Kuwait does not allow just anyone to be hired as a domestic worker. Under the law, Kuwait bars the recruitment or employment of domestic workers below 21 or above 60 years old—though the exact rule can change depending on nationality. The rule is clear on paper, but nationality-specific agreements can make the real age range much narrower.
Article 21 of Law No. 68 of 2015 prohibits the recruitment or employment of a domestic worker below 21 or above 60. The competent minister may grant exceptions, but they are not guaranteed.
The full law and its 2022 executive regulations are available through Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice with the following set conditions:
- Minimum age: 21 years old.
- Maximum age: 60 years old.
- Exceptions: Possible with ministerial approval.
- Penalty for hiring someone under 21: Up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to KD 500.
Age Rules Differ By Nationality
Kuwait’s 21-to-60 limit is only part of the picture. Bilateral agreements can impose stricter requirements on domestic workers from certain countries.
- Indian workers: Reports on the India-Kuwait domestic-worker agreement signed in June 2021 place the permitted age range at 30 to 55 years old. This is narrower than Kuwait’s general 21-to-60 limit under Law No. 68 of 2015. An Indian applicant outside this bracket may therefore be ineligible even if they meet Kuwait’s basic legal age requirement.
- Philippine workers: Some Philippine recruitment agencies are reported to prefer applicants aged 23–45 or 24–45. These figures are presented as agency practice, not as a confirmed Kuwaiti legal requirement. Workers should verify the current requirement directly with the Department of Migrant Workers, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, or an accredited agency before applying.
- Other nationalities: Age requirements can differ depending on bilateral agreements, embassy procedures, and the policies of licensed recruitment offices. Some countries may impose a narrower minimum or maximum age than Kuwait’s general rule. Applicants should check with their country’s labour or migrant-worker authority and the relevant Kuwaiti embassy before signing a contract.
Recruiters Have Limits Too
The law also sets age requirements for recruitment offices. A Kuwaiti applying for a licence to recruit domestic workers from abroad must be between 30 and 70 years old.
Applicants must be Kuwaiti nationals, medically fit, and hold a high-school certificate. They must also have a clean record for certain serious or integrity-related offences, unless rehabilitated.
Penalties for violations
Kuwait’s Domestic Workers Law carries different penalties depending on who violated the rules. Recruiting or employing a worker under 21 is a criminal offence, while violations by employers or recruitment offices can lead to fines, visa suspensions, licence actions, or referral to authorities.state+2
- Hiring someone under 21: Up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to KD 500 under Article 29 of Law No. 68 of 2015.
- Employer violations: If a complaint against an employer is upheld, authorities may suspend the employer’s ability to obtain domestic-worker entry visas for six months. A repeat offence doubles the suspension period.ohchr+1
- Recruitment-office violations: A recruitment office found responsible for a violation may face closure or a licence suspension of three to six months, depending on the nature of the violation; the case may also be referred to the competent authorities.
- Late wages: Under the 2022 executive regulations, an employer who delays a domestic worker’s salary beyond the seventh day after it is due may face an additional KD 10 for each month of delay, on top of the monthly wage.
- Trafficking or exploitation: Suspected trafficking cases may be referred by the Domestic Workers Employment Department to the Ministry of Interior. Kuwait’s anti-trafficking law prescribes penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment for offences involving an adult male victim, and up to life imprisonment for offences involving an adult female or child victim.
How to Report a Violation
Domestic workers in Kuwait can file complaints through the Domestic Workers Employment Department (DWED) under the Ministry of Interior. The department examines complaints and may refer criminal matters to the relevant authorities. Workers may also seek assistance from their embassy or consulate, particularly where the complaint involves recruitment fees, contract terms, unpaid wages, abuse, or trafficking.
Before Signing A Contract
Domestic workers should not rely on a recruiter’s verbal assurance about their eligibility.
- Confirm the age rule for their nationality.
- Ask for the written employment contract required under Kuwait’s domestic-worker framework.
- Check whether a ministerial exception or bilateral condition applies.
- Question any claim of a “special approval” or unofficial age limit.
Kuwait’s rule on the age of domestic workers is straightforward: 21 is the minimum, 60 is the maximum. But for some nationalities, the effective entry age can be much higher, depending on whether the country has a set standard age for domestic workers sent out in Kuwait.