Kuwait Ends Fee Waiver for Work Visa Transfers

Kuwait is shaking up its work visa system. In a big move to tighten control over the labor market, the government has officially ended fee exemptions for work visa transfers and introduced a standard KD150 fee per permit.

Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement!

The change was announced through Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025 by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef. It repeals Article 2 of last year’s rules, which had allowed certain sectors to transfer work visas without paying extra charges based on manpower needs.

Who’s Affected?

This update impacts a wide range of organizations, including:

• Government-owned companies
• Hospitals, clinics, and Ministry of Health-licensed health centers
• Private universities and schools
• Foreign investors accredited by the Investment Promotion Authority
• Sports clubs and federations
• Labor unions, charities, public benefit groups, and endowments
• Licensed agricultural, industrial, and commercial operations
• Investment properties and small-scale industries

Previously, many of these groups enjoyed exemptions from added permit fees. Now, they’ll all have to pay KD150 for each individual work permit issued.

What’s the Goal?

The main aim is to standardize work permit fees across all sectors and ensure fairer, more consistent oversight of the labor market. It also puts an end to preferential treatment and streamlines the process for regulating foreign workers.

Another key update: the resolution scraps the need for a one-year impact study by the Public Authority for Manpower’s Board of Directors. This means the decision goes into full effect without needing further review or approval.

Bottom Line

If you're an employer in Kuwait, or planning to transfer a work visa, be prepared to pay the new KD150 fee. This move is part of Kuwait’s broader strategy to make its labor market more transparent and better regulated.