Workers on Domestic Visas May Get A Chance to Move to Private-Sector Employment

Kuwait is studying whether domestic workers on Article 20 visas can once again transfer to Article 18 private-sector visas. For many expat domestic workers, this could reopen a path to better pay, regular working hours, and new job opportunities.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah raised the proposal on October 22, 2026, during a meeting with employers at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). But there is no approval yet. No transfer window has opened, and no new rules have been announced. Employers had asked the government to bring back the transfer option. Sheikh Fahad said the concerned authorities are now studying how it could work.

Why This Matters 

Many OFWs enter Kuwait on an Article 20 domestic worker visa. Moving to an Article 18 visa would allow them to work in the private sector, such as in companies, shops, restaurants, or other businesses.

For workers who want to leave domestic employment, this could be a significant opportunity. But no one should make plans—or pay an agent—based on the proposal alone.

The transfer route is still closed until Kuwait issues an official decision.

Previous Transfer Window

Kuwait previously opened a limited transfer window under Ministerial Resolution No. 6 of 2024.

  • It ran from July 14 to September 12, 2024.
  • Around 55,000 domestic workers transferred from Article 20 to Article 18.
  • Workers needed their current employer’s consent.
  • They must have worked for that employer for at least one year.
  • Reports at the time said the transfer fee was KD 50, plus KD 10 for every year in the new contract.

PAM later confirmed that the resolution had expired. Since then, domestic workers have not been able to use that route.

But when Kuwait last allowed Article 20 to Article 18 transfers, the process was possible—but not easy. Workers needed their employer’s approval, met a one-year service requirement, and paid transfer fees.

If Kuwait reopens the route, expect similar conditions, though the final rules may change. Here are some of the details for when it opened in 2024.

Requirements

  • Your current employer or sponsor had to approve the transfer.
  • You must have worked for that employer for at least one year.
  • The transfer fee was KD 50.
  • An extra KD 10 was charged for each year of service.
  • The window ran only from July 14 to September 12, 2024.
  • Documentary requirements
    • Valid passport
    • Civil ID
    • Recent photos
    • Work permit or transfer paperwork
    • Health insurance certificate
    • Medical fitness and criminal-status checks, where required
    • Employer approval or sponsorship-transfer forms

How the Process Worked

Workers generally had to secure employer consent, find a private-sector employer willing to hire them, and complete the transfer through official government channels. Residency and work-permit procedures were handled through PAM and the Interior Ministry, with some services available through the Sahel app.

Employer consent was the biggest obstacle in 2024. You could not transfer just because you found a new job—your current sponsor had to agree. Do not pay anyone claiming they can bypass employer approval or guarantee a transfer. Keep your contract, salary records, Civil ID, and passport updated, and confirm every step through PAM, the Interior Ministry, or Sahel. For now, this guide should help you.

What OFWs Should Do  

Until an official announcement is released, workers should avoid paying anyone who promises a visa transfer.

  • Monitor announcements from PAM, the Interior Ministry, or the Sahel app.
  • Do not assume the 2024 rules will apply if transfers resume.
  • Keep your passport, residency documents, employment contract, and salary records safe.
  • Report unpaid wages or contract problems through official government channels, your embassy, or a licensed labor office.

The proposal could give thousands of domestic workers a fresh start in Kuwait’s private sector. For now, though, it remains under review—not an open transfer window.