Latest news with #KD800
Time of India
13-06-2025
- 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
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Expats In Kuwait Given 30 Days To Comply With Salary Rule Or Send Families Home
Kuwait has begun enforcing a strict set of new rules governing family visas for expats, summoning dozens of foreign residents found in violation of the country's residency regulations. According to Kuwaiti authorities, the Residence Affairs Investigations Department has launched a targeted campaign in recent weeks, identifying expatriates who originally met the minimum salary threshold of KD800 ($2,610)_but later fell below this requirement due to job changes or reduced income. These individuals most of whom had used their higher salaries to secure family residency permits (Article 22) for spouses and children have now been ordered to regularize their status within one month or send their dependents back to their home countries. The enforcement action follows Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, introduced in January by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah. Initially, the resolution mandated that applicants hold a university degree and work in a profession matching their qualifications, in addition to earning a minimum of KD800 per month. A July 2024 amendment later removed the degree requirement but retained the income threshold as the primary condition for sponsoring family members. 'The KD 800 salary benchmark is based on socio-economic studies and reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that expatriates are financially capable of providing a decent standard of living for their dependents,' said an official source familiar with the ministry's policy. The source added that the recent campaign is not a blanket crackdown but a targeted compliance effort informed by automated government systems that cross-reference employment, income, and residency data across departments. The Interior Ministry has emphasized that the family visa process remains open to all expatriates, regardless of nationality or educational background, as long as the salary requirement is met. However, under Article 29 of the revised regulation, eligibility is limited to those employed in positions consistent with their declared professions. Discretionary exceptions may be granted for children under the age of five or those born inside Kuwait, pending review by the Director General of Residency Affairs.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait tightens enforcement on family visa rules for expats
KUWAIT CITY: Under the latest ministerial decision, the Kuwaiti Residence Affairs Investigations Department has recently summoned dozens of expatriates for violating family visa regulations. The violators were granted a one-month grace period to either regularize their status or return their families to their home countries. The move targets expatriates who initially met the KD 800 salary requirement and secured family visas (Article 22) for their spouses and children, but later fell short of income. While their initial applications were approved based on valid work permits and salaries exceeding KD 800, subsequent job changes or salary reductions placed them in breach of the updated visa conditions. The source emphasized that the KD 800 salary requirement was implemented based on studies ensuring that expatriates can provide a decent standard of living for their dependents. The Interior Ministry has clarified that all expatriates, regardless of nationality or educational qualification, can apply for family visas, provided they meet the salary condition. According to the source, the government's automated systems are key in detecting fraudulent transactions and cross-verifying data across departments such as the General Directorate of Residency Affairs and the General Traffic Department. The updated rules stem from Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, initially introduced in January by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah. The resolution initially required applicants to earn at least KD 800, hold a university degree, and work in a profession matching their qualifications. However, an amendment in July 2024 allowed expatriates without degrees to bring in their families, provided their salary met the KD 800 threshold. Under Article 29 of the amended regulation, family residency can only be granted to those earning no less than KD 800 per month from work related to their designated profession. Exceptions may be granted for children under five or those born inside Kuwait, subject to the discretion of the Director General of Residency Affairs. Arab Times | © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
