Kuwait Exit Permit for Expats: Apply in Sahel or Ashal (2026)
Kuwait Exit Permit Checker
Check whether you need a PAM exit permit, when to apply and the steps for your trip.
Nothing you enter leaves this page. This is a guide only; PAM and your employer decide on each exit permit.
Since 1 July 2025, expats who work in Kuwait’s private sector on Article 18 residency cannot simply book a ticket and fly. They first need an exit permit approved by their employer through the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) system. The request takes a few minutes in the Sahel app, but a missing approval, a wrong date or a data mismatch can stop you at the airport.
I compared PAM announcements, news reports from Kuwait Times and Gulf News, and the main guides that expats and HR teams use, then put the full process in one place. If you also want to know whether your card itself is ready, use our Civil ID status checker. This guide covers who needs the permit, who is exempt, the Sahel and Ashal steps, employer approval, single-trip and multiple-trip permits, validity, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Table of Contents
Popular Civil ID guides
Quick answers to the most common Kuwait Civil ID and PACI questions.
What Is the Kuwait Exit Permit?
The exit permit is an electronic approval that lets a private-sector expat worker leave Kuwait. The worker requests it, the employer approves it, and PAM issues it digitally. The permit is linked to the Ministry of Interior and to airport immigration, so there is no paper to carry.
PAM Director General Marzouq Al-Otaibi described the permit as “not restrictive”. It records your departure date only and does not commit you to a fixed return date. It applies to every way out of the country: by air, by land border or by sea.
The 2025 PAM Rule: What Changed
On 11 June 2025, PAM announced that private-sector expats would need employer approval before leaving Kuwait. The rule came from a decision by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, reported as Ministerial Circular No. 2 of 2025, and it took effect on 1 July 2025.
Before this, private-sector workers could leave without a permit, while Article 17 government employees already needed ministry approval. PAM said the aim is to organise departures, protect both employers and workers, and reduce violations linked to leaving without notice.
Take-up was fast. Kuwait Times reported about 22000 permits by the day the rule started, and PAM confirmed more than 35000 in the first days. PAM also said there is no annual cap on the number of permits, as long as the employer approves.
In January 2026, PAM added a multiple-trip exit permit, so one approval can now cover several trips within a set period.
Who Needs an Exit Permit and Who Is Exempt
The rule is tied to your residency type, not your nationality or job title. Check the article number on your residency in Sahel or on your Civil ID details.
| Residency type | Exit permit from PAM? |
|---|---|
| Article 18 (private-sector worker) | Yes, every trip or a multiple-trip permit |
| Article 17 (government sector) | No PAM permit; your ministry has its own approval |
| Article 19 | No, PAM said these residents are not required |
| Article 20 (domestic worker) | No, PAM called reports otherwise “entirely false” |
| Article 22 (family or dependent) | No separate permit for dependents |
| Kuwaiti citizens and visitors | No |
If your family is on Article 22 under you, only you apply.
What You Need Before You Apply
Have these ready so the request goes through the first time:
- Your Civil ID number (12 digits) and a valid residency.
- A Sahel account you can log in to through Kuwait Mobile ID.
- Your travel dates: departure date and expected return date, or a start and end date for a multiple-trip permit.
- Your employer’s details as registered with PAM.
- Data that matches your Civil ID, because PAM refers mismatched requests to a specialised department, which causes delays.
Also make sure your residency is valid and you have no unpaid fines before you book.
How to Apply for an Exit Permit in Sahel (Step by Step)
Most workers apply in the Sahel app, which has had an English version of the service since late June 2025. Our Sahel app guide covers login and the app in general; here is the exit permit request in full:
Prefer to watch? This short video shows the exit permit steps in Sahel:
- Step 1 Open the Sahel app, choose English, and log in with your civil number. Approve the login in Kuwait Mobile ID.
- Step 2 Tap Services and choose the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM).
- Step 3 Open Expatriate Workers Services (some guides call it Expatriate Labour Service).
- Step 4 Choose the Exit Permit service. Arabic and older guides call it Issuing Exit Permit or Requesting an Exit Permit for Workers under Article 18 Visa.
- Step 5 Choose a single-trip or multiple-trip permit, then enter your departure date and expected return date (or the start and end dates).
- Step 6 Check that your name, civil ID and employer details are correct, then submit. Sahel shows a transaction number and status straight away.
- Step 7 Wait for your employer to approve. Track the status in Sahel notifications.
- Step 8 Once approved, the permit is issued digitally. You can view or print it at any time.
How to Apply Through the Ashal Portal
Ashal is PAM’s online portal for companies and manpower services. Workers can also submit the request there. The steps are similar: log in, open the exit permit service, choose single-trip or multiple-trip, enter the dates and submit.
On the company side, Ashal is where HR and authorised signatories see pending requests, approve or reject them, and print approved permits.
How Employer Approval Works
Your request goes automatically to the employer registered on your work permit. The system checks that the employer and worker match before the permit can be issued.
- Where employers approve: in the Sahel Business app (the option is called Approving the Request) or in the Ashal company portal.
- Who approves: the company’s authorised signatory or authorised person.
- Automatic approval: authorised signatories can set advance, automatic approval, so each request does not need a manual review.
- Timing: PAM said the systems work 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays.
If you have moved jobs, your request goes to the employer currently on file. If a work permit transfer is still pending, finish it before you plan travel so the request reaches the right company.
Single-Trip vs Multiple-Trip Exit Permits
Until January 2026, every trip needed a new exit permit. PAM then introduced the multiple-trip permit to cut repeat requests.
| Feature | Single-trip permit | Multiple-trip permit |
|---|---|---|
| Trips covered | One departure | Several exits and re-entries |
| Dates entered | Departure and expected return | Start date and end date |
| Best for | Annual leave, one-off travel | Frequent business travel, GCC trips |
| Approval | Employer approves each request | Employer approves once for the period |
| Printing | Any time after approval | Any time after approval |
PAM has not published a fixed maximum length for the multiple-trip period. The employer approves the timeframe you request.
When to Apply and How Long the Permit Is Valid
Sources differ slightly on timing, so plan around both:
- Gulf News (June 2025) reported that requests must be sent no earlier than 7 days and no later than 24 hours before departure.
- Deloitte (July 2025) said the permit is valid for 7 days after the application.
In practice, apply within the week before your flight and at least one day ahead. If your flight moves, apply again. Immigration will not let you leave before the approved departure date, so do not book an earlier flight than the date on your permit.
A multiple-trip permit stays valid for every trip inside the approved start and end dates.
Is There a Fee for the Exit Permit?
No fee has been announced. PAM, news reports and employer guides all describe the request and approval as free online services in Sahel and Ashal.
Residency fines or unpaid court fines can still block your trip.
At the Airport: How the Permit Is Checked
The approved permit is electronic. It is linked to Ministry of Interior systems and the airport immigration system, so officers see it when they scan your passport and Civil ID.
- No hard copy is required, but a screenshot or printout can help if there is a question.
- Immigration will not allow departure without a valid exit permit.
- You cannot leave before the approved departure date.
- The rule also covers land border and sea exits.
So do not head to the airport hoping to sort out a missing permit there; get the approval in Sahel first.
Exit Permit vs Travel Ban vs Time Abroad Limit
These three rules are often confused, but they are separate:
| Rule | Who sets it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Exit permit | PAM, with your employer | Article 18 workers need employer approval to leave |
| Travel ban | Courts and the MOI | A legal hold for debts, cases or unpaid fines |
| Time abroad limit | Ministry of Interior | Expats may not stay outside Kuwait more than six months |
An approved exit permit does not lift a travel ban. Check for one separately with our Kuwait travel ban check guide. The six-month limit comes from Ministerial Decision No. 2249 of 2025; domestic workers have a four-month limit.
Leaving Kuwait for Good (Final Exit)
The permit is needed whether you leave temporarily or permanently. Enter your final departure date in the request. Before a final exit:
- Get your end-of-service indemnity and final salary paid before you fly, because claims are hard to follow up from abroad.
- Pay all fines, bills and debts, which could otherwise create a travel ban.
- Agree with your employer how and when your residency will be cancelled.
- Request the exit permit with your final departure date.
What to Do if Your Employer Refuses or Delays
Some workers, such as expat teachers in summer 2025, reported delays. If your employer rejects the request or does not respond without a good reason:
- Step 1 Contact your HR team or the authorised signatory and ask them to check Sahel Business or Ashal.
- Step 2 Check that your request data matches your Civil ID and that you applied in the right window.
- Step 3 If the refusal has no valid reason, file a complaint with PAM’s Labour Relations department, linked to your company file.
- Step 4 If the system shows an error or a mismatch, visit a PAM office in person.
Do not try to travel without the permit.
Common Exit Permit Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Exit Permit option not visible in Sahel | Update the app and check that your residency is Article 18 |
| Request sent to the wrong employer | Finish any work permit transfer, then apply again |
| Employer has not approved | Ask HR to open Sahel Business or Ashal and approve |
| Request rejected | Ask the employer why; complain to PAM if no valid reason |
| Data mismatch message | Fix passport or name data with PACI, or visit a PAM office |
| Flight date changed | Submit a new request with the new date |
| Permit expired before travel | Apply again within the week before departure |
| Stopped at the airport | Check the permit status and dates in Sahel; also check for a travel ban |
| Cannot log in to Sahel | Register Kuwait Mobile ID by NFC and approve the login |
Tips Before You Travel
- Apply within 7 days of your flight, and at least 24 hours before.
- Ask HR whether your company uses automatic approval.
- Request a multiple-trip permit if you travel often.
- Make sure your Civil ID, passport and residency data match.
- Check for travel bans and unpaid fines before you book.
- Keep a screenshot of the approved permit.
- Remember the six-month limit on time outside Kuwait.
Sponsors of household staff should read about Civil ID for domestic workers. You can also run a visa status check before travel.
More Civil ID and PACI guides
Every guide on the site, in one place.
FAQs About the Kuwait Exit Permit
Do expats need an exit permit to leave Kuwait?
Only private-sector workers on Article 18 residency need a PAM exit permit. Dependents, domestic workers and most other residency types do not.
How do I apply for an exit permit in Sahel?
Open Sahel, go to Services, then Public Authority of Manpower, then Expatriate Workers Services, then Exit Permit, and enter your travel dates.
How long is the Kuwait exit permit valid?
Sources describe a window of about 7 days, so apply within the week before departure. A multiple-trip permit is valid for the dates your employer approves.
Is there a fee for the exit permit?
No fee has been announced. The request and approval are free online services.
Do my wife and children need an exit permit?
No. Dependents on family residency do not need a separate permit; only the Article 18 worker applies.
Do domestic workers need an exit permit?
No. PAM confirmed that domestic workers on Article 20 are not subject to the exit permit rule.
What is a multiple-trip exit permit?
It is one permit, introduced in January 2026, that covers several exits and re-entries within an approved start and end date.
What if my employer refuses my exit permit?
Ask HR for the reason first. If there is no valid reason, file a complaint with PAM’s Labour Relations department.
Does an exit permit cancel a travel ban?
No. A travel ban is a separate legal hold, and you must clear it with the court or the authority that placed it.
Do I need an exit permit when leaving Kuwait for good?
Yes. The rule applies to both temporary and permanent departures.
Conclusion
The Kuwait exit permit is a quick online step, but Article 18 workers cannot skip it. Here is the short version:
| If you want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| Travel once | Request a single-trip permit in Sahel |
| Travel often | Ask for a multiple-trip permit |
| Fix a refusal | Talk to HR, then complain to PAM |
| Avoid airport trouble | Check approval, dates and travel bans |
- Apply in the right window, within 7 days of your flight and at least 24 hours before.
- Check your residency type, because only Article 18 workers need the permit.
- Keep your data matching your Civil ID and passport.
PAM may change the service as it adds features, so confirm the latest steps in Sahel and with your HR team. I based this guide on PAM announcements and news references, last checked in October 2026.
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