Kuwait: Work visas and Permits
In case your business is arranging an extension to the Middle Eastern country of Kuwait, you will most likely be recruiting a few specialists from abroad to assist with this activity. To do this, each foreign worker will generally need Kuwait work visas and immigration permits.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about work permits and work visas. In addition, the procedure to obtain a Kuwaiti work visa can be intricate and could take more than a few weeks to finish. Kuwait has a scope of visas on offer and very strict regulations to apply for them, so it is vital to follow the guidelines cautiously to stay away from any likely deferrals.
1. Why do you need a work visa and work permit in Kuwait?
2. Steps to apply for a work permit in Kuwait
3. Types of work visas in Kuwait
4. How to obtain a work visa in Kuwait?
5. How can EOR Middle East help you?
1. Why do you need a work visa and work permit in Kuwait?
Foreign workers must have legal and government-mandated visas and work permits in Kuwait, as established by immigration laws. Work permits need to be a secure process for employees and supported by a regional qualified and incorporated unit.
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As per the Private Sector Kuwait´s Labor Law, it is mandatory that every business keeps a record for every laborer. In addition, in these folders shall be kept copies of the worker’s work permit, work contract, civil ID. Also, you must add any documents concerning annual leaves and sick leaves. Furthermore, you need to add copies of receipts proving that the documents submitted by employees were returned.
To live and work in Kuwait, foreign workers will acquire a residency visa (iqama), which must be given based on a substantial business offer from a privately owned business or a Kuwaiti government association. Additionally, the Kuwaiti company at this point applies for the iqama in the name of the ex-pat worker.
The representative is then given a supposed “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) with which he/she can enter Kuwait. The employee will obtain the actual residency visa once he/she enters Kuwait. All together for the residency visa to be given, a broad clinical testament is important and obligatory. Meaning that testing for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis is mandatory.
When the residency visa is given, the worker can apply for a Kuwaiti Civil ID (bitaqa-almadaniyah). This application must be submitted within 30 days of getting the residency visa.
2. Steps to apply for a work permit in Kuwait
The only way an ex-pat can apply for a work permit or any type of work visa is by getting a legitimate job offer in Kuwait. Therefore, there must be proof that employee and employer are in a real work relationship. Following this plan, the employing company takes on the role of the expat’s patron and representative for the length of his/her stay in Kuwait.
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2.1. Expats need to present the accompanying documents or reports to apply for a work license
- A copy of the applicant’s passport.
- A confirmed genuine duplicate of the salary transferal. Given by the Work Inspection Department bearing the authority stamp given by the Coordination or Reception or Employment Sections.
- A new stamp alongside the first marked approval report.
Likewise, the work data expressed in the candidate’s work records should match the real assignments, capacities, and activities he/she is managing in Kuwait.
Also, once you submit all the mandatory documents, you´ll have to go to the Work Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in the administrative region for your submission of requirements.
In addition, you will need to completely fill out the service application form and pay the fixed application fees (KWD 10).
Furthermore, applying for a work license in Kuwait is typically done by the hiring company who acts as the patron, if engagement has been permitted in Kuwait. When the employer obtains the work license, he/she then refers it to the worker, who will need to have the certificate corroborated by the Kuwait Embassy from his/her country of origin.
Likewise, the candidate should acquire a clinical declaration, as a component of the requirements of the Kuwait Embassy. In case there is no accessible Kuwait Embassy, the patron has the obligation to have the report checked by the Ministry of Interior in Kuwait prior to sending it to the worker/candidate before an official hiring process.
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3. Types of work visas in Kuwait
When applying for Kuwait Immigration & Work Permits, you must remember that Kuwait offers several different types of visas that depend on the visitor’s entry requirements, length of stay, and trip purpose. The available options include:
3.1. Tourist Visa.
This visa gives the holder the option to briefly accommodate in the country for one month and up to three months from the date of entry and mandates an immediate exit at the finish of the time of stay. A vacationer visa doesn’t qualify the holder for work activity in the country.
3.2. Visit visa.
A guest visa (state – business – family) entitles the holder to stay in the country for one month from the date of entry to the country. Also, this visa mandates immediate exit at the finish of the time of stay. A guest visa doesn’t make the holder suitable for work in the country.
3.3. Entrance visa.
An entrance visa (government service – private business – family visa – study – professional practice – work from home) provides the holder right to provisionally live in the country for two months from the date of admittance. Throughout this period, the holder must apply to the General Residency Office to comply with the required guidelines for permanent residence.
3.4. Business Visit visa
This visa gives the owner the right to temporarily live in the country for seven days from the date of entrance. In the case that the holder has certain plans and commercial-related activities in Kuwait, they are able to do so on a business visa.
3.5. Family Visit visa.
A family visa comes in the form of an invitation, is a nonimmigrant visa, and can only be issued by a relative who is a permanent resident or a legal citizen of Kuwait.
3.6. Temporary worker visa.
Very often people’s interests arise in how to get a work visa for Kuwait from other countries due to the ever-growing economy. A provisional worker visa to Kuwait for ex-pat employees is an authorization to stay in the state for the length of the business contract. Persons who travel to the country for the purpose of earning money, and not entertainment or travel to relatives, are the only ones who can apply for a temporary visa.
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4. How to obtain a work visa in Kuwait
A work visa in Kuwait is a permit for foreign citizens to work in public and private companies. Such a visa usually lasts for a period of 30 to 90 days. Therefore, after the expiration of the period, you can get an extension on the basis that the employer renews the employment contract.
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To obtain a Kuwait work visa you need to:
4.1. Your employer must provide you with an entry visa or NOC
When applying, the employer himself states which type of visa you need to apply for. Even if in the application form you indicate a different period of stay, you will obtain a visa as indicated in the invitation from the employer.
In addition, you need to get a NOC or Entry visa from your employer (usually, it takes 1-2 weeks, also, the precise time rests on the swiftness of your boss). The validity period is on the document itself and is usually 3 months. Consequently, if you need to legalize a police allowance credential, then you must demand a NOC or Entry certificate from your employer later.
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4.2. Comply with the legal document requirements
In case you are applying for a work visa, you will need:
- Original passport with a validity of at least 6 months.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- 1 photo 3 x 4” (color background or black and white).
- Completed form.
- Medical certificates (valid for 3 months).
- A signed certificate from a registered physician about your general state of health.
Similarly, there is not an exact form for a medical certificate. Therefore any regular certificate from any clinic, indicating that you do not have any diseases will do. Having packed all the documents in the previously identified folder for the Kuwait labor visa, you are ready to move on with the next few steps of the process.
4.3. You need to legalize a police approval credential.
A police leeway endorsement is expected when applying for a Kuwait work visa and different nations as well, and you will also need this to get a home license. This approval is one of the main things for a Kuwait work visa to be granted. What do you need to comply with the legitimization of said certificate? You will have to:
- Translate the credential into Arabic or English with notarization (this process usually takes 1-2 working days).
- Endorse the translation at the Ministry of Justice of your country of origin (this can take up to 5 days, and in some cases even a week).
- Declare the translation at the consular department (it can take up to 6 working days to get this done).
Similarly, all the calculations are not precisely truthful or exact, since there are different conditions and circumstances, but everything ensues roughly this way, you can effortlessly get your credential if you follow every mandated guideline.
4.4. Submit the documents to Kuwait´s embassy:
After receiving a NOC or Entry permit from your employer, hand over everything to the Kuwaiti embassy to complete the legalization of the police clearance certificate and paste the visa into the passport. Embassy workers validate the police authorization certificate and glue the visa onto the passport (this normally takes 2 days to complete).
4.5. You will directly receive your visa and other documents
It will take 1 to 8 working days depending on the city. Periods may be prolonged on official holidays in Kuwait. At all stages, your personal presence, or power of attorney is not mandatory.
Similarly, in EOR Middle East we’ll make sure to streamline the application process for a work visa or a work permit and make it an easy one. Similarly, we´ll provide the needed guidance so you’ll be able to comply with every requirement and mandated guideline.
5. How can EOR Middle East help you?
At EOR Middle East, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed to help companies enter new markets in our supported countries in the Middle East, including Kuwait. Our local experts will help you find, hire, pay, and manage a solid workforce in your desired country.
Hire employees in Kuwait quickly and compliantly with our help:
- Employer of Record EOR
- Professional Employer Organization PEO
- Immigration Services
- Payroll Outsourcing
- Relocation services
- Contractor Hire
- HR management
- Remote Workers Hire
In addition, our people, expertise, and technology are world-class, but the combination is unbeatable. This ensures the absolute best chance of getting your money’s worth promptly, not only saving your time but also money and effort. EOR in Kuwait operates with high levels of expertise and security in everything we do, all this to ensure we deliver the most reliable and convenient service our customers need and want.
Would you like to contact EOR Middle East? You can call at 00 971 433 16 688 or send an email to [email protected], and you’ll talk to one of our representatives that will gladly answer all of your questions.
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