Sign In

Delhi News Daily

  • Home
  • Fashion
  • Business
  • World News
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
Reading: Exit permits, KD800 rule: What expats need to know about Kuwait’s new visa and residency policy | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Share

Delhi News Daily

Font ResizerAa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Delhi News Daily > Blog > World News > Exit permits, KD800 rule: What expats need to know about Kuwait’s new visa and residency policy | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
World News

Exit permits, KD800 rule: What expats need to know about Kuwait’s new visa and residency policy | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

delhinewsdaily
Last updated: June 13, 2025 10:30 pm
delhinewsdaily
Share
SHARE


Contents
Exit Permits Required for Private Sector Expats Starting July 1How the Exit Permit Process WorksThe Kafala Sponsorship System and the Exit PermitStricter Family Visa Regulations and the KD800 Salary ThresholdOther Important Provisions and Exceptions
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.





Source link

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article In UAE, AI now issues work permits in seconds, zero bureaucracy, zero paperwork | World News – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Next Article Israel-Iran war: Iran launches fresh missile barrage at Israel; blasts heard in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • ‘No Change In Leadership’: Congress Puts To Rest Speculation Over Karnataka CM Change – Delhi News Daily
  • Ellenbarrie Industrial shares soar 10% after listing debut. Should you buy, sell or hold? – Delhi News Daily
  • Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G Series Gets Champagne Gold Colour Variant in India – Delhi News Daily
  • Allu Arjun SPOTTED at Mumbai airport after commencing 1st schedule of AA22 x A6 with Mrunal Thakur – PICS | – Times of India – Delhi News Daily
  • Germany stabbing attack: Man attacks employees in company premises; 1 dead, two injured – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

You Might Also Like

Kenya death-in-custody victim was arrested for criticising cop online – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Representative Image (AI-generated) Kenya's police chief said Monday that a man who died in custody over the weekend had been…

5 Min Read
World News

‘Thank you, Mr. President’: Israel thanks Donald Trump with a huge banner – Middle East tensions – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

A massive banner featuring the image of US President Donald Trump appeared on a central highway in Tel Aviv on…

5 Min Read
World News

Iran casts doubt on Israel’s ceasefire commitment after 12-day war; demands UN name aggressors – Times of India – Delhi News Daily

Six days into a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States, Iran on Sunday said it does not trust Israel…

7 Min Read
World News

World Bank lifts ban on nuclear energy financing – The Times of India – Delhi News Daily

World Bank President Ajay Banga announced that the organisation will return to supporting nuclear energy after staying out of the…

6 Min Read

Delhi News Daily

© Delhi News Daily Network.

Incognito Web Technologies

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?