Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has added a new function to its unified ‘Sahel’ e-government app that lets expatriates update passport details digitally, eliminating the need for in-person visits to immigration offices. The feature went live on 5 February 2026 after a joint rollout by the departments of Information Systems and Residence Affairs. Users upload a scanned copy of their new passport and receive confirmation within 24 hours. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The change is particularly significant for India’s 900,000-strong community in Kuwait, many of whom face job disruptions and travel bans if old passport data are not promptly recorded on their residence file.
Under the previous paper-based system, HR teams had to collect passports, schedule counter appointments and wait up to two weeks for an endorsement sticker.
![Kuwait launches in-app passport-update service, streamlining renewals for Indian expatriates]()
Now, companies can bulk-process renewals online, a boon for construction and healthcare firms with high volumes of blue-collar staff.
Expatriates who prefer professional assistance can also outsource the paperwork: VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers end-to-end support for passport renewals, visa extensions and other consular services, coordinating with both Indian missions and Kuwaiti authorities so travelers and employers avoid costly lapses.
The Interior Ministry said it plans to integrate the service with Kuwait Airways’ APIS system so that boarding passes automatically reflect updated passport numbers, reducing airport-check-in errors.
Indian mission officials welcomed the move but urged users to keep digital copies of the Sahel confirmation in case of system outages. Employers remain liable for fines—currently KD 2 per day—for late passport updates, and the electronic acknowledgement will serve as proof of timely compliance. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The change is particularly significant for India’s 900,000-strong community in Kuwait, many of whom face job disruptions and travel bans if old passport data are not promptly recorded on their residence file.
Under the previous paper-based system, HR teams had to collect passports, schedule counter appointments and wait up to two weeks for an endorsement sticker.
Now, companies can bulk-process renewals online, a boon for construction and healthcare firms with high volumes of blue-collar staff.
Expatriates who prefer professional assistance can also outsource the paperwork: VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers end-to-end support for passport renewals, visa extensions and other consular services, coordinating with both Indian missions and Kuwaiti authorities so travelers and employers avoid costly lapses.
The Interior Ministry said it plans to integrate the service with Kuwait Airways’ APIS system so that boarding passes automatically reflect updated passport numbers, reducing airport-check-in errors.
Indian mission officials welcomed the move but urged users to keep digital copies of the Sahel confirmation in case of system outages. Employers remain liable for fines—currently KD 2 per day—for late passport updates, and the electronic acknowledgement will serve as proof of timely compliance. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
