No more visa fee waivers: Kuwait imposes standard KD150 charge across all sectors

In a significant overhaul of its labour market framework, Kuwait has officially ended fee exemptions for work visa transfers, introducing a standard KD150 charge for each work permit issued across a wide range of sectors. The policy change was enacted under Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, announced on Thursday, June 6, by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef. The move marks a major shift in Kuwait's approach to labour regulation, aimed at tightening oversight and eliminating preferential treatment for specific industries.

Key repeals and new requirements

At the core of the change is the repeal of Article 2 of the 2024 resolution, which had previously allowed exemptions from work permit fees for certain sectors, depending on manpower requirements approved by the Public Authority for Manpower. With the exemption lifted, all work permits issued under previously exempted categories will now incur the KD150 fee, assessed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, Article 5 of the 2024 resolution has been abolished, removing the requirement for the Public Authority for Manpower’s Board of Directors to conduct a one-year impact assessment before implementing the fee structure. This eliminates the need for any further formal review or recommendation process.

These adjustments also modify earlier provisions under Ministerial Resolution No. 3 of 2024, further streamlining the issuance and transfer of work permits and standardising related fees.

Sectors now affected by the KD150 fee

The newly standardised fee applies to a broad spectrum of public and private sector organisations, including:

Previously, these sectors were exempted from paying additional fees, contingent on staffing needs evaluated by the Public Authority for Manpower.

A broader push for labour market standardisation

The new fee structure is part of Kuwait’s wider effort to unify labour regulations and eliminate inconsistencies across sectors. The KD150 fee will now apply uniformly to each work permit issued or transferred, regardless of sector or employer classification. By scrapping exemptions once granted to entities like hospitals, schools, agricultural operations, and charitable organisations, the government aims to close regulatory loopholes and ensure equal treatment in how foreign labour is managed.

The repeal of Article 5, previously mandating a one-year impact study, also signals a move toward faster implementation of reforms without further delay or discretionary reviews, reinforcing a shift to more centralised and uniform oversight.