Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower and Ministry of Interior held a high-level coordination meeting on January 12, 2026, to develop work procedures and mechanisms for implementing the new residency law that advances modernization of the labor market. The session chaired by Public Authority for Manpower Director General Eng. Rabab Al-Asimi focused on achieving institutional integration between the two bodies while aligning with the requirements of the next development phase, according to the authority. The talks followed issuance of Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024 on the Law on the Residence of Foreigners along with associated executive regulations.
The Public Authority for Manpower reported that the ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Interior forms part of the political leadership’s vision for building an organized and flexible labor market directly linked to modern residency legislation. Al-Asimi stated that the approach ensures integration between economic, regulatory and security aspects of workforce management. She added that the measures serve the public interest while supporting sustainable development across the country, the authority noted in its announcement.
The new legislation was issued under Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024 on November 28, 2024, and consists of 36 articles across seven chapters, according to the Amiri Diwan. It replaces the 1959 Foreigners’ Residency Law and incorporates updated provisions on birth notifications, passport damage reporting, maximum periods outside Kuwait, extended residency options for certain categories and penalties for visa trading. The decree also addresses residency permits for domestic workers and government or private-sector employees.
According to legal summaries of the decree, domestic workers may receive residency permits for a maximum of five years tied to the length of their employment contracts. Employers must notify the Ministry of Interior within two weeks of a domestic worker’s absence from employment, while permits can be canceled if the worker stays abroad more than four months without prior approval. The law prohibits residency trafficking whereby foreigners are exploited for financial gain and prevents workers from taking employment with anyone other than their registered sponsor.
Public Authority for Civil Information figures place Kuwait’s expatriate population at 3.67 million at the end of 2025, representing 71.5 percent of the total population of 5.237 million. Indians accounted for 1.059 million of that total followed by Egyptians at 667,000, Bangladeshis at 324,000 and Filipinos at 226,000, the PACI data shows. Domestic helpers numbered 856,000 and grew by 4 percent over the previous year.
The decree permits regular residency for employees in government or non-governmental entities upon employer request provided they hold valid passports, summaries of the legislation indicate. Foreign visitors face a maximum stay of three months unless specific extensions apply under the new rules. Children of Kuwaiti women receive exemptions from certain associated fees as part of the reformed framework.
Al-Asimi emphasized that the inter-agency meeting supports the state’s reform-oriented approach to labor market needs through enhanced regulatory stability. The Public Authority for Manpower indicated that further alignment on executive regulations will continue between all concerned institutions. Such steps form part of broader efforts to link residency policy directly with economic and security priorities.
