What Ukrainians need to do for a work visa in Kuwait?

Once the work permit is in hand, Ukrainian citizens need to apply for a work visa (residence visa) to start working legally in Kuwait.

How can Ukrainian citizens apply for a work visa to Kuwait?

To obtain a work visa, Ukrainian citizens must submit an application to the Kuwaiti embassy or consulate in their country of residence. For those living in countries without a Kuwaiti diplomatic mission, the work visa can typically be processed through the migration service of the emirate upon the employer's request.

What documents do Ukrainian citizens need for a Kuwait work visa?

To apply for a work visa to Kuwait, Ukrainians need:

• A valid foreign passport (at least six months before expiration)
  
• Completed visa application form from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait
  
• Passport-sized photo
  
• A copy of the work permit
  
• HIV/AIDS test results
  
• A health certificate from a local doctor
• Health insurance
• A certificate of no criminal record
  
  

For those working in the public sector, additional documents include:

• The visa application form
  
• A copy of the work permit
  
• The criminal record certificate
  
• Medical certificates proving good health and absence of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases
  
  

For private sector jobs, Ukrainian citizens must also submit:

• A No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait
  
• A copy of the Kuwaiti employer company registration certificate
  
  

What’s the validity period of a Kuwait work visa for Ukrainians?

The duration of the work visa is tied to the applicant’s employment contract with their sponsoring company, though the authorities have the final say. The visa is usually valid for three years initially, with the possibility of extension. Keep in mind, the work visa does not allow permanent residence.

How long does it take to apply for a work visa from Ukraine?

It usually takes about 1-2 weeks to process your work visa application.

What should Ukrainians citizens do upon arriving in Kuwait?

Upon arrival in Kuwait, Ukrainians must immediately sign an employment contract in triplicate — typically in Arabic and English. One copy stays with the employee, another with the employer, and the third is submitted to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (the "labor office" or "shuun"). If needed, the contract should be translated into a language the employee understands before signing.

The contract must outline the nature of the job, salary, payment terms, working days per week, and the contract duration.

After signing, the employer is responsible for providing the employee with health insurance, a residence permit (iqama), and a local identity card (civil ID). The employer covers the costs of health insurance and the government fees for issuing or renewing the residence permit.

Documents needed by Ukrainian citizens for a Kuwait residence permit

For a residence permit application in Kuwait, Ukrainians must provide the following documents to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of the Interior or its regional offices, usually through the employer or their representative (the "mandub"):

• Completed application form (signed by both the employee and employer, with the employer’s seal)
  
• Passport
  
• 2 passport-sized photos (3.5x4.5 cm, blue background)
  
• Employment permit
  
• Ministry of Interior’s permission
  
• Medical certificate from a registered institution (must be legalized and translated into Arabic)
  
• Certificate of no criminal record (legalized and translated into Arabic)

One of the characteristic features of labor legislation in Kuwait is the so-called the "sponsorship system" (or "kafala"), which imposes certain restrictions on migrant workers' right to change the Kuwaiti employer ("sponsor") who invited them to Kuwait and issued them a work and residence permit.

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So, foreigners who have worked for at least one year at their previous employer are entitled to change their place of work without obtaining a new work visa. At the same time, a necessary condition for a change of employer is that the foreign employee receives the appropriate consent of the current "sponsor".

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If the employer refuses to grant the specified permission, the employee can apply to the territorial body of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs ("labor office" or "shuun"). If the specified body establishes that the employer has violated the terms of the employment contract or the provisions of the labor law, it can authorize the transfer of the employee to a new employer regardless of the wishes of his previous "sponsor".

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At the same time, foreigners employed in the public sector and domestic workers are allowed to transfer to a new employer only with the consent of the current "sponsor", without the possibility of appealing to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

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It should be noted that the above mechanism of changing the place of work is allowed only within the same specialty. In the event of a change of occupation, or failure to obtain permission to change employers, the employee must cancel his previous work visa, leave Kuwait and enter with a new work visa obtained on the basis of a new employment permit. At the same time, such persons do not necessarily have to return to their country of citizenship or permanent residence. They can go to any third country, even neighboring Kuwait, and return to the emirate after 48 hours, provided they have all the necessary documents for employment at the new place of work (in particular, a medical certificate and a certificate of non-criminal liability).

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On the other hand, Kuwaiti employer companies are fully responsible for the stay of foreign workers in Kuwait (in terms of providing housing, proper working conditions, health insurance policies, timely issuance of relevant residence permits, etc.).

A domestic servant visa is a type of residence visa that can be granted to a permanent foreign resident who has been hired from a country outside of Kuwait.

The visa is granted because expatriates are usually allowed to bring a full-time domestic helper to Kuwait.

Basic requirements:

• The age of the domestic worker is 20-50 years;
• A male sponsor must have a wife to hire a domestic helper;
• There are no minimum wage requirements if the sponsor's husband and wife work and if the sponsor's family has children;

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Upon arrival in Kuwait, passport photos and documents will be required to obtain a domestic worker visa.

The assistant must pay a living fee of 200,00 KD for the first year and 10,00 KD for subsequent years.

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How to get a visa?

1. To obtain such a visa, you need to contact the Kuwaiti Embassy/Consulate.
2. The application form will then need to be filled out in Arabic.
3. A domestic worker for whom a visa is issued must visit the Kuwaiti embassy in his country.

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To obtain a visa for a domestic worker, the following documents are required:

1. Salary certificates of both the sponsor and the spouse;
2. Photocopy of the house lease agreement;
3. A photocopy of the passport of both sponsors and their spouse;
4. Certificate of age of children (photocopy of local birth certificate or passport);
5. A photocopy of the identity card of both sponsors and their spouse;
6. A photocopy of the domestic worker's passport together with 8 passport-size photos;
7. Photocopy of the domestic worker's employment contract.

A business visa to Kuwait is granted to foreigners who wish to visit the country to participate in business meetings or to invest in a business. To obtain a Kuwait business visa, the applicant must have a sponsor. In such cases, the hotel where travelers plan to stay may sponsor their visa.

To obtain a business visa, the applicant must provide:

• A completed Kuwait visa application form and a security form completed by the sponsor;
• A copy of the visitor's passport;
• A copy of the sponsor's signature as registered for commercial purposes;
• Copy of the request letter