The Kuwait Ministry of Interior announced this week the addition of a sponsorship transfer service for domestic workers and drivers to the Sahel app, allowing the entire process to be completed digitally. According to the ministry, the feature enables current sponsors to initiate transfers that notify and involve new sponsors who meet defined eligibility criteria, building on prior online visa services introduced in May and June 2026.
The ministry’s announcement, as reported by Arab Times, stated that the transaction begins with the current sponsor initiating the request through the Sahel application. A notification is then sent to the new sponsor who completes the procedures. In the initial phase, the service focuses on facilitating the transfer of the domestic worker’s residence. The new sponsor must be of Kuwaiti nationality, married, at least 18 years old and face no obstacles along with the worker.
This new capability was introduced in cooperation between the General Administration of Information Systems and the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector in the Ministry of Interior. The development follows the rollout of online services for issuing entry visas for domestic drivers that started in mid-May 2026 with domestic worker categories added in early June. The Public Authority for Manpower has coordinated with the ministry’s information technology sector on these digital initiatives. The Sahel app now centralizes such procedures to limit the need for in-person attendance at government offices.
The Sahel app serves as the unified platform for a range of government services including permit renewals, civil ID updates and traffic transactions. By incorporating sponsorship transfers the ministry has extended the app’s coverage to changes in domestic labor arrangements. Users must still satisfy all standard verification steps during the digital exchange according to the ministry’s circular. The service maintains existing regulatory requirements while shifting the workflow online.
Related revisions to sponsorship rules set limits on the number of domestic workers and drivers that can be sponsored according to the applicant’s family status and marital situation the Ministry of Interior indicated. These parameters apply to both new arrangements and transfers under the updated framework. The rules seek to align sponsorship levels with household needs. Officials outlined the criteria in announcements tied to the Sahel expansion.
The announcement comes as the ministry continues to migrate residency functions to the Sahel platform following earlier phases of digital reform. Previous updates have shifted substantial transaction volumes away from physical counters according to ministry statements. The sponsorship transfer addition represents a further step in that progression for citizens and expatriate sponsors alike.
