Kuwait has made new rules to better control work permits for foreign workers. The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) shared these changes. They show a big change in how the country permits people to work.
The main goal of the new rules is to make labor processes simpler and more organized. They also make sure each worker’s job matches their level of education. This helps avoid hiring people for the wrong roles and makes the job market work better.
The new rules apply to all foreign workers in Kuwait, including people from Gulf countries and stateless individuals known as Bedouins. Employers and job seekers must now follow new steps to check and submit documents. They must do this through Kuwait’s official online platforms, the Ashal portal and the Sahel Business app.
Overview of the New Work Permit Regulations
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has made big changes to Kuwait’s work permit rules. These updates help the government check workers’ qualifications more closely and make sure their jobs match their education. The new rules create a clearer and more responsible way to approve jobs.
Under the new rules, PAM now checks work permit applications more carefully. Applicants must prove their level of education, their field of study, and that their certificates come from approved schools. These checks are required for new permits, renewals, and any changes to job titles.
The rules apply to all transactions made through Kuwait’s official labor systems—the Ashal portal and the Sahel Business app. These platforms are now the main ways to submit, review, and verify work permit requests. Both systems have been updated with automatic tools to check documents and help submit them, making the process faster and easier.
Major Changes in Application Requirements
The new rules from the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) focus more on the education of foreign workers. These changes create a clear process for checking qualifications to make sure each worker’s education matches the job they want.
Education-Based Assessment
PAM now evaluates work permit applications based on three specific educational certification standards:
Academic Level
Applicants must clearly state their highest level of education. Accepted levels include diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate. The education level must match the job title being requested.
Specialization Area
The field of study must be directly related to the job being applied for. For example, someone applying for a civil engineering role must have a degree in civil engineering or a closely related subject. Degrees in general or unrelated fields may be rejected or need further review.
Certification Status
Each submitted academic credential must fall into one of four recognized verification categories:
- Unverified: No validation has been completed.
- Preliminary Identification: Basic identification completed; further verification required.
- Administrative Identification: Certification accepted based on documentation.
- Fully Accredited: Official confirmation from the Ministry of Higher Education.
Occupational Matching
In addition to checking credentials, PAM now requires the job title to closely match the applicant’s field of study. This match is necessary for approval. If the job doesn’t match the education, the application may be rejected or require more documents.
This rule is meant to stop underqualified people from getting specialized jobs, protect labor market standards, and build a stronger workforce. Employers must carefully match candidates with the right job titles before applying.
Automated Verification Processes
The new work permit rules focus on automation to make checking educational credentials faster and reduce manual work. A fundamental part of this change is using the Ministry of Higher Education’s equivalency database, which helps verify academic qualifications.
Role of the Ministry of Higher Education’s Equivalency Database
The Ministry of Higher Education’s equivalency database is the main tool for verifying the education of foreign workers. It lets the Ministry check and confirm degrees, diplomas, and certificates submitted by applicants. When a work permit is processed, the system automatically uses this database to ensure the applicant’s education matches the job requirements.
The equivalency database makes sure all foreign qualifications are properly checked, stopping fake or unverified documents from being approved. This improves the trustworthiness of the application process and helps protect Kuwait’s labor market.
Responsibilities of Labor Unit Workers
Labor unit workers oversee the application process and make sure the new rules are followed. While the system does most of the checks, human help is needed if something needs closer review. For example, if an applicant’s documents need extra checking or if a certificate can’t be automatically verified, labor unit workers step in to fix the issue.
These workers also make sure all documents are complete and correctly uploaded. They check that each applicant’s education matches the job role and meets the required standards.
System-Triggered Documentation Requests
To make the process easier, the updated system automatically asks for more documents when needed. If the equivalency database can’t fully verify a qualification or if the documents don’t meet the requirements, the system will alert the applicant and ask for the missing documents. This automated system helps avoid delays by quickly finding and fixing missing or incomplete information.
These automated requests make the process faster by reducing back-and-forth communication between applicants and authorities. They also cut down on administrative mistakes, making the process smoother and clearer for both employers and workers.
Specific Rules for Regulated Professions
The new work permit rules have special requirements for jobs that need specific qualifications. Professions like engineering and other regulated fields have their application processes to make sure applicants meet the right standards and qualifications.
Engineering Occupations
Engineering jobs have a stricter verification process because the work is highly specialized. The updated system automates most of the checks for these positions.
System Auto-Verification
When someone applies for an engineering job, the system automatically checks their education through the Ministry of Higher Education’s equivalency database. This process makes sure applicants have the right academic background for engineering roles, with no need for manual checks in most cases.
Instant Rejection of Unverified Credentials
If the system can’t verify an applicant’s engineering qualifications, it will immediately reject the work permit request. This includes cases where the documents are unverified or don’t meet the required standards for engineering jobs. This quick rejection helps keep the profession trustworthy by stopping unqualified people from getting regulated engineering jobs.
Other Regulated Fields
For professions outside engineering that still require specialized qualifications, the process is slightly different.
Manual Upload Requirements
Applicants for other regulated jobs must manually upload the documents to verify their qualifications. Unlike engineering roles, where verification is mostly automated, these jobs might require employers to submit extra documents or certifications to finish the application.
Pre-Authorization Needs
Many regulated jobs, like law, healthcare, and finance, need approval from the relevant authorities before a work permit can be applied for. Employers must get these approvals before submitting work permit applications for these positions. If the necessary approvals aren’t obtained, the application may be delayed or rejected.
Renewal Simplifications
To balance stricter work permit rules, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has created simpler procedures for certain renewal cases. These changes help reduce paperwork and ensure smooth transitions for people already working in Kuwait.
Categories Exempted from Full Documentation Re-Submission
The updated policy exempts certain applicants from resubmitting their educational and authorization documents during the renewal process, provided the job title remains unchanged.
Existing Foreign Employees
Foreign workers already in Kuwait can renew their work permits more easily. If they are staying in the same job, they don’t need to upload their credentials again. This makes the process faster and acknowledges their previous compliance.
GCC Nationals
Citizens from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are also exempt. Because of their special status and alignment with local rules, GCC nationals renewing work permits for the same job don’t need to resubmit supporting documents.
Legal Residents Renewing for the Same Position
Legal residents of Kuwait who stay in the same job can renew their permits without going through the full documentation process again. This makes it easier for long-term residents to keep their permits and helps maintain workforce stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is affected by Kuwait’s new work permit regulations?
The new rules apply to all foreign workers in Kuwait, including GCC nationals and Bedouins. Employers using the Ashal portal or the Sahel Business app for labor tasks must also follow these changes.
How does the system verify academic credentials?
The Ministry of Higher Education’s equivalency database checks academic levels and certification statuses. The system only asks for educational documents when extra verification is needed.
What happens if an applicant’s education does not match the job title?
If the education and job title don’t match, the system may flag or reject the application. Applicants should make sure their job matches their field of study.
What platforms are used to submit applications?
Applications must be submitted through the Ashal portal or the Sahel Business app, Kuwait’s official digital platforms for labor and permit management.
Conclusion
For foreign employees, the reforms mean more checks on certification accuracy and relevance. Employers must be more careful to ensure applicants meet the new eligibility standards and submit all documents correctly.
To avoid delays or rejections, employers and foreign workers must take a proactive approach. Staying compliant with the requirements, regularly updating academic records, and using authorized digital platforms will make the permit process smoother and keep labor operations running smoothly.
