Effective 1 July 2025, the Public Authority of Manpower will require all expatriate private sector sponsored employees to obtain prior approval (an ‘Exit Permit’) before travelling outside of Kuwait.
For expatriate private sector sponsored employees who will be travelling outside of Kuwait (whether temporary or permanent), effective 1 July 2025, they will be required to obtain prior employer approval and an Exit Permit before leaving, via an official government platform (Sahel). This applies for travel whether a sponsored worker is departing via air, land borders, or seaports. The requirement does not currently extend to dependents, only the primary residence holder (the expatriate worker) and therefore dependents do not need to apply for separate exit permits.
The required steps are detailed as below:
Step 1: The employee will need to log into the Sahel app or Ashal Portal using their Civil ID.
They will need to complete the required details including exit/travel dates and expected return dates. Once completed, they will need to submit the application and this will be sent automatically to the employer for approval.
Step 2: Employer review and approval
The request is automatically routed to the employer via the Sahel-Business app or Ashal Portal, where the employer must verify and approve the request. The approval confirms the employer – employee relationship.
Step 3: Instant permit issuance
Once approved by the employer, the Exit Permit is issued immediately through the digital system.
Handling denials or non-response
If inconsistencies are found, the case is referred to specialised departments therefore to avoid delay, all details entered must match that on the Civil ID. If the employer fails to respond or rejects the application without valid cause, employees may file a complaint with the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) to seek intervention.
Additional considerations
For impacted individuals exiting Kuwait on 1 July 2025, an Exit permit will be necessary despite it coming into effect the same day. We would recommend that any individuals travelling outside of Kuwait on 1 July, consider keeping travel plans flexible or leave sufficient time to submit the application and keep in close contact with their employer, to ensure timely approval. Following the implementation of the Exit Permit process, employees should allow sufficient time to submit their request ahead of their travel.
Given the rising tensions in the Middle East, to date there has been no official announcement if the implementation of the Exit Permit has been suspended. Should there be any further announcements related to the Kuwait Exit Permit, we will provide details, however it is recommended that you share this information with your sponsored employees in Kuwait. We can support you to prepare for implementation and employee communications in relation to this change. We are here to help you stay updated on any regulatory changes that impact your mobile workforce.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner
Rekha Simpson
Middle East Director
Simply follow our Vialto Alerts page on LinkedIn and posts will be displayed on your feed. To ensure you don’t miss one, once you’re on our LinkedIn page, click on the bell icon under the banner image to manage your notifications.
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
© 2025 Vialto Partners. All rights reserved.