Kuwait Implements New Visa Rules: Public Sector Workers Now Eligible for Private Sector Employment
Synopsis Kuwait’s revised visa rules, effective July 14, allow domestic workers to transition to private sector jobs with employer approval and a one-year residency permit.
Synopsis
Kuwait’s revised visa rules, effective July 14, allow domestic workers to transition to private sector jobs with employer approval and a one-year residency permit. Workers will incur a 50 dinars transfer fee and a 10 dinars service charge. These changes come amidst penalties and new residency options for illegal expatriates, some of whom have faced eviction in temperatures above 45°C, all in adherence to legal guidelines.
New Visa Rules
In a notable development, the Kuwaiti government has enacted new visa regulations that enable expatriates employed in domestic roles to transfer their visas to the private sector. This initiative, unveiled by the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior Sheikh Fahad Al Yousuf Al Sabah, is designed to enhance labour mobility while maintaining adherence to the country's legal standards.Effective July 14, domestic workers will be eligible to transfer their visas under certain conditions, as reported by Gulf News. These prerequisites include obtaining consent from their current employer, completing a minimum residency period of one year with the same employer, and paying a transfer fee of 50 dinars (around Dh600). Additionally, a service charge of 10 dinars per year of employment with the current employer will be applied.
Regulations To Follow Amnesty Amid Heatwave
In a bid to streamline labour mobility and regularise the status of expatriates, the Kuwaiti government has introduced new visa rules that allow domestic workers to transfer their visas to the private sector. This announcement comes on the heels of a three-month amnesty period, which concluded in June, providing illegal expatriates an opportunity to either pay penalties and obtain new residency or leave the country without incurring fines.Following the amnesty period, Kuwait has ramped up efforts to combat illegal housing. This intensified crackdown was spurred by a devastating fire in Bneid Al-Gar, caused by an electrical short circuit, which tragically claimed 50 lives. In response, authorities have evicted numerous foreign nationals, particularly single expatriates, from the affected area. According to the Arab Times, officials cut off electricity and water supplies to three buildings, forcing many residents onto the streets amid Kuwait’s blistering summer, where temperatures soar above 45 degrees Celsius.These new visa regulations, effective from July 14, require domestic workers seeking to transfer to the private sector to obtain their current employer's approval, complete a minimum of one year of residency with their current employer, and pay a transfer fee of 50 dinars (approximately Dh600). Additionally, a service charge of 10 dinars will be levied for each year of service with the current employer, as reported by Gulf News.
