Recently, a regulation barring expatriate workers from exiting Kuwait without permits was announced and is being criticised for potentially being too restrictive, particularly around worker rights and freedom of movement.

However, Director of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Marzouq Al-Otaibi has confirmed the requirement is not restrictive, rather it is a basic worker’s wish as they can choose their exit during the application process itself.

What is this departure exit permit?

The decision was formalised through a Ministerial Circular No. 2 of 2025, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef: 

The exit permit mandates all the expatriate employees in the private sector of Kuwait, to get approvals of their registered employers before leaving the country. This official exit permit is a strategic measure to strengthen oversight of expatriate mobility while safeguarding the rights of both workers and employers. 

As underlined by the Ministry, the regulation aims to: 

• Ensure balance between employer and worker rights
• Enhance legal compliance and oversight
• Prevent illegal departures without employer notification
• Support labor market organisation efforts

It will be effective from July 1, 2025 onwards, and both registered private sectors employers and expats must comply with the requirements. This also applies to all such expats who intend to leave Kuwait either temporarily or permanently. 

Where will the exit permit be available?

PAM Kuwait has launched two online services: one allows expatriates to apply for a departure permit, and the other enables employers to approve or reject the request. These services are available under 'Requesting an Exit Permit for Workers under Article 18 Visa' on the unified government application for electronic services (Sahel Application), and 'Approving the Request' on the unified government application for employers (Sahel Business).

Alternatively, both employers and expats can visit the official website of PAM and navigate to the Sahel and Ashal platforms.

Is the exit permit regulation restricting expatriates' movement? 

According to Director of the PAM Kuwait, Al-Otaibi "the exit permit granted to expatriate workers in the private sector under Article 18 residency is not restrictive" but protective. Emphasising that “the departure permit is used only to document the worker’s departure date from the country and does not entail any commitment to a specific return date.”

“This exit permit does not restrict the worker to a specific return date,” he added. 

He also underlined that this regulation brings a much needed flexibility of planning for the expats and their employers as they can pre-plan exits and travel aligning their convenience, and also ensure compliance with labour laws.

“This is under the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah,” he noted.

Why the criticism? 

Michael Page, the Deputy Director for MENA at Human Rights Watch, openly underlined how the exit permit puts migrant workers in Kuwait at greater risk. He writes, "This decision is an alarming step backward in Kuwait’s migrant worker governance. Instead of dismantling the kafala (visa sponsorship) system in its entirety, the Kuwaiti state is reinforcing it by putting migrant workers even further under the control of their employers and making them more vulnerable to exploitation."

"There is no basis to Kuwaiti authorities’ claim that the exit permit will balance the interests of both employers and workers... rather, it enables employers to trap workers in abusive situations and serves as a tool for retaliation," he added.

Further pointing out that, "While workers may file a complaint with PAM in cases of unjust travel denials, many are hesitant to do so for fear of retribution by their employer. Moreover, migrant workers, especially in low-paying jobs, may not be aware of this option or may have difficulty accessing online platforms."

He urged the authorities to reverse the exit permit requirement immediately and dismantle the kafala system in full.

Similar criticisms are being raised by netizens, who view the departure exit permit for Kuwaiti expats as a repackaged kafala system (largely abolished as Gulf nations reformed labour laws), which required workers to obtain approval from their sponsors or employers to travel to their home country or abroad.

And some of them underlined how the regulation will limit worker mobility and freedom, especially, when the workers will require travelling outside the country for emergencies or medical reasons.

And they also voiced their concerns regarding misuse of this regulation by employers to withhold expat exit approvals unfairly. 

Some Kuwaiti nationals have pointed out that the new worker exit permit could turn into yet another administrative hassle for them and their HR teams.

And requested an 'opt-out' option from the regulation: 

However, the Ministry clarified that the regulations regarding the workers exit permit are only to ensure legal oversight, protect employers from unauthorized worker exits, and maintain order in the labour market. 

System failure – real case scenario

In related news, expatriate teachers exiting Kuwait are facing hassles with approvals from administrative affairs departments as they seek permission to leave the country during the summer vacation.

Delays in processing leave requests remain a challenge for many, some have booked their travel in advance, while others are still waiting for approvals to avoid last-minute issues.

Teachers also pointed out inconsistencies across districts, with some handling requests efficiently, while others struggle due to overcrowding or staff shortages. “Teachers register through Sahel, then take a letter to update their data and head to the educational district, only to find themselves in a queue as the travel date approaches and everyone is eager to complete travel procedures,” echoed some of the teachers.

Despite the electronic system, which can automatically match employer-employee, the process has become even more complicated. 

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Over the recent years, Kuwait has tightened laws around the hiring of expatriates — such as suspending changes to academic qualifications or job titles for expatriates with work permits or those transferred to the private sector, particularly when the change is significant and does not align with job requirements.

The country has also introduced new rules for background checks and proficiency tests for certain skilled and technical roles, including in medicine, engineering, law, education, accounting, and finance.

These stricter regulations aim to enhance the labour market, support Kuwaitization efforts, and prevent job-related fraud. However, it is crucial that these rules are communicated in a way that avoids public backlash.