What is an Article 18 Visa?

The most popular of the Kuwait Employment Visas is the Article 18 Visa Kuwait, which is given to expatriates who are involved in the field. It is the foundation of your residency permit (Iqama).

Is this possible to monitor my Work Visa application?

Yes. The application reference number can be used to monitor the Work visa tracking Kuwait process in online portals of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Kuwait.

What is the duration of Kuwait Work Permit?

A first Kuwait Residency Permit is normally granted to one or two years, according to the Employment Contract Kuwait. The employer should renew it before it expires (Residency renewal Kuwait).

What does this KD 150 transfer fee mean?

The standard KD 150 Work-Permit Transfer Charge measures costs equally in all sectors and ends past exemptions on fees and provides equal financial regulation to the whole expatriate labor market, in line with the government objective to enhance oversight.

Kuwait Employment Visa Process in 2025

Trying to find a job in Kuwait? The Gulf state, which is rich in oil, is also a favorite employer of expats, and the Kuwait Employment Visa has been constantly changing, which is bound to introduce new regulations in 2025. It is important to be very accurate when navigating the legal process to ensure that you obtain your Kuwait Work Permit and then the Kuwait Iqama (residency permit).

2025 Regulatory Changes You Need to Be Aware

The government of Kuwait has stepped up the campaign on the Kuwaitization agenda and labor market reform, which resulted in much-needed changes in the form of the New Immigration Law Kuwait (with references to Amiri Decree 114/2024 and Ministerial Resolution No. 4/2025).

Key 2025 Work Permit Changes

Flat KD 150 Work-Permit Transfer Fee: All the past work visa transfer exemptions are eliminated. There is now a single fee of KD 150 charged on all expat work-permit transfers of any sector or company size in order to streamline but also increase the fee on the task of Work permit transfer Kuwait 2025.
Job Title Freeze: PAM has placed a temporary freeze of Job titles or updating academic qualifications on the current work permits in Kuwait which is called Job title freeze Kuwait 2025. This highlights that the credentials verified by the expat should be a perfect fit to the job title during his or her visa application.
Stricter Alignment: It entails more scrutiny to make sure that the academic qualification and experience of the employee are in line with the proposed job title, the requirements of the documentation of Attested Educational Certificates Kuwait are even more stringent.

Find Sponsorship and Preliminary Acceptance

The whole trip starts with a job offer in a company that is registered in Kuwait. It is the Kuwait Visa Sponsorship that this company does, and the main paperwork is with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).

Employer’s Role (Pre-Travel)

Work Permit Application (PAM): the employer applies to PAM to get the Kuwait Work Permit (also called the Article 18 Visa Kuwait to the private sector). The app contains the work contract and the employee qualifications.
No Objection Certificate (NOC) / Entrance Visa: When the work permit is accepted by PAM, the employer requests the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Kuwait to issue the Kuwait Entrance Visa (sometimes known as the No Objection Certificate (NOC) Kuwait in the first sense). This document permits the right to enter the country with the aim of getting a job.
Document Verification: The employer forwards to you Employment Contract Kuwait signed by you and a copy of your documents and he makes sure that they are attested correctly.
Kuwait (Work Permit Approval) Visa processing time (Estimated): 1-3 weeks.

Medical and Police clearance

In order to get the visa properly stamped on your passport, you have to undergo mandatory health and background checks in your home country.

Kuwait Medical Certificate: You will have to pass through medical check up including infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B-C and Tuberculosis (through chest X-ray). This should be done at a clinic that has the approval of the Gulf Health Council (Wafid).
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): To obtain an official Police clearance certificate (PCC) Kuwait, by a relevant authority in your native country of residence, to certify that there was no criminal record. This document will need to be frequently legalized or apostilled in order to be used in Kuwait.
Attestation: To acquire all the necessary documents, such as your educational degree and PCC, they have to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your home country followed by the Kuwaiti Embassy or Consulate.

Visa Stamping and Entry

Then, having issued the NOC/Entrance Visa and passed all necessary pre-departure examinations, you visit the Kuwaiti Embassy in your country of residence.

Kuwait Embassy Visa stamping:Here, you submit your passport, approved copy of entrance visa (provided to you by your sponsor), the Kuwait Medical Certificate, and the PCC to the embassy.
Passport Endorsement: The Embassy actually stamps the Kuwait Work Visa in your Passport.
Travel to Kuwait: You have to travel to Kuwait within the expiry of the entry visa. It will be officially signed by the immigration authorities when the visa is endorsed upon arrival under the Directorate General of Residency (DGR).

Post-Arrival Formalities (The Final Residency)

This step, which takes place during a matter of weeks of arrival, turns your entrance visa into your long term Kuwait Residency Permit (Kuwait Iqama).

Local Medical Test: You need to take a final medical test that is compulsory in Kuwait at an approved MOI facility.
Fingerprinting Kuwait (Biometric): You have to visit the corresponding MOI center to make biometric data (fingerprints and photo) to obtain security clearance.
Application Iqama: The final application of the Kuwait Residency Permit (Article 18) is made by your sponsor at the DGR and provides the final medical results and the security clearance.
Kuwait Civil ID: After getting the Iqama stamped into the passport, you have to seek the Kuwait Civil ID at the PACI (Public Authority for Civil Information). This card serves the purpose of identification of all residents and transactions, opening bank accounts and renting property.
Timeline Advice: You must not take more than 60 days to complete all the post-arrival formalities which include taking the Iqama and obtaining the Civil ID.

FAQs

What is an Article 18 Visa?

The most popular of the Kuwait Employment Visas is the Article 18 Visa Kuwait, which is given to expatriates who are involved in the field. It is the foundation of your residency permit (Iqama).
Is this possible to monitor my Work Visa application?

Yes. The application reference number can be used to monitor the Work visa tracking Kuwait process in online portals of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) and the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Kuwait.
What is the duration of Kuwait Work Permit?

A first Kuwait Residency Permit is normally granted to one or two years, according to the Employment Contract Kuwait. The employer should renew it before it expires (Residency renewal Kuwait).
What does this KD 150 transfer fee mean?

The standard KD 150 Work-Permit Transfer Charge measures costs equally in all sectors and ends past exemptions on fees and provides equal financial regulation to the whole expatriate labor market, in line with the government objective to enhance oversight.

Final Thoughts

The Kuwait Employment Visa Process in 2025 is designed for high compliance and labor market stability. The emphasis on matching credentials and the flat-rate transfer fee signal a shift toward greater rigor. By ensuring your documents are meticulously attested and your employer is up-to-date on all PAM/MOI regulations, you will significantly streamline your journey to obtaining your Kuwait Work Permit and establishing a fulfilling career in the Gulf.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Readers are strongly advised to verify all application details, document requirements, and current fee structures directly from the official websites of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Kuwait, and the Directorate General of Residency (DGR) before making employment and travel decisions.