PACI Kuwait Guide: Services, Online Portal, Apps and Contacts
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PACI Kuwait, the Public Authority for Civil Information, is the government body behind your Civil ID, your civil number and your registered address. Almost every official step in Kuwait, from opening a bank account to renewing a residency, starts with data that PACI holds. Knowing which channel does what saves wasted trips to South Surra.
I compared official PACI and Kuwait Government Online pages with news reports and the most-read guides, then put the whole picture in one place. This guide explains what PACI does, the e-services portal, the apps, the main services and how to reach PACI. If you only want to know whether your card is ready, use our Civil ID status checker.
Table of Contents
Popular Civil ID guides
Quick answers to the most common Kuwait Civil ID and PACI questions.
What Is PACI Kuwait?
PACI is a Kuwaiti government authority that runs the national civil information system. Its legal basis is Law No. 32 of 1982 on the Civil Information System, which sets rules on registration, addresses and penalties.
Every Kuwaiti citizen, GCC citizen and expat resident registered in Kuwait gets a unique 12-digit civil number from PACI. That number is printed on the Civil ID card, and the card is the main identity document inside the country. In Arabic, PACI is called الهيئة العامة للمعلومات المدنية.
People often say “PACI” when they mean the Civil ID, the website or the head office in South Surra.
What PACI Does: Main Responsibilities
PACI’s work falls into a few clear areas:
- Population registration: giving each person a civil number and keeping their civil data up to date.
- Civil ID cards: issuing first cards, renewals and replacements for lost or damaged cards.
- Addresses: registering where each person lives and giving buildings and units an automated number, often called the PACI number.
- Digital identity: running Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawyti) and the electronic signature.
- E-government: PACI is the publisher of the Sahel app, the unified government services app.
- Maps and GIS: running Kuwait Finder and GIS services. PACI won an award in the United States in 2018 for its GIS work.
- Statistics: publishing population data through its Statistical Services System.
Residency permits, visas and biometric fingerprint appointments belong to the Ministry of Interior, not PACI.
PACI Kuwait Main Services at a Glance
| Service | Who it is for | Main channel |
|---|---|---|
| New Civil ID | New residents, newborns | Sahel or PACI portal, then collection |
| Civil ID renewal | Citizens, GCC, expats | Sahel, PACI portal, 1889988 |
| Lost or damaged card | Everyone | Sahel or PACI office |
| Address change | Everyone | Sahel |
| PACI number search | Everyone | Kuwait Finder |
| Kuwait Mobile ID | Everyone with a valid card | Kuwait Mobile ID app |
| Electronic signature | Citizens and residents | App (citizens) or self-service machine |
| Certificates | Citizens and residents | Sahel |
| Pay card fees and fines | Everyone | PACI portal or Sahel |
| Building and establishment data | Owners and companies | PACI portal |
The PACI Website and E-Services Portal
The PACI website works in Arabic and English. Its main menu has Home, About the Authority, Electronic Services, Authority News, Pay Card Fees and Violations, Book Appointments and Contact Us.
The home page shows four main tiles: Electronic Services, the Statistical Services System, Kuwait Mobile ID and GIS Services. Below them is a card services panel with one shared field for your civil number or receipt number, and an Inquire button.
The Electronic Services area is split into three tabs:
- Individuals: photo updates, Latin name updates for Kuwaitis, newborn data, first-time dependent registration (Articles 22, 26, 27 and 29), first-time domestic worker registration (Article 20), status changes under Articles 7 and 8, assigning a card pickup code and paying fees.
- Establishments and Buildings: add or update an establishment, add or edit a building, issue an automated number for a parcel, and track requests.
- Other: tenders, price requests and recruitment.
You also find a Transactions Guide and a Download Housing Declaration button, which gives you the residence declaration form used in address changes.
How to Use the PACI Online Portal (Step by Step)
Have your 12-digit civil number or receipt number ready.
Prefer to watch? This short video shows a PACI online service, the Civil ID renewal:
- Step 1 Open the official PACI website and switch the language to English if you need it.
- Step 2 Go to the card services panel or open Electronic Services, then choose the Individuals tab.
- Step 3 Pick the service you need, such as Card Renewal, Card Validity or Address Availability.
- Step 4 Enter your civil number or receipt number and tap Inquire.
- Step 5 Read the result. If a fee is due, continue to payment and pay by KNET.
- Step 6 Save or print the receipt, and keep the receipt number for later inquiries.
If a service is not on the portal, look in Sahel.
PACI Card Inquiry Services Explained
The card services panel holds six quick inquiries using the same receipt number or civil number field.
| Inquiry | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Civil Number Inquiry | Helps you find or confirm a civil number |
| Establishment and Address Requests | Progress of building or address requests |
| Card Validity | Whether your card is still valid |
| Address Availability | Whether you have a valid registered address |
| Card Renewal | Starts renewal and payment |
| Card Status | Whether a printed card is ready |
Check Address Availability before any address change, because a removed address blocks some services.
Civil ID Services: New Cards, Renewal and Replacement
New cards: expats get their first Civil ID after the MOI issues residency. Sponsors register dependents and domestic workers through the Individuals tab or Sahel, and newborns need their data completed with PACI.
Renewal: Kuwait Government Online lists four renewal channels: Sahel, the PACI website, a visit to PACI, and automatic renewal by call or SMS to 1889988. Phone and SMS renewal only works if your photo does not need to change. GCC citizens in Kuwait can also renew through Sahel since mid-2026. Official pages list KD 5 for the card, and each SMS from 1889988 costs 50 fils.
Replacement: for a lost or damaged card, you report and pay the replacement fee, then collect the new card. Since May 2026, a notification in Kuwait Mobile ID can give you a QR code for collection.
Guides warn that a card left uncollected for around six months may be destroyed.
PACI Number, Address Registration and Kuwait Finder
PACI gives every building and unit an automated number, usually called the PACI number. You find it on a small plate near your flat door or at the building entrance, and on a sealed lease contract. Most guides say it has 8 digits, while some recent ones say 9, so copy every digit exactly.
You need this number to register or change your address. Address changes now run through Sahel, with a lease, a housing declaration and, for many expats, the owner’s confirmation.
PACI removes addresses when an owner declares a tenant has left or a building is demolished, and publishes the names in the official gazette, Kuwait Alyoum. In July 2026 a notice covered 425 people, who had 30 days to register a new address, with a fine of up to KD 100 for those who do not.
Kuwait Finder is PACI’s free map app. You can search an address or landmark, get step-by-step navigation, share a location by QR code or link, save favourites and use maps offline.
Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawyti) and the Electronic Signature
Kuwait Mobile ID, also called Hawyti or My Identity, is PACI’s digital Civil ID app, launched in April 2020. It shows your card, gives a QR code for identity checks and approves Sahel logins.
Accounts have three levels since November 2024: Medium (manual registration, no authentication), High (registration by scanning the card chip with NFC) and Verified (registration at a self-service device, with the electronic signature).
On 9 July 2026, PACI let citizens activate the electronic signature inside the app, with a valid Civil ID and passport. Residents activate it at PACI self-service machines. For setup steps and fixes, see our Kuwait Mobile ID guide.
PACI warned in August 2025 and again in September 2026 that you should approve only requests you started yourself. Never share your PIN.
PACI Certificates on Sahel
PACI now issues several certificates online:
- Previous nationality, previous name and previous address certificates, plus a To Whom It May Concern certificate, added to Sahel in 2026.
- Certificate of Previous Addresses, reported in February and again in June 2026, for citizens and residents.
- Civil registration certificate, launched on 20 July 2026, which verifies your civil registration data for official bodies.
To request one, log in to Sahel, open Services, choose Public Authority for Civil Information, then the certificates section.
PACI Services in the Sahel App
Sahel launched in September 2021 with 123 services. By September 2025 it offered more than 460 services from over 40 government bodies, with about 2.9 million users.
Under Public Authority for Civil Information in Sahel you can renew the card, update your phone number, change your address, request certificates and book appointments through Meta. Every Sahel login is approved in Kuwait Mobile ID, so you need a High or Verified account.
PACI Offices, Appointments and Self-Service Machines
PACI serves the public at three main sites: the head office in South Surra (Ministries Area, near the Sixth Ring Road), the Ahmadi branch in South Sabahiya and the Jahra branch. Offices work Sunday to Thursday and close on Friday and Saturday. PACI returned to full working hours on 3 May 2026, and card collection runs about 7:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 7 PM. Guides differ on exact shifts, so check before you go. Our PACI office locations and timings guide has the full details.
Since September 2021, visitors need an appointment booked on Meta, the government booking platform, or through Sahel.
PACI also runs two kinds of machines. Card collection machines at the head office and branches hold printed cards. Kuwait Mobile ID kiosks, at PACI head office and many bank branches, handle Verified registration, PIN unlocks and the electronic signature.
How to Contact PACI
- Hotline 1889988: call for card questions and renewal, or send an SMS. Press 1 for Arabic or 2 for English. Guides give different hours, so call on a working-day morning.
- SMS codes: guides list R plus your civil number for renewal and I plus your civil number for an inquiry, both sent to 1889988.
- Contact Us form: on the PACI website menu.
- Social media: the website links to PACI accounts on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube, where PACI posts announcements.
We could not confirm a public email address or a WhatsApp channel from official pages, so use the hotline or the Contact Us form.
Common PACI Online Service Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| PACI website does not load | Try later, switch network or use Sahel |
| Inquire shows no result | Check all 12 digits of the civil number or use the receipt number |
| Sahel login request not arriving | Register Kuwait Mobile ID by NFC for the High level |
| Payment fails | Retry with another KNET card and keep the receipt |
| Address removed | Register a new address in Sahel within 30 days |
| Renewal by SMS refused | Your photo needs updating; renew online or in person |
| No Meta slots | Check daily or choose another branch |
| Service not on portal | Look under PACI in Sahel or call 1889988 |
Tips for Using PACI Services Faster
- Save your civil number and the latest receipt number in your phone.
- Check Address Availability before any address change.
- Register Kuwait Mobile ID by NFC so Sahel works.
- Use Sahel first, and visit an office only when a service needs it.
- Book Meta appointments early, on working days.
- Keep your mobile number current with PACI.
- Approve only Mobile ID requests you started.
If you cannot get online help, call the PACI hotline 1889988. Your home address uses a PACI address number.
More Civil ID and PACI guides
Every guide on the site, in one place.
FAQs About PACI Kuwait
What does PACI stand for in Kuwait?
PACI stands for the Public Authority for Civil Information. It runs the civil information system, the Civil ID and address records.
What does PACI do?
PACI registers people, issues Civil ID cards, keeps address records, runs Kuwait Mobile ID and Kuwait Finder, and publishes the Sahel app.
Is PACI the same as the Civil ID?
No. PACI is the authority, and the Civil ID is the card it issues. People often use the two names for each other.
What is the PACI hotline number?
The PACI hotline is 1889988. You can call it or send SMS commands to it.
Can I renew my Civil ID online?
Yes. You can renew through Sahel or the PACI website, or by call or SMS to 1889988 if your photo does not change.
What is a PACI number?
It is the automated number PACI gives each building or unit. You find it on a plate near your door and on your lease contract.
Which apps does PACI run?
PACI publishes Sahel, Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawyti) and Kuwait Finder. All three are free on the App Store and Google Play.
Do I need an appointment to visit PACI?
Yes. PACI has required appointments through Meta or Sahel since September 2021.
Is PACI open on Saturday?
No. PACI offices work Sunday to Thursday and close on Friday and Saturday.
Where is the PACI head office?
It is in South Surra, in the Ministries Area near the Sixth Ring Road. PACI also has branches in Ahmadi (South Sabahiya) and Jahra.
Can I get PACI certificates online?
Yes. Since 2026, Sahel offers several PACI certificates, including previous address and civil registration certificates.
Conclusion
PACI Kuwait sits behind your civil number, Civil ID, address and digital identity. Here is the short version:
| If you want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| Renew or pay for your card | Use Sahel or the PACI portal |
| Change or check your address | Use Sahel and Address Availability |
| Prove your identity online | Set up Kuwait Mobile ID by NFC |
| Talk to PACI | Call 1889988 or use Contact Us |
- Start online, because most PACI services now run through the portal or Sahel.
- Keep your address and phone number current, or services may stop working.
- Book Meta first when a visit is really needed.
Services and hours change, so confirm details on the official PACI website and in Sahel. I based this guide on PACI and Kuwait Government Online pages plus news references, last checked in October 2026.
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