In a bid to streamline approvals and curb fraud in the labour market, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) in Kuwait has issued Ministerial Circular No. 1 of 2025, under the supervision of Acting Director‑General Marzouq Al‑Otaibi. The revision mandates verification of academic credentials for all migrants, GCC nationals, and Bedoun workers, impacting the issuance, renewal, and amendment of work permits via the Ashal portal or Sahel Business app (People Matters).
Key Academic Criteria for Assessment
PAM now requires eligibility checks based on three central elements:
- Educational level: Doctorate, Master’s, Bachelor’s, or Diploma
- Area of specialization: e.g. Biochemistry, Commercial Law
- Accreditation status: Un‑recognized, Preliminary-recognition, Administrative-recognition, or Full accreditation—per Ministry of Higher Education standards (People Matters)
These elements ensure the profession listed on the permit reflects the actual qualifications of the applicant.
Automated Verification – Reduced Paperwork
- Labour‑department officials verify the match between the specialization and the designated job title.
- Meanwhile, the system automatically checks educational level and accreditation using PAM’s interface with the Ministry’s equivalency database.
- Certificate uploads are only triggered when the system flags a need for further documentation (arabtimes).
Differentiation by Profession Category
- Engineering roles: Approval is entirely automated; applications missing valid certification are rejected by the system, with an electronic confirmation noting the approval status.
- Other regulated professions: Employers must manually upload prior approval documents if the role requires pre‑certification (People Matters).
These steps aim to ensure only properly vetted candidates fill regulated or specialised positions.
Streamlined Renewals
Certain permit renewals now enjoy expedited processing:
- Expatriates, GCC citizens, and legal Bedoun residents renewing in the same occupation no longer need to upload academic certificates or external approvals.
- This retains identity and job alignment while reducing administrative burden (arabtimes).
What This Means for Workers
- Increased scrutiny of credentials, especially for roles requiring accreditation.
- Potential delays or rejections for permits tied to unrecognized or unmatched qualifications.
- Greater importance placed on aligning job titles with specializations.
- For engineers, fully automated review means no discretion, only valid credentials pass.
- Renewals in the same occupation are now faster and require less documentation.
Employer Considerations
- Ensure applicants’ academic credentials match their declared professions, as specified in the circular.
- Carefully upload required approval documents through Ashal or Sahel for non-engineering roles.
- Non-compliance may lead to automatic application rejections, with possible staffing disruptions.
Overview of Kuwait’s Permit System
- All foreign nationals working in Kuwait must be sponsored and issued work permits tied to a specific profession and employer.
- Eligibility requirements include a job offer, residency visa, Ministry of Health clearance, and—where relevant—an attested academic certificate.
- Employers initiate the permit process via Ashal or Sahel Business platforms; the updated rules mark a shift toward tighter qualification control and greater digitisation.
These regulatory enhancements reflect the government’s commitment to professionalising Kuwait’s labour market, aligning job roles with verified skills, and improving the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of the work‑permit system.
