How hiring in Kuwait works
From first brief to a fully payrolled employee, the process runs on our Kuwaiti licence and labour file. Here is exactly what happens and who does what.
Feasibility check
Before anything else we confirm the hire can actually be made. We look at the sector, the role and job title, the candidate's nationality, and whether they are already in Kuwait on transferable residency or need to be brought in from abroad. We check that against our labour file position and the current nationalisation requirements, then give you a straight answer on whether it is achievable and how long it will take.
Offer and contract
We issue a compliant offer and an Arabic or bilingual employment contract drafted to Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, covering role, wage, allowances, probation, notice, leave and the end-of-service indemnity base. Your candidate signs and the contract is filed with the authorities.
Permit and residency
We file the Article 18 work permit through the Ashal portal against our labour file. For a candidate abroad this is followed by the entry and work visa, then on arrival the medical examination, fingerprinting, residency stamping and Civil ID, along with mandatory health insurance. For a transfer inside Kuwait most of this is compressed into a sponsorship change.
Payroll and ongoing management
Salary runs monthly in Kuwaiti dinars through a local bank under the Wage Protection System, with itemised payslips. We accrue the indemnity, track leave, manage residency and permit renewals, handle exit permits where required, and process changes. When someone leaves, we settle the final entitlement and cancel the sponsorship cleanly.
Who does what
You
- Choose who to hire and set the salary
- Direct day-to-day work and priorities
- Approve leave and expenses
- Decide when to grow or reduce the team
Employer of Record Kuwait
- Act as the legal employer and sponsor
- Hold the labour file and Article 18 permits
- Issue compliant contracts and run WPS payroll
- Carry indemnity, residency and compliance responsibility
How fast can someone start?
| Candidate | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| In Kuwait, residency transferable with consent | 1–3 weeks |
| In Kuwait, dependant residency converting to work permit | 1–2 weeks |
| Expatriate recruited from abroad | 4–8 weeks |
| Where degree attestation is required | Add several weeks |
Timelines assume quota is available and documents are in order. Processing times in Kuwait move with policy, so we confirm the current position at feasibility stage rather than quoting a fixed promise.
Start your first Kuwait hire
Send us the role and the candidate's status and we will map the process end to end.