FAQ

What is the cheapest way to get around in Kuwait day to day?Kuwait has no metro or train, because the rapid transit project was cancelled, so buses are the main public transport. Buses are run by companies including KPTC (Kuwait Public Transport), CityBus (City Group) and KGL. A single city ride costs a few hundred fils. Monthly passes are the cheapest option for daily travel, roughly KWD 9 to KWD 15 depending on the operator and whether it covers one route or all routes. Passes are tied to one operator, so pick the one that runs your route. Many workers also use company transport if the employer provides it, or shared taxis, which cost more. Buy a monthly pass if you travel every day.Is it legal for my employer to keep my passport in Kuwait?Your passport belongs to you. Employers taking and holding a worker's passport against their will is not allowed and is treated as a form of control. If your employer has taken your passport and will not return it, first ask for it back in writing or by message, so you have a record. If they still refuse, report it to the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) on 103, or tell the Bangladesh Embassy labour wing, which can take it up with the authorities. Keep copies of your passport photo page and visa in your phone and somewhere safe, separately from the original, so you always have your details even if the original is held.What changed under Kuwait's new residency law 114 of 2024?Kuwait replaced its old 1959 residency law with Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024, and the detailed rules (Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025) took effect on 23 December 2025. Key points for workers: most employment-based residencies are capped at five years; the annual iqama renewal fee rose to KWD 20 for many categories; and the law clearly bans employers from charging workers for visa sponsorship or renewal. It also sets time limits for reporting things like a lost passport (within two weeks) and how long you can stay outside Kuwait (six months for general workers). Selling or trading visas is a serious offence. Keep your papers current and never pay your employer for your visa.What emergency numbers do I need in Kuwait?In Kuwait the general emergency number is 112 for police, ambulance and fire, one number for all. Calls are free. For labour problems such as unpaid wages or being made to work in banned hours, contact the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) on 103, or go to a PAM office. Save both numbers in your phone now. When you call 112, say clearly where you are and what kind of help you need. If you are in a workplace accident, call 112 first for medical help, then tell your embassy. Keep your Civil ID number and your employer's details ready, as you may be asked for them.What is the Sahel app and what can I do with it in Kuwait?Sahel is Kuwait's official government services app. Workers use it for many everyday tasks without going to an office. You can check and renew your Civil ID, check your residency (iqama) details, pay government fees and fines, update your address, and access other services. Download it from the official app store and sign in with your Civil ID details. Using Sahel saves queuing at PACI or ministry offices. Keep your phone number registered to yourself so you can receive the verification codes. If a service is not available in the app, you may still need to visit the office in person, but always check Sahel first because it is faster for routine tasks.How do I get a SIM card in Kuwait and which is cheapest for calling Bangladesh?Kuwait has three main mobile operators: Zain, Ooredoo and stc. You can buy a prepaid SIM at an operator shop or the airport. Bring your passport, which is required by law to register the SIM. A prepaid starter pack costs around KWD 5 and includes some credit and data. For calling Bangladesh, compare the international minute bundles from Zain and Ooredoo, or use app-based calling over data, which is usually cheapest. Once your Civil ID is ready you can move to a postpaid plan if you want. Keep the SIM registered in your own name, not someone else's, so you keep control of your number.Is it legal for many single workers to share a flat in Kuwait?In certain areas it is not. Kuwait bans bachelor housing, meaning groups of single men living in private and model (family) residential zones. This is enforced under municipal law, with fines on landlords that can run from KWD 1,000 to KWD 5,000. Kuwait Municipality teams inspect these areas and can cut electricity and water and order eviction. Crackdowns have hit areas across governorates including Hawally (Rumaithiya, Salwa, Salmiya) and Farwaniya. Before renting, ask whether single men are allowed at that address. If power is cut for a violation, you can be forced to move suddenly. You can report or check concerns with Kuwait Municipality on 139.What medical test do I need before flying to Kuwait?Before you fly to Kuwait you must pass a health check called the Wafid (GAMCA) test. Do it in Bangladesh at a Gulf-approved medical centre before you travel. Book on the Wafid website and bring your passport. The test looks for diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV. You need a fit result before your work visa moves forward. The result goes online to Gulf authorities. The fit slip is valid only a short time, so do not test too early. After you reach Kuwait you do a second medical check for your Civil ID and residency. Keep every medical paper. If you are found unfit, the visa cannot proceed.What are the legal working hours and overtime rate in Kuwait?Under Kuwait's private-sector labour law, normal working time is 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. During Ramadan the hours are reduced. You are entitled to a rest break and a weekly rest day. Overtime is paid at a higher rate than your normal hourly pay, and work on a rest day or public holiday is paid at a still higher rate plus a replacement day off. If you are made to work long extra hours with no overtime pay, keep a note of your dates and hours. That record helps if you file a complaint with PAM. Your employer must follow these limits; a contract cannot legally take away these rights.What is the summer midday work ban in Kuwait?In summer it is illegal to make workers work outdoors in open areas during the hottest hours. In Kuwait the ban runs every year from 1 June to 31 August, and outdoor work is prohibited between 11:00 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon. This is set by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). PAM inspectors visit worksites and can act against employers who break the rule. If your employer makes you work outdoors during these banned hours, you can report it to PAM on 103 or through the PAM office. Drink water, rest in shade, and keep a note of dates if you are forced to work through the ban.What is the safest and cheapest legal way to send money to Bangladesh from Kuwait?Use a licensed exchange house or a bank, never hundi. Licensed exchange houses in Kuwait are regulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait and give you a receipt and a tracking number. Hundi is illegal, gives no receipt, and you can lose everything if it goes wrong. When you send through a legal channel, your family in Bangladesh can also receive the government's 2.5% cash incentive on the amount. To send, bring your Civil ID. Compare the rate and fee at a few exchange houses, because they differ. Keep every receipt. Sending legally protects your money and builds a record of your income, which helps with things like your driving licence salary check.Can I change my employer in Kuwait?Kuwait uses a sponsorship system. Private-sector workers are on an Article 18 visa. To move to a new employer you generally need a release, and the transfer is processed through PAM and the Ministry of Interior. Rules on the release or NOC and on how long you must first stay with your current employer change over time, so check the current PAM position before you act. In cases of abuse or clear employer violations, PAM can allow a transfer without the employer's agreement. Do not simply leave your job, because leaving without proper transfer can trigger an absconding report and put your residency at risk. Ask PAM what documents you need before you start a transfer.What is the legal maximum I should pay to migrate to Kuwait?The Bangladesh government fixed a maximum legal migration cost for Kuwait of Tk 106,780, part of its 2016 migration-cost schedule. This is meant to cover the main official costs. In reality many workers report paying far more, sometimes several times higher, for a free visa. Paying above the legal ceiling is against the rules. Before you pay, ask the recruiting agency for a receipt and check the agency is licensed by BMET. Register on the Amiprobashi app and get your BMET clearance card, which is required to fly. If an agent asks for a very large cash sum with no receipt, treat it as a danger sign.Can I convert my Bangladeshi driving licence in Kuwait?Kuwait has strict rules for expatriate driving licences, and many workers do not qualify. To get a licence as an expat you generally must earn at least KWD 600 a month on your work permit, hold a university degree, and have held a valid residency for at least two years. Some professions are exempted from the salary and degree rules. What matters is the salary written on your work permit, not what you actually earn. If your permit shows less than KWD 600, the application can be refused. You also pass a medical and driving test. If you do not meet these conditions, you cannot legally drive, so use buses or company transport instead.My wages are unpaid or late in Kuwait, what is my first step?First, keep proof: your contract, bank statements showing missing pay, and any messages about wages. Then file a labour complaint with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). You can call PAM on 103, or go to the PAM office in your governorate and ask for a labour complaint form. Bring your Civil ID and contract copy. PAM can call in the employer and try to settle the dispute, and can refer it to the labour court if needed. Do not just stop working without advice, because that can lead to an absconding report against you. The office can order the employer to pay, but you must file the complaint to start the process.What is the Kuwait residence permit and Civil ID, and what if my employer delays it?In Kuwait your residency is the iqama (Article 18 for private-sector workers), handled through the Ministry of Interior, and your ID card is the Civil ID, issued by PACI. Your employer or sponsor starts the process. After your iqama sticker is placed, the Civil ID must be applied for within 30 days. Processing usually takes a few working days after your fingerprints are taken. You can check status at paci.gov.kw or on the Sahel app. If your employer delays your residency, you can be left without legal papers, which risks fines. Ask your employer in writing to complete it. If they refuse, you can raise the matter with PAM.How do I register with the Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait and why does it matter?The Embassy of Bangladesh in Kuwait is in Kuwait City. Registering means the embassy has your details, so it can reach you and help faster in an emergency, a wage dispute, or if you lose your passport. Bring copies of your passport, visa, Civil ID and work contract when you visit. The embassy has a labour wing that deals with worker problems. Office hours are Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 to 16:00. Keep the embassy phone numbers saved in your phone. Registration also helps with issuing travel documents if your passport is lost or held. Do this in your first weeks, before any problem happens, not after.What is a normal rent for a bed space or shared room in Kuwait?Rents vary a lot by area. In lower-cost migrant areas like Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, a bed space or shared room is cheaper than in Kuwait City. Live listings show bed spaces roughly from KWD 20 to KWD 45 a month, and private rooms higher, often KWD 70 or more. Fahaheel sits in the middle. Before you pay, see the actual room, ask exactly what is included (electricity, water, internet), and get a receipt for any deposit. Never pay a large cash deposit to someone who cannot show they control the property. Remember that in private and model residential zones, bachelor housing is banned, and buildings there can have power cut, so ask if the address is legal for single men.How do I open a bank account in Kuwait and can I be paid without one?Salaries in Kuwait must be paid through the bank under the Wage Protection System (WPS), which PAM and the Central Bank of Kuwait use to track payments. This means you normally need a local bank account. To open one you usually need your Civil ID, your passport, and a salary certificate from your employer. Your employer often helps arrange the account when you start. Being paid only in cash, with nothing recorded in the bank, is a risk, because it leaves no proof if wages are not paid. If you are still paid in cash after your Civil ID is ready, ask your employer to move you onto WPS payment.What must my Kuwait work contract say and what should I not sign?Read the contract before you sign. It should clearly state your job title, your monthly wage in KWD, your working hours, the contract length, and who pays your return ticket. Do not sign a blank paper or a contract in a language you cannot read. Do not sign if the wage is lower than what the agent promised. Your job must match the visa. In Kuwait the work contract is registered with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). Keep your own signed copy. If the employer later gives you a different contract with a lower wage, that is a warning sign. A written contract is your main proof if there is a wage dispute later.What is the end-of-service benefit in Kuwait and how is it calculated?When your job ends in Kuwait you are entitled to an end-of-service indemnity, paid by your employer. For private-sector workers it is broadly 15 days pay for each of the first five years of service, then one month pay for each later year, up to a cap. It is based on your last wage. You must have completed a qualifying period of service. When you finish, ask your employer in writing for the calculation and the payment. If the employer refuses to pay, file a complaint with PAM and keep your contract and salary records. The exact figure depends on your wage and years worked, so check your own numbers against the law.

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