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Employ Candidates Compliantly in Kuwait

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  1. Overview: Kuwait
  2. Expand without a company set up
  3. Global HR Compliance
  4. Global PEO and payroll
  5. Work permit for hiring expats via PEO
  6. Contractor vs. employee: which is better?
  7. Global Payroll Calculator
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Immigration support for hiring expats in Kuwait via a PEO

If your business objectives are related to hiring expatriate personnel in Kuwait, there are some things you need to consider, from the peculiarities of immigration procedure in Kuwait to documents required to get a work permit, and local payroll for foreign citizens.

If your company is hiring or planning to hire expats in Kuwait, an in-country PEO employment post immigration might be a viable alternative to incorporation. A global PEO company will guide you through every step of immigration procedure in Kuwait and render a ‘no entity hiring’ after visa or permit receipt.

For many years Acumen International has been hiring and payrolling our clients’ expatriates for both short- and long-term projects. If you need to legally hire and pay the expatriates in Kuwait, we can help you. Regardless of your business objectives and timelines, Acumen International can arrange immigration and work permit support for hiring your expats in full legal compliance with local labor legislation after the permit has been issued.

Acumen’s ‘work permit and hiring expats through a Global PEO’ solution is designed for:

  1. employer companies like yourself that want to relocate their selected expats to Kuwait
  2. individuals that have an employer that is ready to finance their immigration and foreign employment in the Kuwait
  3. the service is mainly used by companies hiring highly skilled personnel to fill some top positions in Kuwait

Note: Having a single provider that would sponsor a work permit or visa on your behalf and then employs expats in Kuwait, minimizes risks of visa rejection. In addition, it takes the hassle associated with immigration procedure off your head.

Unlike other global Professional Employer Organizations, Acumen International can provide extra benefits in addition to work permit support in Kuwait. This includes medical insurance, housing, office rent, mobile phone and car provision to meet-and-greet, dependents relocation, etc.

Attention: we are not an immigration service! We do not provide a work permit and immigration support as a standalone solution to individuals willing to find jobs overseas.

Estimated time for work permit issuance

Typically, the procedure of work permit issuance in Kuwait takes from 2 to 9 months until entry to Kuwait, and a further 1 to 2 months before the whole process is completed.


Major steps to get a work permit in Kuwait

  1. No Objection Certificate (NOC) Application
  2. Work Permit Application
  3. Entry Visa Application
  4. Entry to Kuwait
  5. Local Immigration Medical
  6. Residence Permit (Iqama) Application
  7. Civil ID Card Application

Documents for work permit in Kuwait, main applicant

Name Notes Copies
Copy of Passport Information Page One clear copy of the information page(s) of passport. Note that the passport should be valid for a minimum of two years beyond the date of application. One clear copy
Educational Degree A copy of the bachelor degree certificate related to the applicant’s field of expertise, should be legalized for use in Kuwait and translated into Arabic or English (if applicable). One certified and translated copy; one clear and legalized copy
Evidence of legal immigration status Evidence of legal residency in the applicant’s country of residence, where the application is being made (if he/she holds a passport from a different country) One original
1 Passport Photograph 3.5cm x 4.5cm 3.5cm x 4.5cm, in color, resolution minimum 600 dpi. The photograph should be of an appropriate quality for biometric processing. Face forward, mouth closed, eyes open. One original
Passport Valid for 2 Years Original passport valid for over two years and containing at least two blank pages. One original
Entry Visa Application Form Fully completed and signed visa application form – can often be completed online and then printed for signature. One original
Medical Certificate From a local clinic in country of residence stating that the applicant is free of any contagious diseases and medically fit for employment. Lab test results for the following should be included: Hepatitis B & C, Malaria, Filariasis, Syphilis, a chest X-Ray for Tuberculosis and a HIV test result. Note that the report should be recent (no legal maximum validity applies, but less than 90 days is recommended). Should be accompanied by translation into English or Arabic if applicable. One certified and translated copy; one original
Police Clearance Certificate Issued by the country of residence and legalized for use in Kuwait. Should be accompanied by a translation into English or Arabic if applicable. One certified and translated copy; one legalized original
2 Passport Photographs 40mm by 60mm Recent photographs 40mm by 60mm in size – full frontal view of the head with face centred in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression with a blue background. The applicant may wear neither spectacles nor headwear except for religious purposes. One original
Residence Permit Application Form Declaration by the applicant in Arabic on the prescribed form, this will also need to be signed by the sponsor. One original
Blood Group Certificate Standard template to confirm blood test results. Is usually completed and stamped by the clinic at the time of the test. One original
Lease contract for residence in host country Signed by all parties. Copy acceptable, but original may be requested at the discretion of the authorities. One clear copy
Civil ID Card Application Form To be completed by the applicant in Arabic on the prescribed form, including confirmation that the passport pictures provided are genuine. One original
Residence Permit Copy Clear copy of the endorsed residence permit (Iqama). One clear copy

If you need to have your expat personnel legally work for you in Kuwait without having to set up your own business entity for that, trust us to assist you with work permit and immigration support, and then employ your expats locally on your behalf.

Contact our team to let us take up your foreign employees’ immigration matters and relieve you of the responsibility of getting work permit by working with our local partners to organize and obtain all the necessary permits, as well as provide you with a detailed update on the progress of the process.

Contact us for more details about how you can get a work permit for your expatriate staff and employ them through Acumen International in Kuwait.

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