Kuwait Domestic Worker (Maid/Driver) Sponsorship Rules 2026: Costs, Contracts & Ministry Requirements
Complete 2026 guide to sponsoring a maid or driver in Kuwait — eligibility rules, Sahel app process, government fees, contract requirements under Law No. 68/2015, and worker rights. Includes FAQs and a full cost breakdown table. Hiring a maid or driver in Kuwait isn’t as simple as agreeing on a salary and a start date. It involves multiple government authorities — the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), and the Ministry of Health (MOH) — each with its own paperwork, fees, and legal obligations. Get any part of it wrong, and you risk delays, fines, or worse, an unenforceable contract if a dispute arises later.
This guide walks you through exactly who is eligible to sponsor a domestic worker in Kuwait in 2026, what the process looks like on the new Sahel app, what it actually costs from start to finish, and what both sponsors and workers are legally entitled to under Kuwaiti law.
Who Can Sponsor a Domestic Worker in Kuwait?
Eligibility rules changed with the Ministry of Interior’s Sahel app rollout in mid-2026, and sponsorship caps now depend on your marital and family status:
| Sponsor Category | Domestic Workers Allowed | Driver Allowed |
| Single women | 1 | 1 |
| Married / divorced / widowed women with children | 1 | 1 |
| Married / divorced / widowed men | Up to 3 | 1 |
| Single men | 0 (not eligible) | 1 only |
| Expatriate residents (Article 18 visa holders) | 1 | — |
These caps on how many domestic workers and drivers a single household can sponsor were introduced by the Ministry of Interior alongside the Sahel app launch in June 2026.
If you’re an expat (non-Kuwaiti) wanting to sponsor a maid, you generally need to meet the following conditions:
- Hold a valid Article 18 residence permit
- Earn a minimum monthly salary of KD 500, as recorded in the PACI system
- Have at least 6 months remaining on your own residency (iqama)
- Hold a valid tenancy contract
- Have no outstanding Ministry of Interior violations
Expatriate residents are generally permitted to sponsor one domestic worker, while Kuwaiti nationals may sponsor more depending on family size.
How to Apply: The Sahel App Process (2026)
Since June 2026, the domestic worker sponsorship process has moved to the unified government Sahel app, and most transactions no longer require a visit to a service centre. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Open the Sahel app and log in using your Civil ID.
- Go to the domestic workers section and select the domestic workers and drivers service.
- Choose your service type — new application, renewal, transfer, or cancellation.
- Upload the required documents: passport copies, medical certificate, employment contract, and insurance.
- Pay the applicable fees digitally within the app.
Recruitment Must Go Through a Licensed Agency
All domestic worker recruitment in Kuwait is supervised by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), and only agencies registered and linked to PAM’s system are legally permitted to recruit domestic workers. Using unlicensed agencies or informal recruitment channels is illegal and puts both the employer and the worker at risk.
Once you’ve selected a worker through a licensed agency, Kuwaiti law requires the employment contract to be notarized through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a requirement specific to Kuwait that isn’t found in other GCC countries. The full process, from signing the contract to the worker’s arrival in Kuwait, typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Full Cost Breakdown: What Does It Cost to Sponsor a Domestic Worker?
| Item | Cost (KD) | Frequency |
| Article 20 residency fee | 200 | One-time |
| MOH health insurance | 100 | Annual |
| Iqama (residency) renewal | 20 | Annual |
| Medical fitness test | 10–20 | Per test |
| Civil ID | 3 | One-time/renewal |
| Total first-year government fees | ~333–343 | — |
| PRO / typing center service fee (optional) | 20–50 | One-time |
| From Year 2 onward (insurance + renewal + Civil ID) | ~123/year | Annual |
These figures reflect the government fees for sponsoring a domestic worker in 2026: a one-time KD 200 Article 20 residency fee, KD 100 annual MOH health insurance, KD 20 annual iqama renewal, a KD 10–20 medical fitness test, and KD 3 for the Civil ID, bringing total first-year government fees to approximately KD 333–343, with optional PRO or typing-center fees adding another KD 20–50. From the second year onward, the annual cost drops to roughly KD 123.
Note: These are government fees only and don’t include the agency’s recruitment/placement fee, which is separate and varies significantly by nationality, agency, and whether you’re hiring internationally or transferring a worker already in Kuwait.
International Recruitment vs. Local Transfer
If you’re hiring a domestic worker who is already in Kuwait and working for another sponsor (a “local transfer”), it’s typically faster and considerably cheaper than recruiting from abroad:
- Local transfer fee: KWD 150 and above
- International recruitment cost: KWD 628–1,203, depending on nationality and agency
Following Administrative Decision No. 375 of 2021, domestic workers can now transfer sponsorship after completing just one year of service with their current employer — down from the previous three-year requirement — provided the current employer’s approval is obtained.
Minimum Salary Requirements
Salary figures vary by source and role, so always confirm the current rate with your agency or PAM directly:
- Kuwait sets a minimum wage of KWD 60 per month for domestic workers, though some embassies require a higher figure for their own nationals under bilateral labor agreements with Kuwait.
- PAM’s minimum salary requirement is generally cited as KD 120–150 per month, depending on the worker’s role and nationality — paying below this threshold is treated as a labor violation.
Indian domestic workers are typically covered under a bilateral labor agreement between India and Kuwait, so it’s worth confirming the applicable minimum with the Indian Embassy in Kuwait or your recruitment agency before finalizing a contract.
Sponsor Obligations Under Kuwait’s Domestic Workers Law (No. 68/2015)
Kuwait’s Domestic Workers Law is the primary legal framework protecting household staff, and sponsors are legally required to:
- Provide adequate accommodation, food, and medical care
- Pay the agreed monthly salary on time
- Grant the worker a weekly rest day, plus 30 days of annual leave after one year of service
- Never confiscate the worker’s passport — this is illegal in Kuwait
- Facilitate repatriation at the end of the contract
- Maintain a safe working environment
In turn, domestic workers are entitled to a written contract, timely wages, daily rest, weekly rest, suitable accommodation, food, medical care, and respectful treatment. A worker’s passport legally remains their own property at all times.
A note on Ramadan hours: working hours during Ramadan must not exceed 36 hours per week for all private sector workers, including domestic staff.
What Happens If a Sponsor Violates These Rules?
Sponsors who violate Kuwait’s domestic labour regulations face graduated enforcement depending on the severity and frequency of the violation, including administrative fines for wage violations or contract breaches, temporary or permanent suspension of recruitment privileges, blocking of new household visas or sponsor-transfer privileges, and — in cases involving abuse, forced labour, or confinement — criminal investigation and prosecution. Serious or repeated violations can also result in the worker being forcibly transferred to a new sponsor along with compensation orders against the original employer.
Violations can be reported to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MSAL) or the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).
Trial Period and Replacement Guarantee
Most Kuwait recruitment agencies offer a three-month trial period, during which employers can request a worker replacement through the agency if things aren’t working out. Always get the exact replacement terms and guarantee conditions in writing before signing your agency agreement — don’t rely on a verbal promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can an expatriate in Kuwait sponsor a maid?
Yes. Expatriate residents holding a valid Article 18 iqama can sponsor a domestic worker under Article 20, provided they earn a minimum of KD 500 per month (as recorded in PACI), have at least six months remaining on their own residency, hold a valid tenancy contract, and have no outstanding MOI violations. Expats are generally limited to sponsoring one domestic worker.
- How much does it cost to sponsor a maid in Kuwait in total?
Expect approximately KD 333–343 in government fees during the first year, on top of the agency’s separate recruitment fee — which ranges from roughly KD 150 for a local transfer up to KD 628–1,203 for international recruitment.
- Can I hire a maid who is already working for someone else in Kuwait?
Yes — this is called a local transfer. As of the 2021 reforms, a domestic worker can transfer sponsorship after just one year of service with their current employer, provided that employer approves the transfer. This route is significantly cheaper and faster than recruiting from abroad.
- Is it legal to keep my domestic worker’s passport?
No. Passports remain the legal property of the worker at all times, and confiscating a domestic worker’s passport is illegal in Kuwait, regardless of any informal agreement.
- What is the minimum salary for a domestic worker in Kuwait?
The government-set minimum is KWD 60 per month, though PAM’s cited minimum for most roles is KD 120–150 per month depending on the worker’s nationality and duties, and some embassies require higher minimums for their own citizens under bilateral agreements. Always confirm the current applicable rate before signing a contract.
- Do I need to visit a government office to apply, or can I do it online?
As of June 2026, most of the process can be completed through the Sahel app — including new applications, renewals, transfers, and cancellations — without visiting a service centre. However, the recruitment itself should still go through a licensed agency so your contract, fees, and worker rights are properly documented.
- How long does the full process take, from signing the contract to the worker’s arrival?
Typically 2–4 weeks for international recruitment, once the contract is signed and notarized.
- What rest days and leave is a domestic worker entitled to?
A weekly rest day, plus 30 days of paid annual leave after completing one year of service, under Domestic Workers Law No. 68/2015.
- Where can I report a sponsor or agency for violating the rules?
Violations of contract terms, wages, or worker welfare can be reported to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MSAL) or the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).
Useful Official Links
- Ministry of Interior – Sahel App
- Public Authority for Manpower (PAM)
- PAM-Verified Domestic Worker Agencies
- MOI e-Residency Portal
For more Kuwait labor law explainers and job listings for Indians in Kuwait, browse Kuwait Labor Law Updates and House Maid & Domestic Job Listings on iiQ8.