Step-by-step driver visa application via Sahel

Sponsors execute the digital visa issuance through the following workflow:

  1. 1

    Step 1: Log in to the Sahel app

    Authenticate using Kuwait Mobile ID (Hawiyati) biometric single sign-on.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Navigate to Ministry of Interior services

    Go to 'Services' > 'Ministry of Interior' > 'Residency Affairs' > 'Issue Domestic Driver Entry Visa'.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Input worker and passport data

    Enter the foreign driver's full name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, and home country recruitment agency details.

  4. 4

    Step 4: Submit and settle statutory fees

    Review family quota compliance, pay the visa issuance fee via K-Net, and download the electronic entry visa with verified QR code.

Digital transformation of domestic driver visas on Sahel

Securing a domestic private driver visa in Kuwait traditionally involved booking appointments, securing physical signature forms, and visiting Ministry of Interior residency departments in person.

In alignment with Kuwait’s digital governance roadmap, the Ministry of Interior fully integrated the Domestic Driver and Worker Entry Visa service into the Sahel mobile application, enabling end-to-end digital issuance from the sponsor's smartphone.

Official sponsorship quotas: Single vs married rules

To prevent unauthorized recruitment and ensure domestic workers are employed in legitimate family households, the Ministry of Interior enforces strict baseline quotas based on marital and family status:

Single Men: Permitted to sponsor a maximum of 1 domestic driver only, provided they demonstrate adequate personal income and independent accommodation.

Single Women: Eligible to sponsor a maximum of 1 female domestic worker.

Married, Divorced, or Widowed Women (with children): Permitted to sponsor 1 domestic worker and 1 driver.

Married, Divorced, or Widowed Men (with families): Eligible to sponsor up to 3 domestic workers and 1 driver to support household needs.

Sponsor salary thresholds and eligibility prerequisites

Before initiating a driver visa request on Sahel, the sponsor’s Civil ID record must reflect sufficient financial capacity and verified residential lease records:

The sponsor must not have outstanding traffic fines, criminal circulars, or residency violation blocks registered with the Ministry of Interior.

For expatriate sponsors (under Article 17 or Article 18), higher salary thresholds apply, requiring proof that the household requires a private driver and holds adequate registered residential space.

Post-arrival medical test, fingerprinting, and Civil ID

Once the driver arrives in Kuwait on the electronic visa, the sponsor must complete post-entry residency formalities within 30 days:

1. Schedule and pass the Ministry of Health expatriate medical examination (screening for infectious diseases).

2. Complete biometric fingerprint enrollment at the designated Security Directorate.

3. Issue the domestic residency card (Article 20) and order the official Civil ID card through PACI.