Kuwait Ends Fee Exemptions for Work Visa Transfers, Introduces KD150 Standard Charge

Dubai: In a major policy shift aimed at tightening labour market controls, Kuwait has officially revoked long-standing fee exemptions on work visa transfers, introducing a uniform KD150 charge for each permit issued.

The new regulation was enacted through Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, as announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef. It repeals Article 2 of the 2024 resolution, which had previously allowed certain sectors to bypass work permit fees based on manpower needs.

The decision applies to a broad range of sectors and entities, including:

• Government-owned companies
• Hospitals, clinics, and health centres licensed by the Ministry of Health
• Private universities and schools
• Foreign investors accredited by the Investment Promotion Authority
• Sports clubs and federations
• Public benefit associations, charities, endowments, and labour unions
• Licensed agricultural and industrial operations
• Commercial and investment properties
• Small-scale industries

With the exemption revoked, each work permit issued under these categories will now be subject to the new KD150 fee, eliminating preferential treatment previously extended to specific sectors.

The resolution is part of a broader government strategy to standardise fees and procedures for foreign labour and enhance oversight in the employment sector.

Additionally, the move abolishes the earlier requirement for the Public Authority for Manpower’s Board of Directors to conduct a one-year impact assessment of the 2024 exemption rule. This eliminates the need for further review or recommendations before full implementation.