Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has issued Ministerial Resolution No. 139 of 2026 approving the regulatory bylaws for the GCC “Wafed” program for expatriate workers heading to Gulf countries.

The new regulations, which came into effect immediately, establish a comprehensive framework governing medical examinations for expatriates seeking work or residency visas in GCC member states.

Under the program, expatriate workers will undergo clinical, laboratory, and radiological examinations to ensure their physical and psychological fitness and to confirm they are free from infectious diseases that could threaten public health in GCC countries.

The regulations consist of 15 chapters and 54 articles covering the roles of the GCC Health Council, ministries of health, accredited medical facilities, technical committees, grievance procedures, confidentiality rules, and ethical standards.

The bylaws also define the responsibilities of the Health Council for the Cooperation Council States in supervising and expanding the Wafed program across labor-exporting countries.

According to the regulations, the council or its authorized bodies will oversee the accreditation of medical examination centers abroad, conduct surprise inspections, monitor health performance indicators, and implement penalties for violations.

The central committee under the program has been tasked with determining and updating the required clinical, laboratory, and radiological tests for expatriates.

The regulations also specify 20 areas of responsibility for the GCC Health Council, including developing the electronic Wafed system, conducting scientific studies on health unfitness cases, organizing training workshops, and coordinating with GCC embassies and consulates.

The program states that medical certificates issued by accredited health facilities will remain valid for two months from the date of issuance for visa processing and certification purposes.

The new rules apply to all expatriates entering GCC countries for work or residence, except for age groups exempted by individual member states. Vaccination cards must also be uploaded to the Wafed electronic system as part of the application process.