Ministerial decree revokes exemptions on surcharges for work permit extensions
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Kuwait's New Work Permit Rules: A Game Changer for Employment
Sheikh Fahd Al-Youssef, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has paved the way for a revamped employment landscape in Kuwait with Ministerial Resolution No. (4) of 2025. This game-changing decision overhauls key aspects of the earlier Resolution No. (3) of 2024 concerning work permits and related procedures.
According to recent reports by Al-Jarida daily, the new decision scraps Article Two of the previous resolution, which offered certain sectors and entities relief from additional work permit fees based on assessed labor needs. These exemptions have now been wiped off the table, leaving these entities to foot the bill of 150 Kuwaiti dinars per work permit.
This list includes more than a few notable entries, such as government-owned companies, healthcare facilities (including hospitals, clinics, and medical centers), private universities and colleges, schools, foreign investors, sports clubs and associations, charities, endowments, agricultural plots, hunters, livestock owners, real estate investors, industrial establishments, small industries, and more.
In addition to this, the resolution nixes Article Five of the 2024 decision, which initially required the Public Authority for Manpower's Board of Directors to carry out a study on the potential effects of implementing the resolution within a year of its implementation. The study's submission, along with any recommendations, was then scheduled to be handed over to the concerned minister.
This new ministerial directive signifies a path toward unified fee structures and the abolition of sector-specific leniencies, ultimately strengthening standardized procedures across Kuwait's labor and employment frameworks. By adopting this resolution, Kuwait is moving full steam ahead in terms of streamlining labor market practices and fortifying regulatory oversight across diverse sectors.
Insights:- The changes aim to eliminate exemptions for various sectors, as a standard fee of KD150 will be applied on a case-by-case basis for every work permit granted[1][2][4].- The resolution also scrapped the impact study that was initially required before implementing fee structures, allowing for swift reforms and regulatory changes[1][2][4].
^{References:}^{ [1] al-jarida.com.kw/details/article/225538 }^{ [2]ww4.parliament.gov.kw/aira/articles/2025/4/26/125822141153710 }^{ [3] www.moi.gov.kw/en/Pages/InformationCenter/News.aspx }^{ [4] thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/25-April-2022/Amendments-to-work-permit-regulation-in-Kuwait }
- The new work permit rules in Kuwait, such as the one issued by Sheikh Fahd Al-Youssef, are not only reshaping the employment landscape but also have significant implications for the business sector, as a standard fee of KD150 will be applied on a case-by-case basis for every work permit granted.
- The changes in Kuwait's work permit rules, exemplified by the recent Ministerial Resolution No. (4) of 2025, are also influential in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general news, as they signify a move towards unified fee structures, the abolition of sector-specific leniencies, and streamlining labor market practices.
