Exit Permit, KD800 Rules: What exits need to know about Kuwait’s new visa and resident policy
Kuwait has long been a destination for migrants, which attracts workers worldwide with stable jobs and tax-free salary promises. However, the Gulf Nation is now controlling who enters, and leaves, introduces new rules that affect everything from labor rights to family sponsorship. If you work or live in Kuwait or are planning to go there, here is a wide breakdown of the latest visa and residency regulations, including exit permits, updated family sponsorship rules for private sector employees, and how these changes affect the expatos.
Exit permit for private sector expatings starting on 1 July
Earlier this week, Kuwait announced a significant change affecting the country’s large migrant workforce: all foreign private sector employees, who hold Article 18 residency, will now have to get clear employer approval before leaving Kuwait.
- This exit permit system, which is common in the Gulf elsewhere
Kafla sponsorship system Will be fully implemented from July 1, 2025. - Practical implications: Employees of a private company cannot leave Kuwait, temporarily, temporarily, without approval (“Kafale”) presented through the official government portals.
- This applies to both permanent departure and regular holidays.
- The process is digital through the “Sahel” app or the Ashtar Manpower Portal, but the final approval rests with the employer.
How does the exit permit process work
The system is designed to make accessible, digital and 24/7.
- Step 1: Worker submit the application
Using their civil ID and personal information, workers apply online through Sahel App or Eshal portal. They select start and ends for permits. The permit itself does not require a specific return date.
- Step 2: employer approval
The request is automatically sent to the employer, which should be approved through the Sahel-Vivasayi app or the Ashtar portal. The employer-employee verify the relationship before issuing the system permit.
- Step 3: Issue of immediate permit
On the approval of the employer, the permit is immediately issued, which has no other formality.
- Handling refusal or non-reaction:
If the employer fails to respond to the request without any reason, the employee can submit a complaint
Public authority of manpower (PAM) to intervene.
Who is affected:
- All private sector Article 18 residences and their dependents are migrants. Government employees have long departmental permission for travel.
Why is this rule now introduced? Kuwaiti officials say the purpose of the remedy is:
- Stop illegal departure.
- Ensure that the workers fulfill their financial and contractual obligations.
- Cracks on abuses like absconding and labor market irregularities.
Kafala sponsorship system and exit permit
The new exit permit is tightly connected to the Kafla system, which is prevalent in the Gulf. Under the Kafala, the visas of migrant workers are connected to their employers, giving the sponsors significant control over the legal status and movement of the employees.
- While several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have improved or eliminated parts of the Kafla, the recipient of Kuwait’s exit permit has been strengthened the employer oversight.
- Public Authority of Jan Shakti (PAM) underlined several objectives for this rule:
- Strong Oversite: Provide better government tracking of migrant movement.
- Balance rights: “Ensure a balance between the rights of workers and employers,” stop the workers from leaving without fulfilling the obligations.
- Minimize the violations: Reduce unauthorized departure such as absconding workers without debt or appropriate documents.
- Ankush Visa Trading: Help illegal visa trading and labor markets to combat irregularities.
Strict Family Visa Rules and KD800 pay limit
Kuwait has also updated the rules for sponsoring the family, which emphasizes the ability of sponsors to financially support their dependents.
- Minimum wage requirement:
To sponsor husband -wife and children under Article 22 Residency, migrants must earn at least KD800 (about $ 2,610) per month.
- background:
This salary limit was presented under Minister Resolution No. 56 in January 2024. Initially, applicants also had to catch university degrees and were to be employed in a profession matching their qualifications.
However, the amendment in July 2024 removed the degree requirement, but maintained the income limit as the primary eligibility factor.
- Enforcement campaign:
The investigation department of Kuwait’s residence affairs is actively identifying the migrants, who initially met the KD800 salary, but later fell under it due to a change in jobs or a reduction in salary.
The affected people must regularize their position within a month, or they risk sending their dependents back to their home countries.
Other important provisions and exceptions
- Profession stability:
According to Article 29 of the revised rules, only their declared businesses can sponsor migrant families working in jobs.
- Current exception:
Exceptions may be given to children under five years of age or children born inside Kuwait, but require review and approval by the Director General of Residency Affairs.
- Open application process:
The internal ministry emphasizes that the family visa process is open to all migrants regardless of nationality or educational background, until they meet the need for salary.
