Kuwait Work Permit 2026 – Step by Step

The Kuwait Work Permit system, commonly known as Article 18 Visa in the private sector, hit a new milestone in digital efficiency in 2026, as the Sahel and Ashal digital platforms are fully integrated, which has made the process more transparent, faster and secure to the expatriates worldwide.

You are a talented engineer or need general labor opportunities: either way, to pursue this direction, you need a clear idea of what digital-first demands. This incredibly detailed guide has divided the 2026 path of your initial employment opportunity to your ultimate residency status.

The Pre-Arrival Stage: Sponsorship and Entry

The process is preempted by your employer before you even step foot in Kuwait, the process being carried out through a joint effort of both the Kuwaiti government and your local government back home.3

Job Offer & Attested Contract: This is where your legal life starts with a formal contract.4 Your employer must register all contracts on the Ashal Portal in 2026. This provides the continuation of the words, such as the minimum monthly salary (which today is 75 KWD working with laborers and more working with skilled positions) as something that will be supported by the law.
PAM (Public Authority of Manpower): Before hiring an international employee, the first thing the employer has to do is to seek a work permit approval at PAM, and ensure that the company has a legitimate manpower quota to engage an international worker.
NOC (No Expostulation Certificate): after PAM is sanctioned, Ministry of inside (MOI) issues a digital NOC. Your official introduction permit.
Degree Attestation (MOFA & Embassy): To work on a professional job, your diplomas need to be legalized by your home country Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Kuwaiti Embassy.
GAMCA / Embassy-Approved Medical: It will require a medical examination to be passed at an authorized facility in your native country before you can have the visa stamped in your passport.

Post-Arrival Stage: Registering Your Residence

As soon as you get in Kuwait, the clock begins to count. Within the next 30 days, these are the necessary steps that you will need to undertake in order to save yourself fines and to defend your legal position.

MOH Medical (Kuwait): You have to have a second check in one of the Kuwait Ministry of Health centers (i.e. in Shuwaikh or Sabhan) even if you have already passed your medical at home.
Biometric Appointment (Fingerprinting): You will be required to make an appointment through the Meta platform of having a fingerprinting and eye scan at an MOI center.
Sahel App Registration: Welcome to the center of your Kuwaiti life. You will apply this application to get the notification concerning your health outcomes and residency.
Civil ID (PACI): Once your residency has been stamped electronically, you apply to get a Civil ID.6 Once more, in 2026, your primary legal identity is the Kuwait Mobile ID app, and not yet, the physical card has arrived.
Iqama (Residence Permit) Stamping: This is the last digital stamp in the MOI system, which gives you an opportunity to have 1-2 years of legal residency.

2026 Compliance: What You Need to Know

Remaining compliant in 2026 will imply the awareness of new labor legislation and online demands.

Multiple-Trip Exit Permit: This is another significant change in 2026- workers are now required to get a digital authorization through Sahel app prior to leaving Kuwait.7 This has substituted the manual sign-off by the sponsors.
WPS (Wages Protection System): The salary will have to be deposited in a Kuwait bank account. The Sahel app allows you to track your payments in terms of salary.
Transfer Fee: There is a general fee that is charged on a work permit transfer as of 2025/2026 and the fee is 150 KWD should you wish to change employer in Kuwait.
Residency Renewal: The amount of renewal is 20 KWD/year at the moment.

FAQs

What is the duration of entry visa (NOC) in Kuwait?

After you are assigned a NOC, it is usually good within 90 days. You have to come to the country in this time frame otherwise the visa will lapse and be necessary to be applied again

What is the “Meta” platform?

Meta is a central booking system of appointments in Kuwait. You have to use it to book your biometric fingerprints and MOH medical tests to avoid long queues.

Will a Visit Visa be converted to a Work Visa in 2026?

Generally, no. A majority of the workers are required to come in on an employment visa. There are however some exceptions to certain classes in case the employer possesses the required government quota.

Does the Kuwait Medical test differ with the test in my home country?

The tests are not dissimilar (they are checking HIV, TB, Hepatitis, etc.), but the Kuwait-based test in the MOH is the only one that grants your Residence Permit legally.

What in case of my losing the physical Civil ID?

The Kuwait Mobile ID application is legally equal to the physical card in 2026. All transactions can be done through the digital version until a physical replacement is done.

Final Thought

With the Digital Kuwait project, you will find yourself in a safe and successful career in Kuwait as you will see your status on the Sahel app and have your contract registered on the Ashal portal.10 Always ensure that your employer is licensed through PAM before submitting personal documents or paying any form of external recruitment fees.11

Disclaimer

The article presented is purely informative and educational. It is recommended that readers should not be fast to make decisions before consulting credible sources of information.