Power of Attorney (POA) to sign on the owner's behalf. To proceed, ensure that the person who signed the address change form has the legal authority to do so. If not, you may need to obtain a valid POA from the building owner or get the authorization from the correct signatory

2. Gather Required Documents

Ensure you have all necessary documents for the address change process:

Civil ID for individuals whose addresses require a change
Two recent personal photos (4 × 6 cm)
Lease contract and a copy
Owner's document of title, in case the applicant lives in a leased house
Electricity bill instead of the document of title of the owner or the house, in case the house is a property. Applicants must submit a recent bill valid for 6 months, where the address and the owner's name are stated
Document of title of the house, in case the house is a property
Power of attorney from the Ministry of Justice, in case the applicant does not attend in person

3. Submit the Application

You can submit your application either online or in person:

Online via Sahel App: Log in using your Sahel App, navigate to "Services" > "Public Authority for Civil Information" > "Personal Services" > "Address Change for Non-Kuwaiti," and upload the required documents.

In Person: Visit the PACI headquarters at South Surra (Ministries Zon), first floor, Residents' Office, submit the required documents, fill out the service application form, and pay the fees due. Make sure you take an appointment.

4. Address the Signature Issue

If the signature provided was from an unauthorized individual, you may need to:

- Obtain a valid POA from the building owner authorizing the nominee to sign on their behalf.

- Ensure that the signature on the address change form matches the authorized signatory's signature as per the POA

Source: Arab Times