Complete guide to Kuwait's Article 20 (Visa 20) domestic worker visa — who can sponsor, approved countries, documents, step-by-step Sahel process, fees, renewal and transfer. Updated following the June 2026 digital rollout.
Article 20 — commonly called Visa 20 — is Kuwait's domestic worker residency category under the Foreigners' Residence Law. It is governed by Law No. 68 of 2015 concerning Domestic Workers and the Executive Regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law.
Visa 20 covers household staff employed directly by a Kuwaiti citizen or resident under a kafala (sponsorship) arrangement. The worker's legal status and right to remain in Kuwait is tied directly to the sponsor.
The Ministry of Interior introduced new family-status-based sponsorship caps alongside the Sahel digital rollout in June 2026. Your eligibility and maximum quota now depends on your marital and family situation.
On June 8, 2026, the Ministry of Interior issued a new circular restricting domestic worker recruitment to 10 approved countries and banning recruitment from 27 others. The directive was based on recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Manpower, and is already in effect at all residency departments and service centres.
Prepare all documents before starting the Sahel application. Incomplete submissions are the most common reason for delays and rejections.
Since June 2026, the complete application is done inside the Sahel app. You must be logged into Sahel with your Civil ID before starting. See our Sahel English setup guide if you need help logging in.
Tap the globe icon on the home screen and select English before logging in. Enter your Civil ID, then approve the authentication in Kuwait Mobile ID.
Tap the Services tab at the bottom of the app. Scroll and select Ministry of Interior from the list of government agencies.
Look for "Domestic Labour" or "Domestic Workers and Drivers" under MOI services. This section was added in June 2026 — update your Sahel app to the latest version if you do not see it.
Select the type of service: new visa issuance, renewal, transfer or cancellation. For a first-time application, choose Domestic Work Visa Issuance.
Use the Visa Inquiry option to verify the worker does not already hold an active Visa 20. This prevents duplicate applications and rejections. Enter the worker's passport details to check.
Fill in the worker's full name, nationality, passport number and expiry. Upload clear scans of: passport copy, medical certificate, health insurance certificate, and employment contract.
Upload sponsor's Civil ID copy, salary certificate and tenancy/housing document where prompted. All uploads must be clear and readable — blurry uploads cause rejections.
Review all details carefully before submitting. Pay the Article 20 residency fee (KD 10/year) plus any additional charges via KNET, Visa or Mastercard inside the app. Save the payment receipt.
After submission, track your application status inside Sahel under your active requests. You will receive an SMS when the visa is approved or if further documents are required.
Once visa is approved, the worker travels to Kuwait. They must complete biometric registration (fingerprints and photo) at a Meta or MOI centre — book via Sahel under Appointments.
| Fee Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Article 20 Annual Residency | KD 10 / year | Paid at time of application or renewal |
| Temporary Domestic Residency | KD 5 / month | For short-term domestic worker arrangements |
| Medical Fitness Test | Varies by centre | Mandatory before residency issuance |
| Health Insurance | Varies by provider | Mandatory — covers full residency period |
| Biometric Appointment | No charge | Book via Sahel → Appointments |
| Recruitment Agency Fee | Varies | Use licensed agencies only |
| Worker Minimum Salary | KD 60 / month | Government minimum; Philippines/India embassies may require more |
| Transfer to Private Sector (Art. 18) | KD 50 | With employer approval + 1 year residency |
Domestic worker residency (iqama) is typically issued for up to 2 years but never longer than the validity of the worker's health insurance. Begin the renewal process at least 1–2 months before expiry to avoid overstay fines.
Check the worker's file in Sahel → MOI Services → Traffic / Residency Violations. Pay all outstanding fines — renewal is blocked if any are unpaid.
Residency renewal cannot extend beyond the insurance period. Renew the worker's health insurance policy first, then proceed with the residency renewal on Sahel.
Navigate to Services → Ministry of Interior → Domestic Workers and Drivers → select Renewal. The worker's file will appear automatically linked to your Civil ID.
The worker's passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of renewal. If it has expired, the worker must obtain a new passport from their embassy before proceeding.
Upload the renewed health insurance certificate and any updated documents. Pay the KD 10/year residency fee via KNET or card. Download and save the receipt.
If it has been more than 5 years since the worker's last biometric registration, a new appointment is mandatory. Book via Sahel → Appointments.
A domestic worker's sponsorship can be transferred to a new sponsor under specific conditions. This is now handled via the Sahel app or PAM.
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Current Employer Approval | Current sponsor must consent to the transfer |
| Minimum Residency Period | Worker must have completed 1 year with current sponsor |
| Transfer Fee | KD 50 |
| New Sponsor Eligibility | New sponsor must meet family-status quota rules |
Since July 2024, domestic workers on Visa 20 can transfer to private sector employment under Article 18, subject to the same conditions above. This was previously not permitted. The transfer fee remains KD 50 with employer approval and 1 year of residency with the current sponsor.
When a domestic worker's employment ends — whether by resignation, dismissal, or contract completion — the sponsor must cancel the worker's residency through Sahel or MOI eServices.
Select the worker's file and choose the cancellation service.
Ensure all wages, entitlements and return travel costs (where applicable under the contract) are paid to the worker before cancellation.
The worker must exit Kuwait before or immediately after the cancellation. Book an exit ticket and ensure the exit permit is in order via Sahel.
This section was added in June 2026. If you cannot see it, update your Sahel app to the latest version from the Play Store or App Store. The section appears under Services → Ministry of Interior → Domestic Workers and Drivers. If it still doesn't appear after updating, call Wasil on 101.
The most common rejection reasons are: passport validity under 6 months, expired health insurance, unpaid fines, or recruiting from a banned country. Check the rejection reason shown in your Sahel application status, fix the specific issue, and resubmit. If the reason is unclear, visit your nearest MOI residency affairs centre with all documents.
Yes, if the worker already has a valid Visa 20 and you are renewing or transferring sponsorship, this is handled online via Sahel. For a worker already in Kuwait on a different visa category seeking to switch to Article 20, consult PAM directly as this involves a visa change process.
Under the June 2026 rules, single men are not eligible to sponsor domestic workers. Single men may only sponsor one private driver. This restriction is enforced in the Sahel system at the time of application.
The worker must renew their passport at their home country's embassy in Kuwait before you can renew the residency. Most embassies accept appointments for passport renewal. Once the new passport is issued, proceed with the Sahel renewal — upload the new passport details.
No. Article 20 (Visa 20) does not allow domestic workers to sponsor dependents or bring family members to Kuwait. It is a single-person domestic employment residency only.
No. Visa 20 is renewed periodically (typically every 1–2 years) and does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship in Kuwait regardless of how many years the worker has been employed.
Still stuck? Call the Wasil Government Help Center: 101 (within Kuwait). Available Sunday–Thursday, 7am–3pm.
Yes. Since June 2026, the Ministry of Interior added domestic worker visa services to the Sahel app. You can apply for a new visa, renew, transfer or cancel entirely online without visiting a service centre for most transactions.
It depends on your family status under the June 2026 rules: Married/divorced/widowed men may sponsor up to 3 domestic workers and 1 driver. Single women may sponsor 1 domestic worker and 1 driver. Married/divorced/widowed women with children may sponsor 1 domestic worker and 1 driver. Single men may sponsor 1 driver only — no domestic workers.
As of June 8, 2026, recruitment is permitted from 10 countries only: South Africa, Benin, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Nepal, and Senegal (males only). Recruitment from 27 other countries — including Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and 24 others — is banned under the MOI circular issued June 8, 2026.
They refer to the same thing. Article 20 is the legal category under Kuwait's Foreigners' Residence Law. Visa 20 is the common name used colloquially. Both refer to the domestic worker residency permit issued by the Ministry of Interior.
The Kuwait government sets a minimum wage of KD 60 per month for domestic workers. However, the Philippines and India embassies have bilateral agreements that require a higher minimum — often KD 100–120/month depending on the nationality. Always confirm the required minimum with the relevant embassy before signing a contract.
Domestic worker residency (iqama) is typically issued for 1 to 2 years but never longer than the validity of the worker's health insurance. It must be renewed before expiry. The sponsor is responsible for timely renewal.
The Article 20 annual residency fee is KD 10 per year. Temporary domestic worker residency carries a fee of KD 5 per month. Additional costs include medical examination fees, health insurance (mandatory), and recruitment agency fees if applicable.
Yes, since July 2024, domestic workers can transfer from Visa 20 (Article 20) to private sector employment (Article 18) with the current sponsor's approval, after completing 1 year with the current employer, and by paying a transfer fee of KD 50. This transfer is processed via PAM.
An expired domestic worker residency accumulates overstay fines on the sponsor's file and can result in the worker being barred from re-entering Kuwait. The sponsor is legally responsible for ensuring the worker's residency is always valid. All fines must be paid before renewal is possible.