Decision No. 156 of 2022 concerning Issuance of the Regulations on the Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits / Decision No. 1221 of 2022 Amending Certain Provisions of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits Issued by Decision No. 156 of 2022 / Decision No. 294 of 2023 Amending Certain Provisions of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits Issued by Decision No. 156 of 2022 / Public Authority for Manpower Decision No. 435 of 2024 Amending Certain Provisions of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits / Public Authority for Manpower Decision No. 1488 of 2024 Amending Certain Provisions of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits Issued by Decision No. 156 of 2022 / Public Authority for Manpower Decision No. 12 of 2024 Amending Certain Provisions of the Decisions Related to Transfer of Foreign Labor in the Labor Market / Public Authority for Manpower Decision No. 1 of 2025 Amending Certain Provisions of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits
Preamble / Introductory Clauses
The General Manager of the Public Authority for Manpower,
– Considering Law No. (28) of 1969 regarding labor in the oil business sector;
– Considering Law No. (19) of 2000 regarding supporting national labor and encouraging it in non-governmental entities, and its amendments;
– Considering Law No. (6) of 2010 concerning work in the private sector, and its amendments;
– Considering Law No. (109) of 2013 concerning the Public Authority for Manpower;
– Considering Decree No. (17) of 1959 regarding the Residency of Foreigners, and its amendments and executive decisions;
– Considering the Decree-Law No. (28) of 1980 issuing the Maritime Commercial Law and its amendments;
– Considering Decree No. (178) of 2018 appointing the General Manager of the Public Authority for Manpower;
– Considering Decree No. (16) of 2022 transferring supervision over the Public Authority for Manpower;
– Considering Cabinet Decision No. (185) of 2001 defining the jurisdictions of governmental entities responsible for implementing the provisions of Law No. (19) of 2000 and its amendments;
– Considering Ministerial Decision No. (76 ق) of 2014 with its internal regulations for the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Manpower and its amendments;
– After the approval of the Board of Directors of the Authority in its meeting (5/2021-2022) held on 20/2/2022;
– Considering Administrative Decision No. (552) of 2018 regarding issuance of the Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits and its amendments;
– Considering Administrative Decision No. (27) of 2021 regarding issuance of Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits and its amendments;
– Considering the rulings of the Full Administrative Court Nos. (2824) of 2021, (3361) of 2021, (3362) of 2021, (2964) of 2021, and (2965) of 2021;
– Based on the public interest,
Decision
Article (1)
The Regulations of Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits attached to this Decision are hereby issued and shall apply from the date of issuance. The electronic system of the Authority shall also be subject to its provisions.
Article (2)
Decision No. (552) of 2018 and its attached regulations are hereby repealed, as is Decision No. (27) of 2021 and its attached regulations, and any decisions or circulars conflicting with the provisions of these Regulations. Decisions and circulars not conflicting with these Regulations remain in force. The Authority may issue decisions or circulars necessary for their implementation.
Article (3)
This Decision shall enter into force on its date of issuance, and it and its attached Regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette and communicated to competent bodies for awareness and implementation.
General Manager of the Public Authority for Manpower
Issued on: 13 March 2022
Regulations on Rules and Procedures for Granting Work Permits
Article (1) – Definitions
In applying these Regulations, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings ascribed to them:
Authority: The Public Authority for Manpower. Employer: Any natural or legal person who employs workers in return for wages. Worker: Any male or female performing labor (manual or intellectual) under the supervision of an employer in return for wages. Authorized Signatory: A natural person granted by the employer (or legally authorized) the power to sign on its behalf, under a valid official authorization or as allowed by law. Public Bodies: Ministries, governmental departments and agencies, institutions (independent or affiliated) and wholly government-owned companies, and companies wholly owned by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
Chapter One – Regulation of Work in the Private and Oil Sectors
Article (2)
These Regulations apply to employers and workers governed by the provisions of Law No. (6) of 2010 on private sector work and its amendments, Law No. (28) of 1969 on the oil business sector, and on workers under maritime contracts as provided in Article 3 of Law No. (6) of 2010. Also applies to professions and crafts registered with the Authority.
Chapter Two – Registration of Business Licenses and Authorized Signatories
Article (3)
Business licenses held by employers shall be registered with the Authority under these conditions:
All employers must be alive. If the owner is a legal entity, its license must be valid with the issuing body and with the Authority of Public Civil Information. There must be no existing file already registered for the same employer. Presence of a primary license for companies that is valid from a licensed issuing body satisfies requirements for adding new licenses. If the primary license is already registered, it may be transferred to a new file if it meets the conditions for license transfer. The administrator (manager) should not be listed among suspended persons in the Authority. Conditions for authorizing a signatory must be satisfied.
[…]
Article (4)
Registration of an authorized signatory shall meet the following:
The file must not be suspended for this procedure. The signatory must be alive. The signatory must be a Kuwaiti or a GCC national aged at least 21. The signatory must personally appear to register their signature unless it is already registered in another file and they consent to transfer it. The signatory must sign the registration request themselves. The signatory should not appear on the list of suspended persons in the Authority. The signatory may be non-Kuwaiti only for foreign investor business activities permitted under Law No. 116 of 2013, or for entities established under international treaties (or international organizations), or foreign operating banks or financial institutions in Kuwait.
(This clause was added by Decision No. 1488 of 2024.)
Chapter Three – Deregistration of Licenses and Authorized Signatories
Article (5)
Subject to procedures for deregistering workers on those licenses, licenses may be removed from the Authority under:
Cancellation of the license by issuing authority or at employer request. File not being suspended for this procedure. No outstanding financial claims on the employer file. License deregistration may not occur until one year after its expiry if there is no registered labor on it. Upon renewal, it may be reactivated.
Article (6)
Cancellation of an authorized signatory registration shall follow these conditions:
File not suspended for deregistration. Cannot cancel registration if there is no other signatory; if so, file may be suspended. Cancellation of a signatory delegated by power of attorney requires revocation through Ministry of Justice and must consider whether the signatory performed administrative functions personally.
Chapter Four – Registration and Deregistration of Government Contracts
Article (7)
Requests for registering government contracts require:
A letter from the contracting public body. A copy of the original contract. A notarized request from the contracting party. A valid six-month bank guarantee covering the workforce specified by the contracting body. The employer file must not be suspended. Additional conditions may be stipulated by the Authority. Sub-contracts (subordinate contracts) may be added under conditions.
Article (8)
Work permits may be issued to foreign labor for execution of emergency government projects (temporary contract work less than one year), subject to:
A letter from the contracting public body indicating workforce number and duration. Registration of the contract with the Authority. Inclusion of the workforce in the employer’s assessed needs under the temporary contract. A bank guarantee equal to the number of required workers.
Article (9)
A government contract (or subcontract) may be deregistered when:
The contract expires or is withdrawn (with proper procedures for registered workers). The file or license is not suspended. The contract deregistration occurs only one year after expiry and when no workers remain on it.
Article (10)
Employers contracting with the government must use national airlines or direct international carriers between Kuwait and worker origin countries, and use those for return transportation.
Chapter Five – Registration of National Labor
Article (11)
Conditions for registering a “Fifth-Pillar Employer” national labor notification:
File, license, or employer must not be suspended. License must permit addition of labor. Employer must be registered with the Public Institution for Social Security under the fifth pillar. Notifications may be transferred across files if conditions met. Notification “Third-Pillar National Labor” registration conditions are similar; transfer permitted where conditions satisfied.
Article (12)
Notifications for registered foreign workers or workers in jobs that cannot be signed digitally are done electronically via Authority portal; renewal is automatic if conditions are met and worker consents for fees deduction.
Article (13)
Notifications for national labor may be issued retroactively up to three months from request date if conditions of Article (11) are met. Issuance fees may be charged or deducted from support amounts.
Article (14)
Renewal of national labor notifications is automatic at start of the specified month if conditions are fulfilled.
Article (15)
Notification ends when:
The worker is deregistered at Social Security institution. Employer or file is suspended (with required actions). Employer may request cancellation of notification; governed by conditions and regulations.
Article (16)
It is prohibited for employers to register national labor in schemes in violation of national labor quotas under Law No. (19) of 2000 or to exploit it for other benefits.
Chapter Six – Employing Minors
Article (17)
Without prejudice to Article (20) of Law No. (6) of 2010, minors aged 15 to under 18 may be employed only with a permit from the Authority, renewed annually, subject to:
Employer name, address, branch data. Type of work the minor will perform. Names of supervisors. Consent from guardian.
Article (18)
Work permit for a minor must include:
– Name, age, residence, job type & hours, guardian’s name and consent date, medical fitness, date of medical examination.
Article (19)
Employer of minors must maintain a record of minors employed, their ages, use of work hours, and medical check-up schedule.
Also must display working hours and rest periods for minors in visible workplace locations.
Article (20)
Minors may not work in certain dangerous industries, including:
– painting with toxic substances, cement, asphalt, asbestos, stone quarries, slaughterhouses, etc.
– work with ionizing radiation, heavy machinery, battery repair, chemical handling, high-altitude work, etc.
Article (21)
Minors under 18 are prohibited from participating in camel racing or similar events organized or supervised by the Authority or any other entity.
Chapter Seven – Employment of Women
Article (22)
Without jeopardizing the provisions of Article (22) of Law No. (6) of 2010, women may be employed at night in these sectors:
• Hotels
• Pharmacies
• Medical laboratories
• Healthcare sector
• Childcare / disability care
• Aviation companies
• Cinemas, theaters, media, TV/Radio
• Commercial outlets in airports, seaports
• Petrochemical / oil sector
• Contracted 24-hour services like care institutions
Article (23)
Women may work until midnight in:
• Banks
• Restaurants
• NGOs
• Law offices
• Beauty salons
• Travel & airline agencies
• Commercial complexes, retail markets
Article (24)
Exceptions may be made for working hours during Ramadan in applying Article (22).
Article (25)
Employers in sectors under Articles (22) and (23) must ensure security and transportation means for female workers.
Article (26)
Women are prohibited altogether from working in certain hazardous industries, such as:
– painting, asbestos, chemical plants, asphalt, mining, slaughterhouses, pesticide handling, heavy lifting, etc.
Article (27)
Male workers are prohibited from working where institutions serve females exclusively (for example: lingerie shops, women’s salons, women’s health centers).
Article (28)
Female workers are entitled to two hours of nursing leave during work hours, subject to:
Written request with child’s birth certificate Employer may schedule leave according to legitimate business conditions The right expires two years after child’s birth.
Article (29)
A Muslim woman whose husband dies is entitled to a full-pay ‘iddah leave of 4 months and 10 days, provided she does not work during that period, supported by marriage and death certificates.
Chapter Eight – Employment of Foreign Workers and GCC / Irregular Residents
Article (30)
The Authority issues work permits for foreign workers under these conditions:
Justification for needing the worker per economic activity or contractual projects. Matching the worker’s profession, qualifications, and experience with employer’s field. Employer file, license, or worker not suspended. Employer’s assessed need must allow adding the worker. Permit quota (basic or additional) must permit addition. Worker not already inside the country under other employment at application. Worker’s passport must be valid for at least one year from application date. Employer must commit to submitting required documents on issuance.
Additional conditions may apply for converting foreign worker stays or permit transfers across sectors.
Article (31)
Authorized employers must file the permit request within two months of the worker’s arrival to issue the work permit, provided:
File, license, or worker not suspended Worker enters Kuwait and gets an automated civil ID Worker’s passport is valid per permit period Copy of signed employment contract Certified copy of academic qualification if required Valid driving license for driver profession If bilateral agreements require, contract may be certified by foreign embassy.
Article (32)
Work permits are issued for a maximum of three years, renewable under conditions:
File, license, or worker not suspended Employer’s assessed need allows renewal Previous permit is expired or within 90 days of expiry Worker is present in Kuwait with valid residence under same employer or former employer Passport validity covers permit duration If profession requires authority approval, such approval must be obtained Early renewal may be possible under conditions.
Article (33)
For partners (in companies) to receive or renew a work permit as partners, conditions include:
Copy of company incorporation and partner shares certified by Ministry of Commerce No suspension on file, license, or worker The person must be registered as a partner in the file The foreign partner’s share must be at least KD 100,000 of total capital The company must submit audited financial reports for two years The person must reside in Kuwait with valid status Passport validity must cover permit term Must register partner under the main license
Article (34)
Work permits and renewals for GCC nationals follow similar special conditions, subject to file/ license validity.
Article (35)
Work permits may be issued to foreign workers holding legal residency or special permit status under the central agency for irregular residents, if:
Valid employment contract copy File, license, or worker not suspended Employer’s assessed need allows addition Profession requires pre-approval must obtain from competent authority Valid irregular resident card permitting work (valid for at least 90 days) Academic qualification / experience as required
Permit may be canceled per conditions.
Article (36)
Employer must notify Authority of the following changes within designated times:
License or business activity data changes Partial or full business stoppage Changes in workforce needs or actual labor numbers using prescribed forms Use of public sector employees outside official hours Authority may suspend file if notification is not made, per Article 141 of the Private Sector Labor Law.
Article (37)
Domestic permit renewals or conversions may be granted for workers aged 60+ with diploma or less under conditions:
Annual fee KD 250 Proof of comprehensive health insurance Exempted categories: spouses and children of Kuwaiti women, certain Palestinian document holders, etc. Board shall review these rules within one year of issuance.
Article (38)
Employers in private and oil sectors are prohibited from withholding worker’s passports.
Chapter Nine – Final Deregistration Provisions
Article (39)
Work permit is canceled if worker’s residence is dropped (e.g. out of country) under conditions:
File, license, or worker not suspended Residence has lapsed
Article (40)
Work permit may be canceled for departure reasons:
File, license, or worker not suspended Worker must have received entitlements or proof of no entitlement Must have valid residence at cancellation time
Article (41)
Work permit is canceled upon worker’s death, based on national civil registry records.
Article (42)
Permit may be canceled for abandonment if:
File, license, or worker not suspended Permit is active No pending request for same worker An abandonment report is submitted Residency is canceled per internal procedures A security deposit of KD 250 may apply under certain modifications (cancellation of item 6 by Decision 1377 of 2025).
Article (43)
Permit is canceled if a final court judgment is issued against the worker, under conditions:
File, license, or worker not suspended Judgment is final Residence is canceled based on that judgment Employer deposits security of KD 250 (unless item 6 is repealed)
Article (44)
Permit canceled for failure to complete residency procedures if:
File, license, or worker not suspended Permit is active but residence not yet issued Worker is outside the country
Article (45)
The Authority may cancel entrance-visa work permits if:
File, license, or worker not suspended Worker has not yet entered Employer returns the original visa or declares its loss Visas expire automatically if worker never enters Work permits may be canceled if visa permit is rejected or withdrawn.
Article (46)
Upon termination of employment for any reason, employer must cancel work permit and repatriate worker at his own cost.
If worker absconds to another employer, that contractor must bear repatriation costs once abandonment is declared by original employer.
Chapter Ten – General Provisions
Article (47)
Without prejudice to penalties in Law No. (6) of 2010 and its implementing regulations:
Any violation of these Regulations may lead to suspension of the employer’s file until remedy. If violations are serious (harm public interest, reputational harm, fraud, etc.), the Authority may temporarily or permanently close the file. If a file is suspended for reasons listed, no new files may be registered under the same administrator or licensee until issues are resolved. Prohibited acts during suspension include: adding new licenses, updating license data, adding labor, adding assessed need quotas. (Item 3 was added by Decision No. 1 of 2025.)
Article (48)
Employers must notify the Authority of worker absence without excuse after seven days; an abandonment report must be submitted to Interior Ministry within fifteen days of notification or will be null.
Article (49)
Employers filing a “worker quit” report must post a copy visibly at workplace until decision is made.
Article (50)
The worker cannot resume work until the “worker quit” report is resolved by the Labor Department.
Article (51)
The Authority, in the public interest, may refuse, cancel, renew or transfer a work permit without prior notice.
It may also ban a worker from obtaining a permit for at least two years if he or she violated Law No. (6) / implementing regulations.
Article (52)
An employer may not shut down premises while workers remain registered under its license.
Violation allows the Labor Inspection Division to suspend the file until compliance. Repeated violation may ban adding new labor for at least 6 months.
Chapter Two (continued) – Work Permit Issuance
Article (53)
Employers submit work permit applications via the Authority’s electronic portal or labor offices per the following categories and conditions:
Category 1: Permits based on assessed need post-approval for government and priority sectors (government-owned companies, hospitals, banks, hotels, etc.). Category 2: Permits at 25% of assessed need for certain sectors subject to controls. Category 3: Permits for other employers, limited to 25% and max 4 permits (subject to assessed need). Special rules for renewal after six years or for certain types of companies.
Article (54)
Permits for government contracts follow conditions set by the Authority.
Article (55)
SME employers may obtain work permits under conditions set by the Authority.
Article (56)
Employers listed under “Distinguished Companies” may obtain work permits under special rules.
Article (57)
Decisions conflicting with Decision No. (27) of 2021 or Decision No. (552) of 2018 are repealed.
