Kuwait Visa 18 Categories: An Updated Guide 2025

Visa 18, officially known as the Private Sector Work Visa, is a type of visa that allows foreign nationals to live and work in Kuwait’s private sector. This visa is governed by Article 18 of the Kuwaiti foreigners’ residence law and is divided into Project Visas and non-Project Visas. This article discusses these categories of Visa 18, providing an up-to-date guide on their features, rules, and requirements.

Understanding Article 18 Residency (Visa 18) 

Visa 18 is one of the most common types of residency permits for expatriates in Kuwait. Also known as the Article 18 visa, it is a type of Kuwaiti visa that allows foreign nationals to live and work legally in the country under the sponsorship of a private company or employer. To obtain Visa 18, one is usually required to have a valid job offer from a Kuwaiti private entity and fulfill all the visa application requirements for permit approval.

Visa 18, or Private Sector Work Visa, is into two categories: Project Visa and non-Project Visa. Each of these categories of Visa 18 come with their respective terms and conditions, features, and perks. To know and understand your category, follow us as we explore each of these Kuwait Visa 18 categories. 

Article 18 Visa: Project Visa

Project visas, also known as “sponsored” visa, are granted to employees who are recruited from their home country and sponsored by an employing entity for a specific project. These visas often come with a three-year contract, restricting visa transfer.

The key features of Project Visa include:

• No transfer policy for first 3 years: Holders of the Visa 18 Project Visa are not allowed to change employers and sponsors during the initial first 3 years of getting the visa.
• Requires contract: Project visa requires a signed contract with an employing entity in Kuwait before issuance of the work permit.
• Contract-bound: Project visas are valid only for the duration specified in the contract, and throughout this period, the expatriate employee is expected to work under the employer according to the employment terms.
• Company-covered expenses: Companies recruiting an employee under the Project Visa of the Article 18 Residency are responsible for the employee’s expenses. This includes costs such as housing, residency, medical tests, and air tickets.

Project visas may be ideal for expatriates who are laborers, engineers, drivers, and technicians involved in infrastructural or oil projects.

Article 18 Visa: Non-Project Visa

Non-Project Visa is an Article 18 visa that is not tied to any project and is thus more flexible and allows for an easy switch of employers. The key features of a non-project Article 18 visa include:

• No contract requirement: Non-Project Visas do not require a signed work contract before issuance.
• Transferable: Being tied to no single employer, holders of non-Project Visas can transfer their sponsorship to another employee after serving a 3-month notice period. 
• Employment flexibility: Non-Project Visas allow holders to easily switch jobs and employers.
• Not contract-bound: Non-Project Visas do not come with long-term restrictions based on specific projects.

Non-Project Visas may be ideal for office staff, service workers, technicians, salespeople, and professionals working in regular business settings.

Single and Multiple Entry Article 18 Visa

The Kuwait Article 18 visa, or Private Sector Work visa, features a travel permit that comes in two types: single-entry and multiple-entry permits. These travel permits determine how many times you enter and exit Kuwait during the validity of your visa or permit:

• Visa 18—Single Entry: This type of Article 18 visa allows the holder to enter Kuwait only once during its period of validity. That is, after the first time entry to take up employment, the expatriate may not be allowed to exit and re-enter Kuwait without the application of a new visa. 

• Visa 18—Multiple Entry: With a multiple-entry Article 18 visa, holders can freely leave and re-enter Kuwait without having to apply for a new visa with each return. Commonly applied to longer-duration visas, this allows the visa holder to engage in cross-border movements under mutually agreed terms.

New Regulations for Visa 18 Holders

Under recent developments, the Kuwaiti immigration department has outlined additional regulations for expatriates under the Article 18 residency. Opening new opportunities and even restricting a few others, these rules include:

• Part-Time Work Authorization: Visa 18 holders can now legally work part-time under the following conditions:
  • They must obtain written permission from their primary employer.
  • They must acquire a part-time work permit from the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM).
  • Part-time work should not be more than 4 hours a day (except in the construction sector, where longer hours are allowed).
• Ban on Business Ownership: According to new laws, Visa 18 holders in Kuwait cannot register or own a new business or serve as managing partners. Although existing businesses registered or owned by Visa 18 holders can continue operations, new ones are no longer allowed. This restriction is to prevent conflicts between employment obligations and business operations.

Conclusion

Kuwait Visa 18 categories are: Project Visa and non-Project Visa. While Project Visas have stricter policies aimed to stabilize employment, non-Project Visas offer a more flexible work permit, allowing expatriates to easily switch jobs and employers. Understand the category of your Article 18 visa or know which to apply for so that you can set expectations accordingly.