The entry of the new month brings new opportunities and a welcome change for expat residents in Kuwait as the Ministry of Interior (MOI) has issued a decree to exempt every residency violator from paying penalty fees, provided that they leave the country within April.
However, as per Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh, the violators of the residency law who are unable to leave the country from April 1 to 30 will be subjected to penalties and will be deported as well as banned from returning.
Kuwaiti Government Sets up Amnesty Campaign for Residency Violators for the Whole Month of April
Meanwhile, a report shared by Al-Anba pointed out that the decision stipulated by the ministry stipulates that expats who do not have a residence permit or whose residence permits have expired must leave the country from any of the designated ports.
The exit procedures will be carried out at the said ports without the need for further approvals from any other parties.
Meanwhile, those with residency violations but wish to stay in the country and are ready to pay the relevant fines without being referred to the investigation authorities must pay the fines so that their status will be rectified, provided that they meet all conditions for obtaining a residency permit.
Moreover, the ministry noted that these conditions only apply to only the following cases:
- wives of Kuwait citizens;
- non-Kuwaiti parents of Kuwaiti men and women;
- non-Kuwaiti children and husbands of Kuwaiti women;
- non-Kuwaiti widows or divorced women who are the guardians of their Kuwaiti children
- domestic workers, and
- expatriates in violation of the residency law and are present in the country as of March 1, 2020.
Here are some important details to take note of regarding the ministerial decision:
- Violators can leave the country without paying any financial penalties.
- Violators are allowed to leave without paying travel costs and provide airline tickets.
- Violators can return to the country again.
- Accommodations will be provided to violators after completing their procedures until the date of their travel.
The processing of exit procedures will begin from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm daily. And here are the exit points where violators may proceed according to gender:
Male residents: Farwaniya Governorate Al-Muthanna Primary School – Boys, Block 1, Street 122.
Female residents: Farwaniya Governorate Farwaniya Primary School – Girls, Block 1, Street 76.
And here is the schedule for exit procedures, categorized according to nationality:
- Filipinos: 1 April – 5 April
- Egyptians: 6 April – 10 April
- Indians: 11 April -15 April
- Bangladeshi: 16 April – 20 April
- Sri Lankan: 21 April – 25 April
- Other nationalities: 26 April – 30 April
Those applying for the amnesty are required to bring their valid passports and two pieces of luggage (one 20-kilo bag for check-in and one 7-kilo bag for hand carry luggage.)
Meanwhile, those who do not have a valid passport with them will need to bring three (3) passport size ID photos in blue background.
For Filipino citizens, the Philippine Embassy will assign an officer at the aforementioned processing centers for the issuance of the travel document.
Once approved, those granted with amnesty will no longer be allowed to leave the processing center, and they will be brought to a designated shelter of the MOI where they will await their return to the Philippines.
ALSO READ: Civil ID to Replace Iqama Stickers as Proof of Residency