Kuwait's e-permit exit rule: Expat workers need employer's nod to fly out; how to obtain it?
From July 1, 2025, all foreign employees under Article 18 of the Foreigners' Residence Law must obtain prior approval from their employer to travel abroad. The e-permit system, launched by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), is part of Kuwait's wider digital transformation and labour market reform agenda.
Authorities said that the system has seen a strong early response, with more than 36,000 applications submitted within hours of launch, ET reported.
Obtaining the permit
Under the new rule, expatriate workers in the private sector must secure an electronic exit permit before travelling. The permit must be applied for via the Sahel Individuals mobile app and approved through the As-hal Companies portal. Employers or sponsors are required to review and approve the request through the As-hal Companies portal.
Streamlining process
The system runs 24/7, including weekends, for ease of access. According to the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), the regulation is designed to streamline exit procedures, enhance transparency, and safeguard workers' rights.
Day one of the system
The outbound traffic at Kuwait International Airport remained smooth on the first day of the new exit permit rule. The first flight under the regulation, an Air India service to India, departed at 12:45 am without any delays, followed closely by another India-bound flight.
Authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the ministry of interior, and several airlines, worked in coordination to ensure seamless airport operations.
Despite the busy summer travel period, the new rule did not cause any disruptions or delays for departing passengers.
Airlines alerting passengers
Airlines have started issuing advisories, warning expatriate travellers on work visas that flight bookings will be cancelled if the mandatory exit permit is missing at check-in. In such cases, no refunds or alternate bookings will be offered, as per ET.
Passengers are being urged to confirm the following before heading to the airport:
Valid passport
Valid visa
Employer-approved electronic exit permit
The regulation aligns Kuwait with Gulf neighbours like Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain, which already operate similar systems, as per AFP.
The new regulation also strengthened the existing sponsorship-based residency system, where employers hold significant control over various aspects of a foreign worker's legal status.
It was introduced via a ministerial directive issued by first deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef. The e-permit system comes amid a wave of new immigration laws passed in late 2024, which include tighter penalties for violations, contract limits, and a ban on deducting administrative fees from salaries.
Kuwait has also raised the minimum salary requirement for sponsoring family visas to KD 800 per month.
Although the exit permit system is intended to promote more organised labour market management, some human rights groups have expressed concerns that it could further tighten employer control and restrict workers' freedom of movement.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
23 minutes ago
- Mint
Indias rights in WTO to retaliate on US auto tariffs wont affect trade deal talks: Official
New Delhi, Jul 5 (PTI) India's decision to reserve its rights to impose retaliatory duties on the US over imposition of tariffs on auto parts is a procedural move under the WTO agreement on safeguards and it will not affect ongoing negotiations on the proposed trade pact between the two countries, an official said. India on Friday proposed imposing retaliatory duties under the WTO (World Trade Organisation) norms against the US over American tariffs on imports of the country's auto parts in the name of safeguard measures. The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations would take the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the US, according to a notification of the WTO being circulated at the request of India. "The notification in WTO is an essential step to reserve India's right, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement on safeguard and does not prejudice ongoing discussions, deliberations, negotiations for finalizing tranche one or subsequent tranches of India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in any way," the official told PTI. The two countries have aimed to conclude the first phase of the BTA by fall (September-October) this year. The agreement is aimed at more than doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion. Both India and the US are signatories to the Agreement on Safeguard at the WTO which empowers a WTO Member to suspend its tariff concessions to another member who introduces safeguard measures on its imports. On 26 March 2025, the US announced a 25 per cent ad valorem tariff on the import of automobiles and on certain automobile parts, including, from India under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, 1974. "India treated it as a safeguard measure and gave a notice for consultation under the WTO agreement earlier. Now, as per the provisions of that agreement, after completion of 30 days period for consultation, as a next step, India has notified that it is reserving its right to suspend concession on equivalent US exports to India as a response to enhanced tariff of 25 per cent imposed by the US on Indian exports of auto components," the official said. Before the first phase, India and the US are negotiating to finalise an interim trade agreement before July 9, which marks the end of the 90-day suspension period of the Trump tariffs imposed on dozens of countries including India. US President Donald Trump on Friday reportedly stated that he has signed tariff letters to 10-12 countries to inform them about import duties to be levied on various products, and these would be sent on Monday. Meanwhile, sources have stated that there are uncertainties over the announcement of the interim trade agreement between India and the US before July 9. India does not enter into any trade agreement based on deadlines and will accept the proposed trade deal with the US only when it is fully finalised, properly concluded and in the national interest, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said on Friday. FTAs are possible only when both sides get benefitted and it should be a win-win agreement, he has said.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Not under CCI investigation, matter relates to India Cements: UltraTech
The country's leading cement maker UltraTec, on Saturday said it is not under investigation by the fair trade regulator CCI over alleged contravention of competition norms in tenders floated by state-run oil major ONGC. "It is clarified that the Company is not under investigation in this Case No. 35 of 2020 before the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The company has neither received any order from the CCI in this case nor have the company's financials been sought by the CCI," said the Aditya Birla group flagship firm in a BSE filing. It further said that its newly acquired entity India Cements Ltd (ICEM) is a party in case No 35 of 2020 and the South-India-based manufacturer is exploring legal options over the same. "The India Cements Ltd (ICL), a subsidiary of the Company, is party to Case No. 35 of 2020 and is separately making appropriate disclosures in this regard, while exploring legal options," it said. India Cements, which was earlier promoted by the Srinivasan family, was acquired by UltraTech in December 2024. It had acquired a 32.72 per cent stake from promoters and promoter group entities, along with a 22.77 per cent stake from the market of the Tamil Nadu-based company. Meanwhile, in a separate filing on Saturday, India Cements said it is "yet to receive a full version of the investigation report of the Director General, under the Competition Act, 2002". It is currently assessing its legal options and "there is no finding by the CCI at this stage against ICEM and no financial penalty has been levied". Earlier, in May this year, CCI had directed India Cements, along with Dalmia Bharat Cements and Shree Digvijay Cements and their executives to submit financial documents, after its Director General in its investigations found contravention of competition norms. The CCI direction came over a complaint filed by ONGC alleging cartelisation in its tender. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has also directed to submit their audited financial statement, including balance sheet and profit and loss account, within eight weeks of the order. Besides, CCI has also directed their executives to submit detailed financials and income tax records for five years, along with formal responses to the investigation report. On Friday, Dalmia Bharat, in a regulatory filing, said CCI is yet to hear in the matter or pass any formal order. "DCBL remains committed to full regulatory compliance and is cooperating with the authorities," it said. The CCI direction came over a complaint filed by ONGC alleging cartelisation in its tenders. Following this, the fair trade regulator had on November 18, 2020, directed its probe unit Director General to look into the issue. The DG had submitted the report of its investigation on February 18, 2025, in which found contraventions of the competition regulations. It had found that India Cements, along with Shree Digvijay Cement and Dalmia Cement, with a middleman named Umakant Agarwal, engaged in anti-competitive collusion. Later, CCI on May 26, 2025, considered the investigation report and in a four-page order also directed the cement manufacturer to submit income derived from sales to alleged contraventions by the PSU. The CCI notice also mentioned if there is non-furnishing of the financial details or incomplete/false information, within the time frame by the companies, then they would be liable under section 45 of the Act.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Prime Minister Modi's commitment towards BRICS has no words to say," says Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia ahead of PM's state visit to Brazil
Brasilia [Brazil], July 5 (ANI): In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make a state visit to Brazil--the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 57 years. Speaking to ANI, India's Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, emphasized the importance of the visit and its broader implications on bilateral and multilateral platforms, especially the upcoming BRICS Summit. 'Prime Minister Modi's commitment towards BRICS has no words to say. Prime Minister's first ever foreign visit out of Indian subcontinent was to Brazil to participate in the BRICS summit in the 2014 Fortaleza,' Bhatia told ANI. Building on this legacy, Bhatia added, 'This is the state visit which has most important because it is after 57 year a State visit of Prime minister of India taking place to Brazil.' He said the BRICS agenda of global governance and financial institutional reform remains central, but Brazil has introduced several other subjects for discussion, which will be 'reflected dually in the Joint Declaration on 6th of July.' These include global health cooperation, digital cooperation, artificial intelligence, climate change and climate finance, along with trade, investment, and finance. 'It's always a topic which is discussed in all such forum. So there'll be very amplified discussions,' he noted. Focusing on India's participation, Bhatia said Prime Minister Modi will participate in all sessions and engage with global leaders. 'He will also reflect India's ideas on all the agenda items. He will also have a bilateral meeting,' he said. He then turned to India-Brazil bilateral ties, tracing them back to the opening of India's first embassy in Latin America in 1948. 'India Brazil are very close countries, India open first embassy in Latin America in 1948 since we had very close relationship. In 2006, we elevated the relationship to strategic partnership. And since then, we have, move strength to strength, the basket of subjects that is on the table between India and Brazil is very amplified now. We are talking from Trade and investments to defense cooperation to agriculture cooperation. And there are a large number of subjects which are being discussed. And Brazil is very close. This is, in fact, Prime Minister's fourth visit to Brazil. He has been here thrice before, but this is the first time, of course, he's making the state visit.' He also shared details of key agreements to be signed during the visit. 'In the bilateral state visit, there will be four MOU agreement sign, counter-terrorism, agriculture research, renewable energy. In this way, many subjects will be discussed and also some MOU will sign.' Highlighting India's previous BRICS leadership on counter-terrorism, Bhatia said, 'India during its presidency of BRICS in 2021 had only got a declaration issued on behalf of BRICS to on counter-terrorism. And besides that, we are expecting that an MOU on counter-terrorism will be signed between India and Brazil bilaterally during the State visit of prime minister.' On BRICS collaboration, Bhatia reiterated the significance of continuity in engagement. 'The discussion will take place, the agenda is very clear, and you will get to know on 6th afternoon when then joint declaration comes out, which will be very constructive, one, and you should BRICS countries apart, collaborating with each other for almost two decades now, and this will be another step towards the right direction.' Bhatia stressed that India and Brazil share similar perspectives on global issues. 'We are contributing in the way of collaborating with Brazil. Brazil and India are like minded countries. We are part of global south and we are both in favor of global governance and financial institutional reform.' On participation from other nations, Bhatia noted, 'As far as my information goes, the Prime Minister of China is participating in the summit and, of course, all other countries are also participating. So, collectively, we will have discussion.' He also highlighted the economic dimension of India-Brazil ties. 'We have $12 billion of trade between the two countries. There are bilateral investments. We have invested in Brazil from pharmaceutical to oil and gas to mining. Indian companies, more than 50 Indian companies are only present in Brazil. Similarly, Brazil has also invested in India. There are many companies which are also exploring further investment opportunities in India. So, this is an ongoing process. The government's job is to provide a platform to the private companies, the private sector, so that they can look for more investment opportunities.' (ANI)
