KuwaitAlso: Kuwait PAM, Public Authority for Manpower, manpower authority Kuwait

PAM (Public Authority for Manpower)

PAM is Kuwait's Public Authority for Manpower, the body that regulates private-sector labour, work permits, employer files, and worker transfers and complaints.

Go to manpower.gov.kw (official)

At a glance

Full name: Public Authority for Manpower
Parent body: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), Kuwait
Primary role: Work permits, employer files, and private-sector labour regulation
Article 18 transfers: Manages employer-to-employer transfers; consent rules vary by years of service
Domestic workers: Separate framework from main Labour Law; PAM administers recruitment approvals
Online portal: manpower.gov.kw

Short answer

PAM is Kuwait's Public Authority of Manpower, which issues private-sector work permits under MOSAL. Log in at the official manpower.gov.kw Ashal portal with Kuwait Mobile ID to check a work permit, renew, transfer or file a complaint. This page shows the login steps, how to check status, fees, offices and fixes for common problems.

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is Kuwait's primary operational body for private-sector labour regulation. Operating under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL), PAM handles the day-to-day functions of work-permit issuance, employer file management, worker transfers, and labour complaint resolution for the private sector.

Employer Files

Private-sector employers must maintain a valid employer file with PAM before they can sponsor foreign workers. The employer file records the approved number and categories of positions, nationality quotas, and the employer's compliance status. If an employer has outstanding violations or unpaid obligations, the file may be suspended, which prevents new work-permit applications until the issues are resolved.

Work Permit Applications

New work permits for expatriate employees are applied for through the PAM online portal by the employer. An approved work permit forms the basis for the entry visa and, after arrival, for the Ministry of Interior to stamp the residence permit and for PACI to issue the Civil ID. The chain - PAM work permit, then MOI residence stamp, then PACI Civil ID - must follow this sequence.

Article 18 Transfers: Changing Employers

The rules governing work-permit transfers between private-sector employers are among the most-asked-about aspects of PAM's role:

Within the first three years of employment, transferring to a new employer generally requires the outgoing employer's written consent.
After three years of continuous service, a transfer may be possible without consent under certain conditions.
Workers may petition PAM for a waiver on qualifying grounds, such as non-payment of wages by the employer.
Fees apply to transfer applications; the current amounts are published on the PAM portal.

Transfer rules and waiver grounds are subject to revision - confirm the current conditions on manpower.gov.kw before initiating a transfer.

Labour Complaints

PAM is the first port of call for private-sector labour disputes in Kuwait. Workers can file complaints about wage theft, contract violations, or mistreatment through the PAM portal or at a PAM service centre. PAM has inspection and enforcement powers, including the ability to intervene with employers, facilitate settlements, and refer unresolved cases to the judiciary. Serious violations such as passport confiscation or trafficking are coordinated with the Ministry of Interior.

Domestic Workers

Domestic workers are governed by a separate legal framework from the main Kuwait Private Sector Labour Law. PAM administers recruitment approvals, work permits, and complaints for domestic workers under this distinct framework, which provides different protections and obligations compared to the standard Labour Law.

PAM and PACI: The Sequence

It is worth understanding how PAM fits into the broader residency process. PAM approves the work permit; the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Jawazat then stamps the residence permit in the passport; and finally, PACI issues the Civil ID. This sequence means that a delay or problem at the PAM stage blocks the entire chain. Workers and employers should monitor PAM application status carefully and respond promptly to any requests for additional documents or corrections.

Work-permit rules, transfer conditions, and fees are amended periodically. Confirm current requirements with PAM's official portal or a licensed labour consultant.

How to log in to the PAM portal (Ashal)

PAM runs its online services through the Ashal e-services portal. The official sites are manpower.gov.kw for information and the Ashal e-portal linked from it for transactions. Wathim is an independent guide and is not the Public Authority of Manpower, so always finish the transaction on the official PAM site. Our own summary of the portal is on the PAM Kuwait portal page.

Before you start

A valid Kuwait Civil ID, and the Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiyti) app installed and activated on your phone. Login to Ashal is done through Mobile ID, so set it up first. See the Kuwait Mobile ID portal page.
For employers, the company must have an active employer file and an authorised signatory registered with PAM.
A phone number linked to your Civil ID at PACI. If the number on record is old, update it first at PACI.

Login steps

Open the official PAM site and choose the e-services (Ashal) link. Do not use links from messages or social media.
Choose to log in with your Civil ID.
Approve the request in the Kuwait Mobile ID app on your phone.
Pick whether you are acting as an individual (worker) or on behalf of a company (employer or authorised signatory) if the portal asks.
Open the service you need from the list, for example work permit inquiry, renewal, transfer or complaint.

If the login fails, the usual causes are an inactive Mobile ID, a Civil ID that has expired, or a browser blocking the pop-up. Try the Sahel app, which also gives access to PAM services, described on our Sahel portal page and in the Sahel glossary entry.

How to check your work permit and visa status in Kuwait

Many people search "PAM Kuwait visa check". PAM does not issue visas. It issues the work permit (Article 18 for private-sector workers). Your residence stamp comes from the Ministry of Interior and your Civil ID from PACI, so a full status check looks at three places.

What you want to check	Where to check it	What you need
Work permit (valid, expiry, employer)	PAM Ashal e-services portal	Civil ID or passport number, Mobile ID login
Residence (iqama) expiry, article type, sponsor, fines	Sahel app, MOI services	Civil ID, Mobile ID login
Civil ID status and card readiness	Sahel app (PACI services) or the PACI site	Civil ID number
Travel ban or financial block	MOI services on Sahel	Civil ID

Check the work permit on PAM

Log in to Ashal as described above.
Open the work permit inquiry or "my work permit" service.
Read the permit number, employer, permit type and expiry date.
Take a screenshot or print the page. Banks, landlords and some employers ask for a work permit copy, and Ashal can produce one.

Read the result

If the permit shows as active, your legal work status is in order. If it shows as cancelled, ask who cancelled it and when, because a cancelled permit starts the clock on your residence. If the employer shown is not your current employer, a transfer was either never completed or was not recorded. In either case, raise it with your employer in writing and keep screenshots.

The full chain, PAM then MOI then PACI, is explained in our PAM Kuwait 2026 guide. For the Civil ID end, see the Kuwait Civil ID status guide, and to see whether you are blocked from leaving the country, use the Kuwait travel ban check.

What you can do on the PAM portal

PAM has moved most employer transactions online. Press reports in 2025 and 2026 describe new Ashal services, including online work permit renewal for company partners without a visit to a service centre, cancellation of expatriate work permits, reversal of a cancellation, and correction of employee data. The exact list changes, so open the portal and read the current service catalogue.

Task	Who does it	Where
Issue a new work permit	Employer	Ashal portal
Renew a work permit	Employer or company partner	Ashal portal
Transfer a worker between employers	New employer, with the old employer's release where needed	Ashal portal or PAM service centre
Cancel a work permit	Employer	Ashal portal
Register or print a labour contract	Employer	Ashal portal
Print a work permit copy	Worker or employer	Ashal portal
File a labour complaint	Worker	Ashal portal or PAM service centre

If you are the worker, many of these are done for you by your employer. Your job is to check the result. If you are the employer, our Kuwait new-hire work permit checklist and transfer checklist list the documents.

Domestic workers sit under a separate framework from the private-sector Labour Law. Recruitment approvals and complaints for them follow their own rules, as explained in the definition above.

PAM work permit fees and related costs (as of November 2026)

Kuwait does not publish a single clean English fee schedule, so treat these as the figures reported at the time of writing and confirm them on the official portal before paying.

Item	Amount	Charged by
Work permit fee (flat, after Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, effective June 2025)	KWD 150	PAM
Residence (iqama) renewal for standard expats, effective 23 December 2025	KWD 20 per year	MOI
Mandatory health insurance, effective 23 December 2025	KWD 100 per year	Insurer or MOH scheme
Early transfer before 3 years	Reported around KWD 300 extra (secondary sources, verify)	PAM

Only the first row is a PAM fee in the strict sense. The residence and insurance amounts catch many residents out because they rise at the MOI and health stages, not at PAM. To budget a full renewal, use our Kuwait iqama cost calculator and the GCC work permit cost comparison. For leaving a job, the Kuwait indemnity calculator shows what you may be owed.

Under Kuwaiti practice the employer normally pays the work permit fee. If an employer asks you to pay it, say that you want the request in writing and ask PAM through the portal which party is liable.

How to transfer to a new employer through PAM

The short version, which matches the definition above: after three years from the work permit issue date you can usually move without your current employer's consent. Before that, the outgoing employer normally has to agree. The detail and the cost of an early move are in transferring on Article 18 before 3 years, and the glossary entry for Article 18 explains the permit type.

Confirm your own eligibility: years since the permit was issued, no absconding report, no pending case against you.
Get the release letter (NOC) from your current employer if you are inside the three years. See the NOC glossary entry.
The new employer must have an active employer file and available quota for your job title.
The new employer files the transfer on Ashal. You may be asked to approve it with your Mobile ID.
Pay the PAM fee through the portal.
After approval, the new permit flows to MOI for the residence update and then PACI for the Civil ID.

Do not leave Kuwait during a transfer unless your employer or PAM confirms it will not cancel the file. Some workers who left mid-process found the new permit could not complete. Use the transfer checklist to track your documents.

PAM offices and how to file a labour complaint

You can handle most things online, but some cases, especially complaints and document disputes, still need a visit. Our directory lists two PAM locations: the PAM Shuwaikh headquarters and the PAM Hawalli branch. Opening hours change, particularly in Ramadan and during public holidays, so check the official site before travelling. All Kuwait centres are listed on our Kuwait service centres page.

Filing a complaint

Gather your evidence: contract, work permit copy, payslips or bank statements, messages showing unpaid wages or threats.
Log in to Ashal and open the labour complaint service, or go to a PAM service centre with the same documents and your Civil ID.
State the issue plainly: unpaid wages, contract change, passport withholding, unsafe housing, or termination without notice.
Keep the complaint number. PAM may summon both sides for conciliation. If conciliation fails, the case is referred to the labour court.

Passport confiscation and trafficking indicators are treated seriously and coordinated with the Ministry of Interior. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police first. The MOSAL glossary entry explains the parent ministry, and the MOI Kuwait entry covers the residency side.

Contact

We could not verify a current PAM call centre number on an official page, so we do not list one. Use the contact and inquiry pages on manpower.gov.kw. Be careful with numbers on forums or aggregator sites, which are often wrong or belong to other bodies.

Common PAM problems and what to do

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Cannot log in to Ashal	Mobile ID not active, expired Civil ID, old phone number at PACI	Reactivate Mobile ID, renew Civil ID, update your number at PACI
Work permit shows the wrong employer	Transfer not completed or not recorded	Ask the new employer for the transfer reference, then raise it at a PAM service centre
Renewal blocked	Employer file suspended, unpaid dues or violations	Employer must clear the file. See the PAM guide
Permit active but iqama expired	MOI step not done	Check on Sahel and follow the iqama renewal guide
Fingerprint not registered	Biometrics missing at MOI	See fingerprint not registered
Overstay or expired while abroad	Residence lapsed	See overstay fines and iqama expired outside Kuwait
Transfer refused	Under 3 years without release, or a case on file	Request a waiver from PAM on valid grounds such as unpaid wages

Rules and fees are revised often. If something here differs from the portal, the portal is right. For family visas, which depend on your work permit status, see the Article 22 family visa guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I transfer my work permit to a new employer in Kuwait?

Work-permit transfers between private-sector employers are handled by PAM under Article 18 of Kuwait's Labour Law. Apply through the PAM portal at manpower.gov.kw. Within the first three years you generally need your outgoing employer's consent; after three continuous years a transfer may be possible without consent under certain conditions. Fees apply and current rules should be confirmed on the PAM portal.

Can I transfer without employer consent in Kuwait?

After three years of continuous service with one employer, a transfer without employer consent may be possible under PAM rules. In some cases - such as non-payment of wages - you may petition PAM for a waiver even within the first three years. The specific conditions and eligibility for waivers are defined by regulation and may be updated; confirm the current position on manpower.gov.kw.

How do I file a labour complaint against my employer in Kuwait?

File your complaint with PAM first, either through the portal at manpower.gov.kw or at a PAM service centre. PAM has enforcement powers and will attempt to mediate or intervene. If the dispute is not resolved through PAM, it can be referred to the Labour Court. For serious violations such as passport confiscation, PAM may coordinate with the Ministry of Interior.

Does PAM cover domestic workers?

Yes, but under a separate legal framework from the main Kuwait Labour Law. PAM administers recruitment approvals, work permits, and complaints for domestic workers. The protections and obligations under the domestic-worker framework differ from those in the standard private-sector Labour Law.

What is an employer file at PAM?

An employer file is the record PAM holds for each private-sector employer that sponsors foreign workers. It records the approved positions, nationality quotas, and compliance history. The employer must maintain an active, compliant file to sponsor workers. A suspended file blocks new work-permit applications.

How does PAM relate to PACI?

PAM approves the work permit, which is the first step. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) then stamps the residence permit in the passport. After that, PACI issues the Civil ID. PAM and PACI are separate authorities - PAM deals with the labour side; PACI manages the civil register and Civil ID.

How do I log in to the PAM portal in Kuwait?

Open the official PAM site, choose the Ashal e-services link, log in with your Civil ID and approve the request in the Kuwait Mobile ID app. Activate Mobile ID first. If login fails, check that your Civil ID is valid and your phone number is current at PACI.

Does PAM Kuwait do a visa check?

PAM issues work permits, not visas or residence stamps. To check a work permit, use the Ashal portal. To check your residence expiry, sponsor and fines, use the Sahel app under MOI services. Your Civil ID status is under PACI services in the same app.

How much is a PAM work permit fee in Kuwait?

A flat KWD 150 per work permit has applied since Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025 took effect in June 2025, as reported at the time of writing. Residence renewal and health insurance are charged separately. Confirm the amount on the official portal before you pay.

Where are the PAM offices in Kuwait?

Our directory lists the PAM headquarters in Shuwaikh and a branch in Hawalli. Hours change during Ramadan and holidays, so check the official PAM site before you go. Many services, including renewals and complaints, can be started online through Ashal without a visit.

Is PAM the same as the Ministry of Manpower in Kuwait?

People often search for a ministry of manpower, but Kuwait has the Public Authority of Manpower, which works under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. PAM runs work permits and labour complaints for the private sector. MOSAL is the parent ministry.

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