Citizens and expatriates, who are stranded outside Kuwait, and allowed to return once flights open in August are required to present a PCR certificate to show they are coronavirus free. They will also be subjected to a home quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of entry into the country, reports a local daily.
In addition, a pledge has to be signed that instructions set by the Ministry of Health will be followed, and the returnee has to download and register on (Shlonik) app before boarding the plane. The person has also to adhere to the requirements of wearing masks, gloves, etc., temperature will be checked for all passengers before boarding and upon arrival.
The daily reports that a random (PCR) test will be conducted on 10% of arriving passengers per flight.
The certified PCR test certificate proving the coronavirus free status is expected to be between KD10 to 20 dinars but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is likely to standardize those fees following approval from the ground services and the Ministry of Health.
Returnees to Kuwait, both Kuwaitis and expats, will have to visit health centers accredited by Kuwait embassies abroad for a health certificate 4 days prior to their departure. There is no need to contact Kuwait consulates or Embassies to obtain any documents, as it will lead to unnecessary overcrowding at the embassies abroad.
Around 40,000 expatriates have lost their residency permits in Kuwait after they were not renewed by their sponsor, and the expats are stuck abroad due to the global coronavirus pandemic, a Kuwait official revealed Sunday.
“They will be unable to return to the country unless they have new visas,” added Brig. Hamad Rashid Al Tawala, the head of Kuwait’s General Administration of Residency Affairs.
He cited orders from Interior Minister Anas Al Saleh to facilitate measures for renewing residency permits and expired passports of around 68,000 expatriates, mostly Egyptians and Indians.
“This crisis has been addressed by allowing renewal of residency permits and transfer on the condition that the embassy of the respective country stamps in approval renewal and the expat gets official written approval from the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry,” he told.