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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Exit permits, KD800 rule: What expats need to know about Kuwait's new visa and residency policy
New Kuwait rules require employer-approved exit and KD800 income to sponsor dependents (Representational Image) Kuwait has long been a destination for expatriates, attracting workers worldwide with promises of stable jobs and tax-free salaries. However, the Gulf nation is now tightening controls on who enters, stays, and leaves, introducing new rules that impact everything from labor rights to family sponsorship. If you work or live in Kuwait or are planning to move there, here is a detailed breakdown of the latest visa and residency regulations, including exit permits for private sector employees, updated family sponsorship rules, and how these changes affect expats. Exit Permits Required for Private Sector Expats Starting July 1 Earlier this week, Kuwait announced a significant change affecting the country's large expatriate workforce: all foreign private sector employees, who hold Article 18 residency, must now obtain explicit employer approval before leaving Kuwait. This exit permit system, which is common elsewhere in the Gulf under the kafala sponsorship system , will be fully in force from July 1, 2025. Practical implications: Private company employees cannot leave Kuwait, even temporarily, without their employer's (the 'kafeel') approval submitted through the official government portals. This applies to both permanent departures and routine vacations. The process is digitized via the 'Sahel' app or the Ashal Manpower Portal, but ultimate approval rests with the employer. How the Exit Permit Process Works The system is designed to be accessible, digital, and 24/7. Step 1: Worker submits application Using their Civil ID and personal information, workers apply online via the Sahel app or the Ashal portal. They select start and end dates for the permit. The permit itself does not require a specific return date. Step 2: Employer approval The request is automatically sent to the employer, who must approve it via the Sahel-Business app or the Ashal portal. The system verifies the employer-employee relationship before issuing the permit. Step 3: Instant permit issuance Upon employer approval, the permit is issued immediately, with no further formalities. Handling denials or non-response: If the employer fails to respond or denies a request without cause, the employee can submit a complaint to the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) to intervene. Who is affected: All private sector expatriates under Article 18 residency and their dependents. Government employees have long required departmental permission for travel. Why is this rule introduced now? Kuwaiti authorities say the measure aims to: Prevent illegal departures. Ensure workers fulfill their financial and contractual obligations. Crack down on abuses like absconding and labor market irregularities. The Kafala Sponsorship System and the Exit Permit The new exit permit is tightly connected to the kafala system, prevalent across the Gulf. Under kafala, migrant workers' visas are linked to their employers, giving sponsors significant control over employees' legal status and movement. While many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have reformed or abolished parts of kafala, Kuwait's reintroduction of the exit permit strengthens employer oversight. The Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) outlined several objectives for this rule: Strengthen oversight: Provide better government tracking of expatriate movement. Balance rights: 'Ensure a balance between the workers' and employers' rights,' preventing workers from leaving without fulfilling obligations. Minimise violations: Reduce unauthorized departures such as workers absconding without clearing debts or proper documentation. Curb visa trading: Help combat illicit visa trading and labor market irregularities. Stricter Family Visa Regulations and the KD800 Salary Threshold Kuwait has also updated rules for family sponsorship, emphasizing sponsors' ability to financially support their dependents. Minimum salary requirement: To sponsor spouses and children under Article 22 residency, expatriates must earn at least KD800 (approximately $2,610) per month. Background: This salary threshold was introduced in January 2024 under Ministerial Resolution No. 56. Initially, applicants also had to hold a university degree and be employed in a profession matching their qualifications. However, a July 2024 amendment removed the degree requirement but maintained the income threshold as the primary eligibility factor. Enforcement campaign: Kuwait's Residence Affairs Investigations Department is actively identifying expatriates who initially met the KD800 salary but later fell below it due to job changes or salary reductions. Those affected must regularize their status within one month, or they risk having their dependents sent back to their home countries. Other Important Provisions and Exceptions Profession consistency: According to Article 29 of the revised regulations, only expatriates employed in jobs consistent with their declared professions can sponsor family members. Discretionary exceptions: Children under five years old or born inside Kuwait may be granted exceptions, but these require review and approval by the Director General of Residency Affairs. Open application process: The Ministry of Interior emphasizes that the family visa process is open to all expatriates regardless of nationality or educational background, as long as they meet the salary requirement.
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait's New Visa And Residency Rules: All You Need To Know
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. 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. 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. : 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. : 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. 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. 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. : 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. : 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. : 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. 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. : 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. : 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. : 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. 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. 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.
