Kuwait launches digital system for domestic worker sponsorships via Sahel app

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has launched a new digital service for managing domestic worker and driver sponsorships. The system, available through the government’s unified Sahel app, aims to simplify applications and reduce in-person visits to service centres. The move is part of a broader push to digitise government transactions and improve efficiency.

The initiative follows coordination between the Ministry of Interior, the Public Authority for Manpower, and the ministry’s IT sector. It introduces clear eligibility rules for sponsorship: single women can sponsor one domestic worker, while married, divorced, or widowed women with children can sponsor one domestic worker and one driver. Single men are limited to sponsoring one driver only. Married, divorced, or widowed men with families, however, can sponsor up to three domestic workers and one driver.

The service allows users to complete applications entirely online, cutting processing times and eliminating the need for physical paperwork. Officials have stated that the updated system will help regulate domestic labour categories more effectively. It also aligns with Kuwait’s wider digital transformation strategy, which seeks to streamline government services and enhance governance through technology. By shifting these procedures to the *Sahel* platform, the ministry expects to reduce administrative burdens for both citizens and government staff. The change reflects ongoing efforts to modernise public services and improve accessibility for residents.

The new digital service is now live on the Sahel app. It sets specific sponsorship limits based on family status and aims to ensure fair allocation of domestic labour services. The ministry has emphasised that this step will contribute to better regulation and a more transparent recruitment process.