Quick answer: a domestic worker's status in Kuwait sits across two authorities. The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) holds the domestic work permit and the file with the recruitment office, while the Ministry of Interior (MOI) holds the residency (article 20 domestic visa) and the Civil ID. The fastest route for most families is the Sahel app, which pulls both into one place. Every check below is free.
Which check do you need?
| Your situation | Where to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Residency validity, expiry, article 20 | Sahel app or MOI e-services | Civil ID number |
| Work permit / domestic file | PAM (manpower.gov.kw) | Civil ID or file number |
| Civil ID card production status | PACI | Civil ID number |
| Recruitment or transfer in progress | PAM Ashal platform / your office | Passport number, file reference |
1. Check residency and expiry (the usual check)
- Open the Sahel app, or the MOI e-services residency enquiry.
- Choose the residency / iqama enquiry service.
- Enter the worker's Civil ID number.
- You will see her residency type (article 20 for domestic workers), the sponsor, and the expiry date.
Diarise the expiry. Renewal is the sponsor's legal responsibility, and overstay fines accrue daily.
2. Check the work permit with PAM
PAM licenses every legal domestic-worker recruitment office in Kuwait and holds the permit file. Through PAM's online services you can confirm:
- The work permit exists and is active under your name as sponsor
- The recruitment office handling your file is genuinely licensed
- Any pending transaction — a new hire, a renewal or a sponsorship transfer
If an office cannot show you its PAM licence, or its name does not match the paperwork you are being asked to sign, stop before paying anything.
3. Check a transfer in progress
Sponsorship transfers for domestic workers run through PAM under Administrative Decision 375 of 2021. Once a transfer is filed you can track it through the same PAM services, and your office should give you a reference. A transfer of a worker already inside Kuwait is usually faster than recruiting from abroad — often 1–2 weeks against 4–8.
What the statuses mean
- Valid — residency active; check the expiry date and note it.
- Under process — normal after filing a new permit, renewal or transfer.
- Expired — fix it immediately. Fines run daily and the worker is at legal risk even though renewal is the sponsor's duty.
- No record — most often a mistyped Civil ID. If the number is right and nothing shows, ask your office for the PAM file reference; a real file always has one.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do I check a domestic worker's visa in Kuwait?
Use the Sahel app or MOI e-services with her Civil ID number to see residency type and expiry, and PAM's online services for the work permit and the recruitment office file. Both are free.
What is an article 20 visa in Kuwait?
Article 20 is the residency category for domestic workers — housemaids, nannies, cooks, drivers — sponsored by a private individual rather than a company. It is what you will see listed against a legally employed domestic worker.
Can I check the visa with a passport number instead of a Civil ID?
Generally you need the Civil ID for the residency enquiry. Before the Civil ID is issued, ask your recruitment office to track the file with PAM using the passport number and file reference.
How do I know a Kuwait recruitment office is licensed?
Ask for the PAM licence and match the name on it to the office you are paying. Cash-only demands, prices far below the KWD 700–1,300 market range, or "visit visa" offers are the standard warning signs.
Who is responsible for renewing the residency?
The sponsor. Late renewal means daily fines and puts the worker at risk, so treat the expiry date as your deadline, not hers.
