Domestic workers in Kuwait can now complete certain sponsorship transfers through the government’s Sahel app, removing the need to begin the process through the older paper-based route.
The Kuwait Ministry of Interior says the service allows the residency of an Article 20 domestic worker to be transferred from one sponsor to another through Sahel.
The service is initially available for female domestic workers, with male domestic workers expected to be added in a later phase.
Current Sponsor Starts the Transfer
The process begins with the worker’s current sponsor.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the current sponsor starts the residency transfer request through the Sahel app.
The proposed new sponsor then receives a notification through Sahel and completes the remaining transfer procedures.
This creates a more connected digital process between the current and new sponsors.
New Employment Contract Is Required
The Ministry says a new employment contract between the domestic worker and the new sponsor is required when the transfer is completed.
The official residency procedures for Article 20 workers also list approval from both the former and new sponsor among the requirements for transferring a domestic worker to another sponsor.
Other residency documents may still be required depending on the case.
Who Can Become the New Sponsor?
For the new Sahel transfer service, the Ministry of Interior states that the new sponsor must:
- Be a Kuwaiti citizen
- Be married
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have no restrictions preventing the transfer
- Meet the conditions required for both the sponsor and domestic worker
The initial digital service specifically covers female Article 20 domestic workers.
The Ministry says transfers involving male Article 20 domestic workers will be included in a later phase.
What Is Article 20 Residency?
Article 20 is the residence category used for domestic workers and similar household workers in Kuwait.
The Ministry of Interior’s current residency-services directory includes separate services for first-time Article 20 residency, renewal, cancellation, and transfer to another sponsor.
Domestic workers should not confuse Article 20 with Article 18, which applies to many private-sector employees.
What Domestic Workers Should Know
The new Sahel service makes the sponsorship-transfer process more digital, but a worker should not assume that a transfer is complete simply because a request has been started.
The current sponsor must begin the process, the new sponsor must complete the required steps, and the worker must meet the applicable residency conditions.
Workers and sponsors should use the official Sahel app and check Ministry of Interior instructions before completing the transfer.
