More than 400,000 expatriates with valid residence permits are stranded outside Kuwait and unable to return due to the flight ban as many of them are from countries on the 34 country ban list. The number of expatriates with valid residency permits outside the country as of August 23 totaled 426,871, while those with expired residency visas cannot enter Kuwait until new visas are issued for them.
The Ministry of Interior is preparing an amendment to the current residency law and will seek approval from the concerned authorities, revealed assistant undersecretary at the ministry of interior Major General Anwar Al Barjas. He also disclosed that all types of new visas for foreigners is suspended until further notice and only after clearance from the ministry of health will the issuance be opened up.
Major General Barjas categorically stated that expats whose work contracts or residence visas had expired before Jan 1, 2020 would have to leave the country and could do so without paying any fines. They will be allowed to return on new visas, while those who have not left the country would face legal repercussions and penalties, and would be deported and not be allowed to return again.
Major General Anwar Al-Barjas also pointed out that everyone was waiting for amendments to the residency law, which would have significant implications for modifying the demographics, as the coronavirus crisis revealed the issues in this sphere, so when these amendments are made, they will be implemented by the ministry.