Kuwait now permits the recruitment of domestic workers from just 10 countries.
The change comes from a new Ministry of Interior circular issued on 8 June 2026. It is already in effect and has been sent to residency affairs departments and service centres.
The 10 approved countries
If you want to hire a domestic worker in Kuwait, the worker must come from one of these 10 countries, according to the circular:
- South Africa
- Benin
- Senegal (males only)
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- The Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Vietnam
- Nepal
Recruitment is allowed for both male and female workers from these countries, with Senegal limited to males only.
Banned countries
The circular prohibits the recruitment of domestic workers from 27 countries. For some of these countries the ban applies only to female workers, while male workers may still be recruited.
The decision was based on recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Manpower. This directly affects Kuwaiti families and residents planning to bring in a maid, nanny, cook or driver.
The countries named in official reporting of the circular are:
- Madagascar
- Bhutan
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Nigeria
- Togo
- Malawi
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Niger
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Cabo Verde
- Sierra Leone
- Liberia
- Mali
- Burkina Faso
- Gambia
- Cameroon
- Equatorial Guinea
- Central African Republic
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- Angola
The circular does not publicly specify which of these countries are restricted to female workers only. If the intended worker’s country is not on the approved list of 10, assume recruitment is currently not allowed until you confirm otherwise.
What to do before you recruit
Confirm the worker’s nationality is on the approved list before signing any contract or paying a recruitment agency. Hiring from a prohibited country will not clear residency processing.
Verify current requirements through the Kuwait government’s official domestic worker services portal, which handles visas and residence renewals. Rules can be updated again, so check the latest status before you commit.
Use only licensed recruitment offices registered with the Public Authority for Manpower, and keep copies of all contracts and receipts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which 10 countries can Kuwait hire domestic workers from?
South Africa, Benin, Senegal (males only), Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Nepal. The rule took effect on 8 June 2026.
Can I still hire a domestic worker from a country not on the list?
No. The circular blocks recruitment from 27 other countries, and applications from those nationalities will not clear residency processing.
Where do I apply to recruit a domestic worker?
Applications are processed through governorate-level service centres and the Public Authority for Manpower. Use only licensed recruitment offices.
Sources
- Arab Times — List of 10 Countries Approved by Kuwait for Hiring Domestic Workers
- Arab Times — Here Are the 27 Countries Banned From Recruiting Domestic Workers to Kuwait
- Gulf News — Kuwait Restricts Domestic Worker Recruitment to 10 Countries, Bans 27 Others
- Times Kuwait — Kuwait Opens New Channels for Domestic Worker Recruitment
- Kuwait Government Online — Domestic Workers Services (Ministry of Interior)
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