The government of Kuwait has introduced new visa rules, permitting expatriates working in domestic sectors to transfer their visas to the private sector.
The recent changes that will take effect on July 14, have been announced by the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior Sheikh Fahad Al Yousuf Al Sabah, and come as part of efforts to streamline labor mobility, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to a report from Gulf News, from July 14, domestic workers can transfer their visas under specific conditions, among them:
- Holding an approval from their current employer
- Having a minimum residency period of one year from their current employer
- Paying a transfer fee of 50 dinars about Dh600
- A charge of 10 dinars is applied for each year of service with the current employer
Recently, authorities in Kuwait announced a three-month amnesty period that ended in June this year. As part of the amnesty scheme, expats residing in Kuwait in an irregular way were permitted to rectify their status by either paying penalties or by holding new residency. Another option was to leave the country without fines.
According to a report from Times of India, authorities in Kuwait have cracked down on illegal housing after 50 people were killed in a massive building fire that was caused by an electric short circuit.
Due to the massive building fire, several internationals were evicted from their homes in Kuwait.
A report from the Arab Times revealed that several bachelor expats in Bneid Al-Gar were evicted and left on the streets after authorities enforce building code violations. The same source reveals that officials cut off electricity and water supplies to three buildings.
New Visa & Transfer System Announced by Kuwait in May
In May this year, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) in Kuwait announced the introduction of a new system for granting work visas and transfers for private sector employees, starting in early June 2024.
Back then, PAM announced that the new plan follows the issuance of Resolution No.3 of 2024, which introduces notable changes to the labor market.
Through resolution No.3 of 2024, authorities in Kuwait aim to address labor shortages noted in several industries such as construction and contracting, where wages have increased significantly.
By permitting direct recruitment from abroad, the government aims to abolish residency and trade and provide businesses with the needed workforce without inflating labor costs.