Kuwait is just two days away from enforcing the new rule requiring expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain an exit permit before leaving the country. This comes under Circular No. 2 of 2025, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. The rule will officially take effect in early July.
According to the Public Authority for Manpower, around 21,900 exit permits have already been issued through the government’s automated platforms — the “Ashal – Companies” portal and the “Sahal – Individuals” app — since the announcement on June 12. The number is expected to double in the next two days.
To obtain the permit, employer approval is mandatory. Workers must apply through the portal or app, and employers must approve the request for it to be valid. In urgent or emergency travel situations, employees are advised to contact their employers directly to speed up the approval process.
Authorities stress the importance of applying well in advance of travel, as delays may occur if employers take time to approve. Once approved, the permit can be printed or shown through the Sahal app to airport officials before departure.
If an employer refuses or delays approval without valid reason, the worker has the right to file a complaint with the labor relations unit handling their company file. There is no limit to the number of exit permits a worker can request annually, as long as each is approved by the employer.