In July 2025, Kuwait introduced a new regulation requiring all private-sector expatriate workers to obtain exit permits, that need to be approved by the employer, before traveling abroad. Under this new system, workers are required to submit departure requests via the government’s “Sahel” app or through the “Ashal” portal, and only once their employer has given the consent, the exit permit will then be issued.
This represents a dramatic shift compared to the previous rules. In fact, until now, private-sector expats could leave Kuwait freely, whereas the government permission was required only for people that planned to stay abroad for more than six months. Thus, the 2025 reform transforms exit clearance from an exception into the standard: even a short vacation or urgent trip home now depends on the employer’s approval.
Supporters of the law argue that it improves labour governance by preventing unauthorised departures and ensuring compliance with residency laws. However, critics – such as Human Rights Watch – warn that this move further entrenches the power imbalance inherent in the Kafala system, allowing employers to effectively control workers’ freedom of movement, trap them in abusive conditions or retaliate by denying them exit permit requests.
Notably, by imposing this exit-permit rule, Kuwait aligns itself with several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, where employer or sponsor clearance has long been required for expatriates in order to exit the country. The only Gulf country that, as of today, reportedly does not impose such a permit is the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
For migrant workers in Kuwait, the new exit-permit requirement is more than just an administrative change. This is effectively a regression in rights. By making exit contingent on employer consent, the law institutionalizes control over workers’ basic mobility, deepens their vulnerability to abuse and undermines their freedom to return home. The new 2025 rule thus marks a troubling tightening of the Kafala-based system rather than a reform.