Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has launched a new multiple-trip exit permit for expatriate workers. Why? To make travel procedures easier, reduce paperwork, and save time for both employers and employees.
Workers can apply for the permit online through the Ashal portal (for companies) or the Sahel app (for businesses and individuals). Users can choose either a single-trip or multiple-trip permit, enter the start and end dates, and submit their request. Once submitted, the system immediately shows the transaction number and application status. For the first time, workers can now get a permit that allows them to leave and re-enter the country several times within a set period, instead of applying for a single-use permit every time.
This is part of Kuwait’s wider plan to digitise public services and modernise labour processes. Officials say this will help frequent travellers avoid repeated applications.
As per Gulf News, the system is linked directly with the Ministry of Interior, so approved permits are automatically shared. Employers and workers can also print the permit whenever needed.
The system will reportedly also allow authorised signatories to give advance, automatic approval for exit permits. In other words, requests will not need to be reviewed one by one, easing the workload for employers and speeding up the process for workers.
In June last year, Kuwait had come up with a rule making exit permits mandatory for expats in the private sector. Starting 1 July, 2026, workers must get their employer’s permission before leaving the country. The move is expected to improve monitoring of worker movement even while protecting the rights of both employees and employers.