Kuwait: Beginning tomorrow, July 1, Kuwait’s new Expatriate Exit Permit rule will officially come into force, requiring private sector expatriate workers to obtain a travel permit approved by their employer before leaving the country.
This move follows Circular No. 2 of 2025, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, and is being implemented by the Public Authority for Manpower in cooperation with the Ports Security Sector at the Ministry of Interior.
Since its announcement on June 12, about 21,900 exit permits have already been processed through the Authority’s “Ashal - Companies” portal and the “Sahal - Individuals” app, with officials expecting this figure to double as the rule becomes mandatory.
Workers must submit their exit permit requests online, but the final approval depends on the employer’s response time. Officials advise expatriates to apply well in advance, especially for emergency travel, and to coordinate directly with employers if urgent approval is needed. Permits can be printed or shown digitally via the Sahal app at border checkpoints.
In case an employer delays or obstructs approval, workers have the right to file a complaint with their designated labor relations unit under existing legal procedures. Authorities clarified there is no limit to how many exit permits can be issued annually, provided the employer consents.
Importantly, expatriates holding residency Article 19 — commonly known as “self-sponsors” — are exempt from this requirement. The exit permit system only applies to private sector employees under Article 18, and there is close coordination with port authorities to ensure that self-sponsored expats can travel freely without needing a permit.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Velit omnis animi et iure laudantium vitae, praesentium optio, sapiente distinctio illo?