PACI – the Public Authority for Civil Information (الهيئة العامة للمعلومات المدنية) – issues Kuwait’s Civil ID, runs the Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti) digital identity, keeps the national address register and publishes official population statistics. Almost everything is done online at paci.gov.kw or in the Sahel app: paying fees, renewing, checking card status, updating your address and collecting the card from a self-service kiosk. The headquarters is in South Surra and the hotline is 1889988.
On this page
- What PACI does
- PACI services at a glance
- Civil ID fees in 2026
- Collecting your Civil ID (استلام البطاقة المدنية)
- PACI headquarters in South Surra and other offices
- First Civil ID for new arrivals and dependants
- Using Sahel for PACI services
- Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti)
- Changing your address on the Civil ID
- Lost or damaged card
- Common mistakes with PACI
- Contact PACI
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
What PACI does
Every resident of Kuwait, citizen or expat, is registered with PACI under a 12-digit civil number. That number links your residency, address, bank accounts, phone lines, health records and traffic file. PACI’s main jobs are:
- Issuing and renewing the Civil ID card for citizens, expats and their dependants.
- Running Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti), the digital ID used to log in to Sahel, banks and telecom operators.
- Maintaining the national address system – every building has a PACI number, and your Civil ID shows your registered address.
- Publishing population and labour-force statistics used by ministries and researchers.
PACI services at a glance
| Service | Where to do it | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Civil ID fees (issue, renewal, replacement) | paci.gov.kw → card and fine payment; Sahel | Civil ID payment online |
| Renew the Civil ID after residency renewal | paci.gov.kw e-services; Sahel | Civil ID renewal |
| Check card status / readiness | paci.gov.kw → card status inquiry (no login) | Check Civil ID status |
| Collect the card | Self-service kiosks, South Surra HQ, delivery | See “Collecting your Civil ID” below |
| Change address | paci.gov.kw → address update; Sahel | See “Changing your address” below |
| Lost or damaged card | Book an appointment; KD 20 fee | See “Lost or damaged card” below |
| Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti) | App: register with Civil ID and biometrics | Used for Sahel, banks and telecoms |
| In-person appointment | Meta portal (meta.e.gov.kw) | Meta Kuwait login |
Civil ID fees in 2026
| Transaction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Issue or renewal (expats) | KD 5 plus a 250-fils envelope fee |
| Replacement of a lost or damaged card | KD 20 |
| Late fine if the card expires without renewal | KD 20, added on top of the normal fee |
Fees are paid by K-Net on paci.gov.kw or in Sahel. The renewal fee has been KD 5 since 2016. Your employer or sponsor usually starts the residency renewal; once the residency is renewed at the Ministry of Interior, the new Civil ID can be paid for and printed.
A Civil ID that expires without renewal triggers a KD 20 fine. Many services – banks, telecom lines, travel – also stop working with an expired card, so pay as soon as your residency is renewed.
Collecting your Civil ID (استلام البطاقة المدنية)
- Check that your card is ready using the card status inquiry on paci.gov.kw (enter your civil number) – see our status check guide.
- Choose how to receive it: a self-service kiosk, the South Surra headquarters, or home delivery selected at the time of payment.
- At a kiosk, enter your civil number and the serial number or scan your fingerprint as prompted; the machine prints or releases the card.
- Check your name, date of birth, residency expiry and address on the card before you leave.
- Destroy the old card or keep it as instructed – do not use an expired card for transactions.
Self-service kiosks are installed in co-operative societies, malls and ministry buildings, and many work 24/7. If a kiosk says the card is not available there, the card may be held at a different location – call 1889988 to confirm.
PACI headquarters in South Surra and other offices
- Headquarters – South Surra (جنوب السرة): the main building for expat registration, lost cards, data corrections and biometric capture. Most counters work Sunday to Thursday, 7:30 AM–2:00 PM, and some services run an afternoon shift.
- Governorate service centres and Civil ID distribution points operate in Hawally, Farwaniya, Jahra, Ahmadi and Mubarak Al-Kabeer.
- Self-service kiosks in co-ops, malls and ministries print ready cards, many around the clock.
- Appointments for in-person services are booked through the government Meta portal (meta.e.gov.kw).
Before driving to South Surra, check whether the service can be done online. Payments, renewals, status checks and address updates rarely need a visit; only first registration, lost cards and data corrections usually do.
First Civil ID for new arrivals and dependants
When you arrive on a work visa, your employer completes the medical test, fingerprints and residency stamping first. The first Civil ID is then requested from PACI with your registered address, so make sure your housing details are ready. For family members the sponsor applies after their residency is issued.
- New employees: residency issued by the Ministry of Interior, address registered with PACI, fee paid, card collected from a kiosk or delivered.
- Wife and children: the sponsor applies with the residency, passport and the family’s address; children need their own card.
- Newborns: register the birth, obtain the passport and residency, then apply for the Civil ID. Start early, as some services need the child’s civil number.
- Domestic workers: the sponsor applies after the worker’s residency is issued; the card shows the sponsor’s address.
Using Sahel for PACI services
The Sahel app brings most PACI services together with other ministries. Log in with Kuwait Mobile ID, open the PACI section and you can pay Civil ID fees, track the card, request delivery and start an address change without visiting an office. Sahel also sends notifications when your card is ready or when a document is about to expire, which is the easiest way to avoid late fines.
Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti)
Kuwait Mobile ID, known in Arabic as هويتي, is the digital version of your Civil ID. It lets you log in to Sahel, approve bank and telecom transactions, sign documents digitally and show your ID on your phone. To set it up:
- Download Kuwait Mobile ID from the App Store or Google Play.
- Register with your civil number and the serial number on your card.
- Complete identity verification as instructed in the app (PACI biometrics must already be on file).
- Set a PIN and enable notifications – approval requests from Sahel and banks arrive in the app.
Changing your address on the Civil ID
When you move flat, you must update your address with PACI. Your landlord or the building owner usually needs to confirm the lease. You can start the update on paci.gov.kw or through Sahel, upload the lease and owner documents requested, pay the fee and wait for the new card. Keeping your address current matters: residency, court notices and fines are linked to it, and an address removed by a landlord can leave you with no registered address. If you are unsure of your area’s details, our Kuwait postal code list helps.
Lost or damaged card
- Report a lost card to the police station of the area where it was lost and keep the report.
- Book an appointment and apply for a replacement; the fee is KD 20, paid at the counter or online once the report is accepted.
- Freeze bank cards and alert your bank – the Civil ID is used to verify your identity.
- Until the new card arrives, use Kuwait Mobile ID where it is accepted.
Common mistakes with PACI
- Paying for the Civil ID before the residency has been renewed at the Ministry of Interior.
- Letting the card expire and paying a KD 20 fine.
- Not completing biometric registration, which blocks telecom and some bank transactions.
- Moving flat without updating the address, then missing official notices.
- Calling unofficial “agents” who offer to speed up PACI services for a fee.
Contact PACI
- Hotline: 1889988 (card status, fees, delivery).
- Website: paci.gov.kw (Arabic and English).
- Apps: Sahel, Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiti) and PACI Delivery.
- Social media: @PACI_KW on X and Instagram for announcements such as kiosk outages and holiday hours.
Frequently asked questions
What does PACI stand for?
Public Authority for Civil Information – the Kuwaiti body that keeps the civil register, issues Civil IDs and runs the national address database.
How much is the Civil ID renewal fee in Kuwait?
KD 5 plus a 250-fils envelope fee. A lost or damaged card costs KD 20, and a KD 20 fine applies if the card expires without renewal.
Do I need an appointment to visit PACI South Surra?
Yes for lost cards, data changes and first registration – book on Meta. Payments and card collection do not need an appointment and are easier online or at kiosks.
How do I know if my Civil ID is ready?
Use the free card status inquiry on paci.gov.kw with your civil number, or call 1889988.
Where can I collect my Civil ID?
From a self-service kiosk, the South Surra headquarters, or by home delivery if you chose it when paying.
What is the PACI phone number?
1889988, from any Kuwaiti line during working hours. The automated line gives card status by civil number.
Can I renew my Civil ID online?
Yes. Once your residency is renewed, pay the fee on paci.gov.kw or in Sahel and choose kiosk collection or delivery.