Residence permits for domestic workers of Kuwait who have been abroad for more than six months may now be cancelled. According to an order, Stays abroad are counted from the beginning of December 2021, and stays after 6 months are automatically cancelled.

The process was halted due to COVID-19 restrictions on cross-border travel and returned to its original location.

The Home Office announced that the maids would lose their homes if they stay outside Kuwait for more than six months. Article 20 stated that If the resident visa is not returned to Kuwait after 6 months from the date of departure, the residence permit will automatically be cancelled.

The rules suspended during the pandemic will take effect on December 1, 2021 (starting from that date a six-month countdown). After hundreds of thousands of migrant workers fled Kuwait during the pandemic, Kuwait's home sector is in dire need of domestic workers and helpers, according to a recent report. According to the report, the Public Works Authority has begun exploring new markets for domestic workers to address labour shortages in the local market. The shortage of domestic workers has exacerbated as many countries that have traditionally exported domestic workers to the Gulf countries began to cut jobs in those countries.