Kuwait Restricts Foreign Domestic Worker Recruitment, Bans Hiring From 27 Countries

Kuwait has introduced sweeping changes to its domestic labour recruitment system, restricting hiring to a shortlist of approved countries while banning recruitment from 27 others, according to a directive issued in early June 2026 by the Ministry of Interior.

The policy is part of a broader restructuring aimed at tightening oversight and improving administrative control over the country’s domestic labour sector. Authorities say the move is intended to streamline recruitment procedures and strengthen regulatory compliance amid ongoing labour market reforms.
 

Under the revised rules, recruitment of domestic workers will now be permitted only from a limited group of countries, including South Africa, Benin, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, and Nepal. Senegal is also included under the approved list, though recruitment from there is restricted to male workers only. In certain cases, additional gender-based restrictions may apply depending on bilateral arrangements.
 

At the same time, Kuwait has banned recruitment from 27 countries, primarily in Africa and parts of Asia. The affected Asian countries include Madagascar and Bhutan, while the African nations on the list include Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Malawi, Chad, Djibouti, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Angola.

Officials cited recommendations from multiple government bodies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Public Authority for Manpower, as the basis for the updated policy framework.
 

Recruitment procedures will now be processed through Kuwait’s governorate-level administrative system, according to the directive. The changes have also been circulated to residency affairs departments and relevant service centres to ensure enforcement across the country.
 

The decision comes alongside other regulatory measures, including the suspension of 25 domestic worker recruitment agencies and the introduction of a new visa enquiry system aimed at improving transparency in the domestic labour market.
 

With foreign workers making up a significant share of Kuwait’s population, the policy shift marks one of the most extensive revisions to the country’s domestic labour recruitment structure in recent years, reflecting increasing government efforts to regulate migration channels and labour supply chains.