Dubai: For decades, Kuwait has been a hub of opportunity for expatriates, drawing workers from around the world with the promise of stable jobs and tax-free salaries.
Yet, as the Gulf nation tightens its controls on who comes, who stays, and who goes, navigating Kuwait’s visa system has become a challenge that touches on everything from labour rights and family life to new digital platforms and legal restrictions.
If you’re considering a move to Kuwait, or are already living in the country as a foreign worker or family member, here’s everything you need to know, whether you’re applying for your first tourist visa or contemplating a return home.
A new era: Exit permits for private sector expatriates
Early this week, Kuwait announced a major policy shift for the country’s vast expatriate workforce: all foreign private sector employees (holders of Article 18 residency) must obtain explicit employer approval before leaving the country.
This “exit permit” system, common elsewhere in the Gulf under the kafala (sponsorship) system, is now fully in force in Kuwait, effective July 1.
What does this mean in practice?
If you work for a private company, you cannot leave Kuwait, even temporarily, unless your employer (the ‘kafeel’) approves your travel through the official government portals.
This includes both permanent departures and routine vacations. The system is online, streamlined through the “Sahel” app or the Ashal Manpower Portal, but ultimately, your employer’s approval is a must.
- How to apply: Employees must log in to the Sahel app, submit a request with their civil ID and travel dates, and wait for employer approval. If your employer does not respond or denies your request without cause, you can file a complaint with the Public Authority of Manpower.
- Who is affected: All private sector expats (Article 18 residency) and their dependents; government employees have long needed departmental permission for travel.
- Why now? Authorities say the measure will prevent illegal departures, ensure workers fulfill financial obligations, and crack down on abuses like absconding or labor market irregularities.
Understanding the ‘Kafala’ context
The new exit permit regulation is deeply intertwined with the “kafala” sponsorship system, a framework widely prevalent in the Gulf. Under kafala, migrant workers’ visas are tied directly to their employers, granting sponsors considerable control over their employees’ legal status and, historically, their movement.
While many GCC countries have taken steps to reform or abolish aspects of kafala, the re-introduction of an exit permit in Kuwait is set to enhance employer oversight on their staff.
Rationale behind the new rule
According to the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM), the primary objectives of the exit permit are multi-faceted:
- Strengthening oversight: The measure aims to enhance governmental oversight of expatriate worker movement, providing a clearer picture of who is entering and exiting the country.
- Balancing rights: The permit seeks to “ensure a balance between the workers’ and employers’ rights.” This suggests an effort to prevent situations where workers might leave the country with outstanding financial obligations or without fulfilling their contractual duties.
- Minimising violations: The authority hopes to reduce violations linked to unauthorised departures, such as workers leaving without settling debts or without proper documentation.
- Curbing visa trading: A significant underlying motive for this regulation, as highlighted by officials, is to help curb illicit visa trading and irregularities within the labor market.
How the system works
The process for obtaining an exit permit has been designed to be primarily online and accessible 24/7.
- Worker’s application: Expatriate workers can submit an electronic exit permit request using their Civil ID number and personal information via the unified government application for electronic services (Sahel) or the Ashal portal of the manpower authority. Workers have the right to choose the start and end dates of the permit upon submitting the application, and importantly, the permit does not entail any commitment to a specific return date.
- Employer’s approval: The application is then automatically sent to the employer for approval. Employers must use the Sahel-Business app or the Ashal portal. The system will automatically verify the employer-employee match before the permit is issued. Authorised individuals within a company can approve these requests automatically.
- Instant issuance: Once approved by the employer, the permit is issued instantly, without additional formalities.
- Addressing denials and disputes: To mitigate potential misuse by employers, the government has provided a recourse for workers. If an employer fails to respond or unjustly denies a request without a valid reason, the worker can file a complaint with the Public Authority for Manpower.
Evolving family visa regulations: Striking a balance
Beyond the exit permit, Kuwait has also implemented stricter rules governing family visas for expatriates, aiming to ensure that sponsors can financially support their dependents.
The KD800 salary threshold
Expatriates wishing to sponsor their spouses and children under Article 22 residency must now meet a minimum salary requirement of KD800 (approximately $2,610), a central feature of Kuwait’s updated family visa policy. This threshold was first established in January 2024 under Ministerial Resolution No. 56, which originally also required applicants to hold a university degree and be employed in a profession aligned with their qualifications. However, a subsequent amendment in July 2024 removed the degree requirement, while keeping the income condition firmly in place as the key eligibility criterion.
Targeted enforcement campaign
Kuwaiti authorities, specifically the Residence Affairs Investigations Department, have launched a targeted campaign to identify and address violations of these new rules. This campaign has focused on expatriates who initially met the KD800 threshold but later fell below it due to job changes or reduced income. These individuals are now required to regularise their status within one month or face the prospect of sending their dependents back to their home countries.
Key provisions and exceptions
- Profession consistency: Under Article 29 of the revised regulation, eligibility for family visas is limited to those employed in positions consistent with their declared professions.
- Discretionary exceptions: Discretionary exceptions may be granted for children under the age of five or those born inside Kuwait, subject to review by the Director General of Residency Affairs.
- Open process: The Interior Ministry emphasizes that the family visa process is open to all expatriates, regardless of nationality or educational background, provided the salary requirement is met.
