How to Change Visa 20 to 18 in Kuwait?

Are you planning to change from a domestic work visa to the private sector work visa in Kuwait? Then this is the right guide for you. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has authorized the transfer of Visa 20 (domestic work visa) to Visa 18 (private sector work visa) for interested candidates. If you think this opportunity is for you, follow the guidelines in this article to change Visa 18 to Visa 20 and understand the requirements thereof. 

How to Change Visa 20 to Visa 18 in Kuwait

According to the latest MOI policy, here is how to change your Visa 18 to Visa 20 in Kuwait: ^[1]

• Book an appointment with the General Department of Immigration through the available channels “from here”. 
• Gather the necessary documents for the Kuwait visa change.
• Visit the selected branch of the General Department of Immigration on the date and time of the appointment. 
• Present the required documents.
• Fill out the provided application form.
• Submit the application and pay the required visa change fees. 
• Wait for the application to be reviewed and decided.

Visa 20 to 18 Transfer in Kuwait Documents Required

To change Visa 20 to Visa 18 in Kuwait, users must provide the following documents: 

• Original civil ID of former employer/sponsor and a copy.
• Original civil ID of current employer/sponsor and a copy.
• Original civil ID of the applicant and a copy.
• Passport of the applicant.
• Two recent personal photographs.
• Signature authorization and a copy. 
• Proof of a valid health insurance. 

Criteria for Visa 20 to Visa 18 Transfer in Kuwait

The following are the criteria for changing Visa 20 to Visa 18 in Kuwait:

• Minimum Stay Requirement: The worker must have completed at least 1 year under their Visa 20 sponsor before requesting a transfer.
• No Objection Certificate (NOC): Applicants must present a no-objection letter from their Visa 20 sponsors, confirming the sponsor’s consent to the change. The written letter must also be attested by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior. 
• New Employer Offer (Visa 18 Sponsor): Domestic workers in Kuwait wanting to transfer their employment to the private sector may be required to have a valid job offer from a company in the private sector willing to sponsor their Visa 18.
• Clean Legal Record: The applicant should have a clean police record, with no absconding reports or legal violations.
• MOI Approval: The Kuwait Ministry of Interior reserves the right to approve or deny the request for a visa change after a case-unique review. Hence, the authorization of a transfer to Visa 18 requires the MOI approval. 
• Transfer Fees: Applicants are required to pay the visa transfer fees of 50 KD, including an additional 10 KD for every year with the current employer. 
• Medical and Security Clearance: Changing from Visa 20 to Visa 18 requires fresh medical examinations and fingerprint checks to finalize the transfer. 

Book Appointment to Change Kuwait Visa 20 to Visa 18

Schedule a visa change appointment (from Visa 20 to Visa 18) with Kuwait’s General Department of Immigration online; here’s how: ^[1]

• Visit the Kuwait Meta Portal “from here”. 

• If you have an account already, enter the following in the provided spaces:
  • Your Civil ID number
  • Your Meta Portal password
• If you don’t have a Meta Portal account, click “Register as a new user”.
  • Enter Civil ID number.
  • Enter Civil ID card Serial Number.
  • Enter mobile number.
  • Enter email address.
  • Click “Register”.
  • Complete the verification process.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the “Appointment Search” Area.
• Under the service categories, click “Ministry of Interior”.

• Go to the “General Department of Immigration” And click “Services”.
• Click “Apply” On the required service. 
• Select a branch office.
• Choose a date and time for the appointment.
• Confirm the appointment. 

Visa 20 to Visa 18 Transfer Fees

Changing your Visa 20 to Visa 18 in Kuwait involves a transfer fee of around 50 KD, with an additional 10 KD for each year of service completed. 

Conclusion

Changing Visa 18 to Visa 20 in Kuwait is a process that requires a visit to any of the branches of the immigration department via a scheduled appointment. Don’t forget to check for any existing bans on Visa 20 to Visa 18 transfers before applying, as adjustments are regularly made to meet the labor market demands.