In a major policy shift, Kuwait has officially ended fee exemptions for work visa transfers across various sectors, implementing a standard charge of KD150 effective June 2025. This comes under Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, introduced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef.
The new rule abolishes previous privileges that allowed certain sectors—like government-owned companies, health institutions, educational bodies, and foreign-invested enterprises—to skip additional fees linked to manpower planning requirements. Now, all employers, regardless of sector, must pay KD150 for each worker’s visa transfer.
The move aims to create uniformity and transparency in Kuwait’s labor market, streamlining processes and curbing loopholes that previously led to irregularities. By scrapping the earlier requirement for a one-year review by the Public Authority for Manpower’s Board of Directors, the government has enabled immediate enforcement of this policy.
Analysts say this change is likely to affect both employers and expatriate workers, especially in sectors previously enjoying exemptions. However, the policy is also expected to reduce disparities and improve administrative oversight in visa and labor management.
