Kuwait’s Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Yousef on 20 February unveiled a draft "freelance visa" that would, for the first time, let expatriates legally work without being tied to a Kuwaiti sponsor. The scheme—initially limited to low-risk professions—would carry annual fees of KD 750–1,000 (₹2–2.7 lakh) and require a verified local address.
Officials say the move targets the rampant trade in residency permits and aims to regulate a grey market where daily wages have soared. Indian workers make up Kuwait’s largest expatriate community; recruiters believe the visa could legitimise thousands of technicians currently employed on visit visas and open flexible opportunities for IT consultants and creatives.
![Kuwait Proposes Freelance Visa—Indian Expatriates May Work Without Sponsors]()
For Indians weighing this new route, a reputable visa facilitator can streamline what is likely to be a multilayered application. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers step-by-step assistance for Kuwaiti visa filings—from document checks to appointment scheduling—and can also advise on alternative Gulf work permits, helping applicants avoid costly missteps.
Labour-market observers caution that high fees may deter some applicants and that strict compliance audits are likely. Employers seeking project-based talent will need to adjust HR policies to accommodate freelancers who are no longer under corporate sponsorship.
If enacted by mid-2026, as expected, the visa would make Kuwait one of the few GCC states offering a pathway for unsponsored self-employment, following the UAE’s remote-work and green-visa models.
Officials say the move targets the rampant trade in residency permits and aims to regulate a grey market where daily wages have soared. Indian workers make up Kuwait’s largest expatriate community; recruiters believe the visa could legitimise thousands of technicians currently employed on visit visas and open flexible opportunities for IT consultants and creatives.
For Indians weighing this new route, a reputable visa facilitator can streamline what is likely to be a multilayered application. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers step-by-step assistance for Kuwaiti visa filings—from document checks to appointment scheduling—and can also advise on alternative Gulf work permits, helping applicants avoid costly missteps.
Labour-market observers caution that high fees may deter some applicants and that strict compliance audits are likely. Employers seeking project-based talent will need to adjust HR policies to accommodate freelancers who are no longer under corporate sponsorship.
If enacted by mid-2026, as expected, the visa would make Kuwait one of the few GCC states offering a pathway for unsponsored self-employment, following the UAE’s remote-work and green-visa models.
