Kuwait Work Visa Transfer Rules & Regulations (Visa 18)

1. Overview of Visa 18 Transfers in Kuwait

Visa 18 is the standard residency visa for expatriate workers employed in the private sector of Kuwait. When an expat wants to change employers, they must formally transfer their residency sponsor through the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), commonly referred to as the 'Shoun'. This process requires strict compliance with residency laws to avoid fines, deportation, or employment bans.

To initiate a transfer, the worker must secure a job offer from a new employer who holds an active company file with PAM and has the quota to recruit foreign workers.

2. Minimum Service Period Before Transfer

To prevent rapid employer hopping and protect recruitment investments, PAM enforces minimum residency periods before a transfer is permitted:

• Recruited from Abroad: If you were brought to Kuwait from your home country on a new work visa by your current employer, you must complete at least 3 consecutive years of service with that sponsor before you can transfer to a new employer without their consent.
• Locally Hired Workers: If you transferred your residency locally to your current sponsor, the minimum mandatory period to stay with them is 1 year before you can request a local transfer again.

3. Transfer Rules for Government (Visa 17) & Domestic (Visa 20) Workers

PAM regularly updates regulations governing the transfer between different visa categories:

Government Visa (17) to Private Visa (18)

Expatriates working in government ministries or agencies on Visa 17 are generally permitted to transfer to private sector Visa 18, subject to obtaining a formal cancellation and release from the employing government department.

Domestic Visa (20) to Private Visa (18)

Domestic workers (housemaids, private drivers, nannies) on Visa 20 can sometimes transfer to Visa 18. However, this is subject to strict seasonal decrees. Under recent regulations, a Visa 20 worker can transfer to Visa 18 if they have spent at least 1 year with their current employer, pay the required transfer fees, and obtain the explicit approval of their sponsor.

4. Steps to Transfer Your Visa 18

The administrative procedure to transfer your work visa involves both the employer and the employee:

1. Obtain job offer: The new employer issues a work contract and registers it on PAM's portal.
2. Release Signature: The current employer signs a release form (Tanaazul) and submits it electronically or at a PAM service center.
3. New Work Permit: The new employer pays the transfer fees online and applies for a new work permit for the worker.
4. Residency Stamp: The file is forwarded to the Ministry of Interior (Jawazaat) to print the new residency stamp on the worker's passport (done via Sahel App / online portal).