09 April 2025

Kuwait streamlines residency transfers between the public and private sectors

According to a press report dated 2 March 2025, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced significant changes to the residency transfer process for foreign nationals moving from public sector jobs to private sector jobs, simplifying the process and removing the requirement for job roles to align with the individuals’ educational qualifications. The new regulations will allow foreign workers to transition from government contractual arrangements to private sector employment upon the conclusion of their contracts, provided they obtain consent from both their former and new employers. Prior to the recent announcement, foreign nationals working in the public sector could only move to another entity in the same sector. However, following this announcement, the authorities will no longer verify the professions of individuals seeking a transfer from the public sector to the private sector, and there will be no legal basis for rejecting such transfer requests.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services, and attached below, provides additional details.

* * * * * * * * * *

Attachment

Full text of Tax Alert

Document ID: 2025-0843