Work entry visa and work residence
government, private sector and domestic work
Foreign workers enter Kuwait on a work entry visa. For government jobs it is issued at the request of a government body. For private-sector jobs it is based on a work permit from the competent government authority (the Public Authority for Manpower). Domestic workers enter on a separate visa requested by the employer. Under Decree-Law 114/2024, regular residence permits last up to five years.
Life in Kuwait
Money
3
Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar
KWD
Kuwaiti Dinar
Cost of living
60
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Living
1
Happiness
#38 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals hired by Kuwaiti government bodies, private employers or households.
Eligibility
Government workGovernment sector
The entry visa is issued at the request of a government body or public institution.
Private sectorPrivate sector
The entry visa is issued based on a work permit from the competent government authority, on the official form.
Domestic workersDomestic workers
Your employer must request the entry visa for you. The 2019 regulations set an age range of 21 to 60.
Age range for domestic workers
- Minimum age
- 21
- Maximum age
- 60
- Ministerial exceptions to the age range are possible
Official wording
Requested by the employer. The 2019 regulations set an age range of 21 to 60, with ministerial exceptions possible.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklistWork permit
- FeesWork permit and residence fees
- Steps to applyThe employer gets a work permit (private sector) or makes a government request
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 3 documents
- 1 fee
- 3 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Kuwait
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Amiri Diwan of Kuwait - Amiri decree issued new law concerning foreigners' residency (Decree-Law 114/2024)
- Kuwait Ministry of Interior - Ministerial Decree No. 957 of 2019 on the residence regulations (PDF, Kuwait Al-Youm supplement)
- Kuwait Ministry of Interior - General Department of Residency Affairs e-services
Other routes to Kuwait
- Visit & tourismVisit visa
- FamilyFamily join visa and dependant residence
- Status in-countryTen-year residence
- Investors & entrepreneursInvestor residence of up to 15 years
Work permits in other countries
- Cayman IslandsCayman Islands Work Permit and Temporary Work Permit
- KazakhstanKazakhstan permit for employers to attract foreign labour
- LaosForeign labour quota, work permit and stay permit
- LebanonWork visa (Ministry of Labour approval) and annual work residence permit
- St. LuciaSaint Lucia Work Permit
- LiechtensteinResidence permit for EEA nationals
