Kuwait plans freelance residency visa to reform sponsorship system
New permit will allow independent expatriate professionals to live and work without employer sponsorship, officials say
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (MNTV) — Kuwait is preparing to introduce a freelance residency visa that will allow foreign professionals to live and work independently without a traditional employer sponsor, marking a major shift in the country’s residency framework.
Officials said the new permit is expected to be launched within the next two months as part of broader labor market reforms aimed at reducing illegal visa trading and modernizing residency regulations.
Under the proposed system, applicants will pay an annual government fee of between 750 and 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars directly to the state. Authorities urged expatriates to avoid unofficial intermediaries and use official government channels for payments and applications.
The freelance visa is intended to provide a legal pathway for self-employed professionals, including consultants, IT specialists, designers, entrepreneurs and other skilled workers, though full eligibility criteria have yet to be finalized.
Officials said the permit will be integrated into Kuwait’s electronic residency system, with successful applicants receiving renewable residency status upon payment of the annual fee.
The initiative is seen as one of the most significant reforms to Kuwait’s sponsorship system in recent years, offering greater flexibility for skilled expatriates while strengthening oversight of residency and labor compliance.
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