Hiring a housemaid in Kuwait is governed by Domestic Labour Law 68/2015. Recruitment offices and contracts are supervised by the Domestic Labour Department of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), and the worker’s Article 20 residency is issued by the Ministry of Interior. Expat sponsors pay KD 50 a year residency for up to two helpers, plus KD 100 a year health insurance. The legal minimum salary is KD 60 a month (KD 90–150 in practice), and licensed offices may charge at most KD 750 for Asian and KD 575 for African workers, ticket included.
On this page
- Housemaid costs in Kuwait (2026)
- Who can sponsor a domestic worker in Kuwait
- How to hire a housemaid – step by step
- Al Durra or a private office (مكتب خدم)?
- Domestic workers’ rights under Law 68/2015
- Transfers, absconding reports and ending the contract
- Looking for a housemaid job in Kuwait (Abbasiya, Mahboula, Abu Halifa)
- Practical tips for a good working relationship
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
Housemaid costs in Kuwait (2026)
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment fee – Asian countries (Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam) | Up to KD 750 | Ministry of Commerce cap, includes air ticket; Al Durra charged KD 700 (Filipino) / KD 750 (Sri Lankan) in 2024 |
| Recruitment fee – African countries (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Benin, Senegal, South Africa) | Up to KD 575 | Includes ticket |
| Transfer of a worker already in Kuwait | Up to KD 350 | When the sponsor provides the passport and visa |
| Article 20 residency – expat sponsor | KD 50/year for up to 2 helpers; KD 400 for the 3rd; KD 500 for the 4th | Fee schedule in force since 23 December 2025 |
| Health insurance | KD 100/year | MOH fee, paid at residency issue and renewal |
| Monthly salary | KD 60 legal minimum; about KD 120–150 for Filipino and KD 90–120 for Indian, Sri Lankan or Nepali workers | Embassies set higher floors in their standard contracts |
| End-of-service gratuity | One month’s salary per year of service | Paid when the contract ends |
| Annual leave and ticket | 30 days’ paid leave a year; ticket home every two years | Per the law and the standard contract |
Over a typical two-year contract, a Filipino housemaid costs a family roughly KD 150–200 a month once the one-off recruitment fee, salary, residency, insurance, end-of-service and ticket are spread out. Workers from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal usually cost a little less in salary. Food, accommodation and medical needs are the employer’s responsibility on top of salary.
The fee cap includes the air ticket. An office that asks for an “extra” payment beyond the cap, or a deposit in cash without an invoice, is breaking the rules – keep every receipt and report it to the Ministry of Commerce (135) or PAM.
Who can sponsor a domestic worker in Kuwait
- Kuwaiti families and expat families on a family residency. Single expats are generally not approved.
- The number of helpers depends on household size: up to 3 for a household of six or fewer, 4 for seven to nine, and 5 for ten or more.
- Expat sponsors need a valid residency with at least six months left and no outstanding violations; adequate housing and income are also considered.
- Workers must be aged 21–60. The current approved list (MOI, June 2026) covers the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Benin and South Africa, and Senegal for male workers.
Rules on approved nationalities change with bilateral agreements, so ask the office to confirm that the country is open before you choose a candidate.
How to hire a housemaid – step by step
- Choose a licensed recruitment office (مكتب خدم) or Al Durra, the state-owned recruitment company. Ask to see the office licence and check it is current.
- Review candidate profiles (age, experience, languages, skills such as childcare or cooking) and agree on salary.
- Sign the standard tripartite contract between sponsor, office and worker. It sets salary, working hours, weekly day off, annual leave and end-of-service pay.
- Pay the recruitment fee against an official invoice. The office processes the entry visa.
- When the worker arrives: medical test, fingerprinting, the Civil ID and the Article 20 residency – most steps are completed in the Sahel app (upload passport, medical, contract and insurance, then pay fees).
- Open a bank account or keep signed receipts for salary payments, and renew residency and insurance every year.
Al Durra or a private office (مكتب خدم)?
| Al Durra (government company) | Licensed private office | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | Regulated, published prices (around KD 700–750 incl. ticket) | Up to the official cap; some cheaper, some at the cap |
| Choice of candidates | Limited to Al Durra’s supply countries | Wider choice, faster for some nationalities |
| Guarantee | Replacement or refund under its contract | Six-month guarantee in the standard contract |
| Where | Branches and co-op outlets | Concentrated in Hawally, Farwaniya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Fahaheel and other commercial areas |
Families searching for a “maid office in Hawally” or another area will find many offices on the commercial streets of Hawally, Farwaniya, Khaitan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Fahaheel. Location matters less than the licence, the written contract and the guarantee terms. Visit two or three offices and compare total costs and replacement terms before paying.
Domestic workers’ rights under Law 68/2015
- Working hours: no more than 12 hours a day, with rest breaks; many standard contracts specify fewer.
- Weekly rest: one paid day off every week.
- Annual leave: 30 days of paid leave a year.
- Salary: paid monthly, on time, and at least the legal minimum; deductions are not allowed for food or accommodation.
- End-of-service: one month’s salary for each year of service when the contract ends.
- Passport: the worker keeps their own passport and Civil ID; confiscation is illegal.
- Food, housing and medical care are provided by the employer.
Disputes over salary, leave or treatment go to PAM’s Domestic Labour Department, which can mediate and, in cases of unpaid wages or abuse, authorise a transfer without the sponsor’s consent. Workers can also contact their embassy’s labour office.
Transfers, absconding reports and ending the contract
- A worker can move to a new sponsor with the current sponsor’s consent; the transfer is processed through the residency system and Sahel.
- If a worker leaves without notice, the sponsor reports the absence (تغيب) through the official channels, usually within seven days. False reports are a criminal offence.
- On final exit, the sponsor pays the ticket home and end-of-service dues and cancels the residency; the worker must leave within the grace period.
- If the worker leaves or proves unfit within the first six months, the office must replace them or refund under the guarantee in the standard contract.
- Residency that is allowed to expire leads to daily fines – see residency violation fines.
Looking for a housemaid job in Kuwait (Abbasiya, Mahboula, Abu Halifa)
Many searches for “housemaid job in Abbasiya”, “house maid job in Mahboula today” or “Abu Halifa” come from workers already in Kuwait looking for a new family. The law is strict here, and it protects both the worker and the employer to follow it:
- A worker on an Article 20 residency may only work for the sponsor named on the residency. Working for other families part-time is illegal for both the worker and the family that hires them, and can lead to fines and deportation.
- To change family legally, the worker needs a transfer to the new sponsor – with the current sponsor’s consent or a PAM decision.
- Hourly or part-time cleaning must go through a licensed cleaning company whose staff are on company residencies.
- Licensed offices are not allowed to charge workers recruitment fees. Do not pay “agents” on social media who promise visas or jobs.
- Never hand your passport to a new employer or agent. Keep copies of your contract, residency and salary records.
Families who need help only a few hours a week are usually better served by a licensed cleaning company than by sponsoring a full-time worker – there is no recruitment fee, residency or end-of-service liability.
Practical tips for a good working relationship
- Give the worker a private room, a clear daily schedule and a written list of duties at the start.
- Pay salary by bank transfer on the same date each month; it protects both sides if there is ever a dispute.
- Allow regular phone contact with family and agree how the weekly day off will be spent.
- Keep the residency and health insurance renewed well before expiry – check dates in Sahel.
- Discuss problems early and calmly; if they cannot be solved, go through the office or PAM rather than ending the contract informally.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a housemaid cost in Kuwait?
A one-off recruitment fee of KD 575–750, then KD 60–150 a month in salary, KD 50 a year residency for expat sponsors (up to two helpers) and KD 100 a year health insurance – roughly KD 150–200 a month for a Filipino worker over a two-year contract.
Can expats hire a housemaid in Kuwait?
Yes. Expat families on a family residency can sponsor domestic workers on Article 20, within the household-size limits.
What is the minimum salary for a housemaid in Kuwait?
KD 60 a month under the law. In practice salaries are higher, and some embassies require more in their standard contracts.
What is Al Durra?
The government-owned domestic-worker recruitment company. It charges regulated fees (around KD 700–750 including the ticket) and sells through its branches and co-op outlets.
How many hours can a housemaid work in Kuwait?
Law 68/2015 limits working time to 12 hours a day with rest breaks, plus one weekly day off and 30 days’ annual leave.
Can a housemaid work part-time for another family?
No. A worker on Article 20 may work only for their sponsor. Part-time help must come from a licensed cleaning company.
Who handles complaints from domestic workers?
The Domestic Labour Department of the Public Authority for Manpower, as well as the worker’s embassy.
Can I keep my housemaid’s passport?
No. Keeping a worker’s passport is illegal in Kuwait; the worker must hold their own documents.