Work / Employment in Kuwait: Requirements and Fees

Private-Sector Work Residence Permit (Article 18 Iqama)

The government fee for a standard new hire is KWD 270 (KWD 150 work permit + KWD 20 annual iqama + KWD 100 mandatory health insurance), effective 23 December 2025 under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025. An additional KWD 300 employer-transfer surcharge applies only when a worker changes employer within the first three years of their permit; this fee is waived after three years of service. The KWD 300 transfer fee is not a standard component of the new-hire cost.

Processing time: Typically 2-8 weeks from work-permit application to Iqama issuance
Validity: 1-3 years renewable, maximum 5 years
Language requirement: No language certificate needed

Requirements

Valid job offer/employment contract from a Kuwait-registered private employer
Employer-sponsor obtains a PAM work permit before residence is issued
Passport valid at least 6 months
Pass medical fitness test (incl. communicable-disease screening) in Kuwait
Security/police clearance
Mandatory health insurance registered in worker's name
Fingerprinting and biometric/Civil ID enrolment with PACI

Required Documents

Passport valid 6+ months with copies required
Signed employment contract / job offer required
Attested educational/professional certificates (for skilled posts) required
Medical examination certificate issued in Kuwait required
Police/security clearance required
Passport photographs required
Health insurance policy in worker's name required

Official fees

Work permit (PAM) 150 KWD
Annual residence (Iqama) fee — most expatriates 20 KWD
Mandatory annual health insurance 100 KWD
Sponsorship transfer fee 300 KWD

Process Steps

1

Secure employment

Receive a job offer and signed contract from a Kuwait-registered private employer.
2

Work permit

Employer applies for and obtains a work permit from the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).
3

Entry visa

Employer obtains the work-entry visa; worker enters Kuwait.
4

Medical and biometrics

Complete the medical fitness test and fingerprinting in Kuwait.
5

Residence stamping

MOI Residence Affairs issues the Article 18 residence.
6

Civil ID

Register with PACI and collect the Civil ID; renew before expiry via MOI e-services / Sahel.

Official Sources

Government-Sector Work Residence Permit (Article 17 Iqama)

Sponsored residence for expatriates employed by Kuwaiti government ministries, public authorities and state institutions. The employing government entity acts as the sponsor.

Processing time: Varies by authority, typically several weeks
Validity: Up to 5 years, renewable, linked to contract
Language requirement: No language certificate needed

Requirements

Employment contract with a Kuwaiti government/public-sector entity
Work permit issued through the relevant authority
Passport valid 6+ months
Medical fitness test in Kuwait
Security clearance
Health insurance (where applicable)

Required Documents

Government employment contract / appointment letter required
Passport valid 6+ months required
Attested qualifications required
Medical examination certificate required
Passport photographs required

Official fees

Annual residence (Iqama) fee 20 KWD

Process Steps

1

Government appointment

Receive an appointment/contract from a Kuwaiti government or public-sector entity.
2

Work permit

Sponsoring authority processes the work permit.
3

Medical and biometrics

Complete the medical test and fingerprinting in Kuwait.
4

Residence and Civil ID

MOI issues the Article 17 residence; PACI issues the Civil ID.

Official Sources

Domestic Worker Residence Permit (Article 20 Iqama)

The annual iqama renewal fee for a domestic worker is KWD 10 (Kuwaiti national employer rate under Article 20). Expatriate employers pay KWD 50 per domestic helper for the first two helpers. Mandatory health insurance is KWD 100 per year per person, effective 23 December 2025 under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025 (up from the previous KWD 50 rate). There is no standalone 'annual helper fee' of KWD 50 separate from the expatriate-employer permit fee and health insurance.

Processing time: Typically 2-6 weeks
Validity: Up to 2 years, capped by insurance validity, renewable
Language requirement: No language certificate needed

Requirements

Eligible sponsor (Kuwaiti citizen or specified resident categories)
Sponsor salary certificate / proof of means
House rental or ownership agreement
Worker's passport valid 6+ months
Medical fitness test
Valid health insurance for the worker

Required Documents

Sponsor's Civil ID copy required
Sponsor's recent salary certificate or work-permit copy required
House rental/ownership agreement required
Worker's passport valid 6+ months required
Medical examination certificate required
Health insurance policy required

Official fees

Article 20 annual residence fee 10 KWD
Annual fee per helper where expatriate family sponsors 50 KWD

Process Steps

1

Eligibility and recruitment

Eligible sponsor recruits a domestic worker (often via a licensed office).
2

Entry visa

Obtain the domestic-worker entry visa.
3

Medical and insurance

Worker completes medical test and obtains health insurance.
4

Residence and Civil ID

MOI issues the Article 20 residence; PACI issues the Civil ID; renew via Sahel.