Kuwait Cabinet approves foreigners’ residence law
The Kuwaiti Council of Ministers approved a draft decree-law on the residence of foreigners, aimed at prohibiting the trade in residence, establishing rules for the deportation and expulsion of foreigners, and imposing strict penalties on those who violate the provisions of the Foreigners’ Residence Law.
The draft decree-law on the residence of foreigners includes 7 chapters addressing details as follows:
- Entry of foreigners.
- Notification of competent authorities.
- Residence of foreigners.
- Residence trading and associated crimes.
- Rules for deportation.
- Expulsion of foreigners.
- Penalties and general provisions.
The draft decree-law also contains 36 articles, the most prominent of which is that ‘it is prohibited to trade in residence by exploiting the recruitment or facilitation of the recruitment of a foreigner under an entry visa or residence permit or its renewal in exchange for financial sums or benefit’.
Another article in the draft decree-law stipulates about ‘prohibiting employers or recruiters from employing foreigners for purposes other than those specified at the time of recruitment, allowing them to work for others without authorization from the Ministry of Interior, or unjustifiably withholding their dues.
Moreover, it is prohibited for a foreigner to work for others without permission from his government employer or from the competent authorities.
In all cases the decree-law further prohibits anyone from sheltering or employing a foreigner without valid residence, whether expired or not, or housing individuals without legal residency in the country.
Another article in the draft decree-law stipulates that ‘the sponsors of foreigners must notify the competent authority at the Ministry of Interior of the expiration of the foreigner’s entry visa or temporary or regular residence if he does not leave the State of Kuwait’.
The Council of Ministers approved the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality’s report, which includes cases involving the loss and withdrawal of Kuwaiti nationality from individuals who obtained it fraudulently, as per Decree Law No. (15) of 1959 and its amendments.
