When a domestic worker's employment in Kuwait ends, the sponsor must formally cancel the worker's Article 20 residency (visa) before the worker leaves the country for good. This guide walks through the full cancellation procedure — settling dues first, submitting through the Sahel app or the Ministry of Interior's Residence Affairs, and what to do instead if the worker is simply moving to a new sponsor.
⚡ Quick Facts
| 👤 Who cancels? | The sponsor (employer) — with the worker's dues settled first |
| 🏛️ Where? | Sahel app or MOI Residence Affairs (your governorate) |
| 📄 Visa type | Article 20 residency (domestic workers) |
| ⚖️ Governing law | Law No.68/2015 + Kuwait residency regulations |
| 💰 Fee | Small government fee — confirm current amount on Sahel/MOI |
| 📞 PAM hotline | 1884880 (disputes & complaints, free) |
⚖️ Before You Cancel — Settle the Worker's Dues
Under Law No.68 of 2015, cancellation is the last step, not the first. Before submitting any cancellation, the employer must settle:
- ✅ All unpaid salary up to the final working day
- ✅ End-of-service gratuity — one month's wage for each year of service (full gratuity guide)
- ✅ Return air ticket to the worker's home country — the employer's obligation when the contract ends
- ✅ The worker's passport — it belongs to the worker and must be in her/his possession for travel
🔄 Step-by-Step Cancellation Procedure
Pay final salary and gratuity, and book the worker's return flight. Keep receipts — Residence Affairs can ask for proof of settlement if there is a dispute.
Worker's passport and Civil ID, sponsor's Civil ID, and the residency cancellation form signed by both parties.
Use the government Sahel app (residency services) or visit the MOI General Department of Residence Affairs in your governorate to file the cancellation.
A small cancellation fee applies — confirm the current amount inside Sahel or at the counter before paying.
Once the residency is cancelled, the worker's Civil ID record with PACI is closed — no separate visit needed.
After cancellation the worker must exit Kuwait within the grace period granted at cancellation — confirm the exact period with MOI when you file, and don't book a departure date after it.
🔀 Which Situation Are You In?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Contract ended, worker going home | Cancel as described above |
| Worker moving to a new Kuwaiti sponsor | Don't cancel — do a sponsorship transfer (تنازل) instead: transfer guide |
| Worker already outside Kuwait | Article 20 residency generally lapses if the worker stays abroad beyond the permitted period (commonly six months) — the sponsor can also cancel via Sahel while the worker is abroad; confirm with MOI |
| Worker left the home without notice | Different procedure — an absconding report, not a cancellation: what to do if a worker leaves. Never file a false absconding report to avoid paying dues — it is a punishable offence. |
🛡️ The Worker's Rights During Cancellation
- ✅ The passport stays with the worker — withholding it is illegal in Kuwait
- ✅ No cancellation should proceed with unpaid salary or gratuity outstanding
- ✅ The worker can file a free complaint with PAM (1884880) if dues are withheld — see Kuwait domestic worker rights
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📌 Source: Kuwait Law No.68 of 2015 and Kuwait MOI residency services (moi.gov.kw, Sahel app) — Updated 2026. Fees and grace periods change; always confirm the current values on Sahel or with Residence Affairs before filing.
