Kuwait Times, Sun, Mar 17, 2024 | Ramadan 7, 1445
3-month amnesty for visa violators
Kuwait:
The interior ministry on
Thursday announced a three-month amnesty for residency violators, allowing
expats living illegally in the country to legalize their stay after paying fines
or to leave Kuwait without paying any fines. The ministry said the amnesty,
which starts on March 17 and continues until June 17, was issued on the occasion
of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad
Al-Jaber Al-Sabah becoming the ruler of the country.
Under the amnesty, expatriates living illegally in Kuwait can legalize their
stay by obtaining a new residency but only after settling their fines. Residency
fines are KD 2 per day with a maximum of KD 600, the interior ministry said in a
statement.
Illegal residents who cannot pay the fine can leave the country from any exit
point without paying any fines. However, they are allowed to return to the
country after undergoing new procedures, the ministry said.
Violators who do not leave the country or legalize their stay during the amnesty
period will not be granted residency and will be deported to their home
countries. They will not be allowed to return to Kuwait. In addition, they will
be penalized in accordance with the law, the ministry said.
Violators who are facing administrative obstacles or are embroiled in court
cases are required to apply to the residency affairs department, which will
assess their cases and see if they fulfill conditions to be granted residency in
accordance with the law, the ministry statement said. Tens of thousands of
expats are believed to be living illegally in Kuwait, but the ministry has not
announced their numbers. The last time Kuwait issued an amnesty for illegal
expats was in early 2021.