Strict enforcement: Violating visitors to face deportation from Kuwait

• Sources said that 258 expatriates left Kuwait via the airport after confirming they were not wanted, thus avoiding any further financial fines from the state.

• Violators can exit the country without paying fines from designated ports, provided they have no administrative or judicial obstacles

Security sources revealed to Al-Jarida newspaper that Lieutenant General Salem Al-Nawaf, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of the law against anyone violating the visitation regulations recently permitted by the ministry.

The sources explained that visitors violating the permitted one-month stay are initially given a one-week grace period. If they do not depart after paying the fine, they and their sponsors will face deportation from the country.

Regarding the Interior Ministry’s decision to regularize the status of violators, sources said that 652 residency violators submitted requests on Sunday to the Residency Affairs Departments to amend their status within the deadline announced by the Ministry, which began on Sunday and continues until June 17. They also mentioned that 258 expatriates left the country via the airport after confirming they were not wanted, thus avoiding any further financial fines from the state.

In the details of the news: An informed security source told Al-Jarida that Lieutenant General Salem Al-Nawaf, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, emphasized to the General Administration of Residency Affairs Investigations the importance of firmly and strictly enforcing the law on anyone violating the recently permitted visitation law. The duration of the visit is set at one month. Violators will be given a one-week period to leave after paying the fine, and failure to do so will result in deportation for both the violator and their sponsor from the country.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Administration of Residence Affairs and the General Administration of Residency Affairs Investigations, in cooperation and coordination with the General Administration of Ports and the General Administration of Information Systems, started receiving residency law violators. These individuals expressed their desire to amend their status or leave the country during the grace period provided for residency law violators.

According to the grace period announced by the ministry, which began on Sunday morning and continues until June 17, 2024, informed security sources told Al-Jarida that the number of people received by the residency departments in the six governorates who immediately headed to the airport to depart reached 652 expatriates, of whom 386 had applied for a modification.

They met the conditions and paid the fines imposed on them to obtain new residency permits under new sponsors. It was noted that 258 expatriates left the country through the airport after it was confirmed that they were not wanted and did not owe any other financial fines to the state.

The sources explained that 28 expatriates were prevented from leaving after it was found that they owed financial dues to the state, in addition to some having misdemeanor and felony cases registered against them.

They stressed that there is confusion or misunderstanding among some expatriates regarding the decision on the grace period for violators of the residency law.

They clarified that the amnesty includes residency violations only and no other financial matters owed to the state, such as traffic violations, electricity bills, municipal and trade violations, or any rights of citizens or residents registered for them in the country’s computer system.

The Ministry of Interior announced the terms of the grace period for residency law violators. These terms include allowing violators to amend their status after paying the fine and complying with the regulations and procedures. They also allow violators who leave the country during the grace period to return with new procedures.

Additionally, violators can exit the country without paying fines from designated ports, provided they have no administrative or judicial obstacles. The ministry urges residency violators with such obstacles to consult the General Administration of Residence Affairs to check the requirements for obtaining residency during this period.

Sources have indicated that residency violators failing to rectify their status or exit the country within the specified period will face legal penalties, denial of residency permits, deportation, and a ban on reentry to the country.