In the government’s efforts to regulate the country’s labour demographics, several legislations have been put into effect.
However, this time, with the high population of expats still living in the country, the government is taking the classic and more practical approach – by raising expat fees.
Higher Fees for Work Permits and Transfer of Residence to be Imposed by Government
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is planning to submit a resolution of increasing the fees for transfer of residence and renewal of work permits of expats in the country, as shared in a report by the Arab Times Online.
According to the report, the fees to be imposed in the private sector will range from KD 20 to KD 100. Furthermore, renewing work permit shall be priced at KD 20 per year whereas fees for issuing the work permit for the first time shall be at KD 70 from previously KD 60.
Transfer of residence fees shall be priced as follows:
1st time: KD 100
2nd time: KD 200
3rd time: KD 300
4th time: KD 400
The fees shall be set at KD 400 for the succeeding years thereon.
In other relevant news, expats particularly domestic helpers could soon be allowed to renew their residence visa through an online system under the Ministry of Interiors.
Accordingly, the category of domestic helpers will be the first to benefit from the new digital system.
Under the new e-system, Kuwaiti employers will be able to renew residence visas of their domestic helpers online, once authorities officially launch the upgraded digital procedure.
This should be a big help to expats particularly domestic helpers in the country since the process will be much faster; hence, more convenient. Also, shifting from paper to digital applications will most of the time result to faster transactions.