Kuwait enforces mandatory exit permits for private sector expatriates

The Public Authority of Manpower announced on Wednesday that all expatriate workers in Kuwait’s private sector will be required to obtain a mandatory exit permit before leaving the country, starting July 1.

According to the authority, the exit permit must be secured in advance through the official Manpower Authority website or the government’s Sahel mobile application. The new regulation aims to address concerns over unnotified or illegal departures and is intended to uphold the rights of both employers and employees.

"This measure is part of ongoing efforts to prevent unauthorised exits and to ensure mutual accountability between workers and their employers," the authority said in a statement.

The exit permit system marks a significant shift in Kuwait’s labour policy, reinforcing procedural oversight on expatriate mobility in the private sector.