Strict Penalties Imposed Under Revised Residency Regulations”
The Kuwaiti government has implemented new regulations concerning expatriate residency through a draft decree-law approved on November 12. These regulations include strict measures for managing the entry, stay, and departure of expatriates, along with severe penalties for violations related to residency and employment.
Key Regulations:
- Reporting Lost or Damaged Passports: Expats must report lost or damaged passports to the Ministry of Interior within two weeks.
- Hotel and Accommodation Reporting: Hotels and accommodation providers must notify authorities within 24 hours of a foreign guest’s arrival or departure.
- Visit Duration: Expats can stay for up to three months, unless granted an extension or residency permit.
- Residency Duration: Temporary residency permits are valid for up to three months but can be extended to one year. Regular residency lasts up to five years, with exceptions for children of Kuwaiti women, property owners, and investors (up to 10 and 15 years, respectively).
- Domestic Workers: Domestic workers may not remain outside Kuwait for more than four months without prior approval from the Ministry of Interior.
- Sponsor Notification: Sponsors must inform the Ministry if a foreigner’s visa expires or if the foreigner overstays.
Penalties for Violations:
- Failure to Report: Fines up to 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.
- Hotel and Transport Violations: Fines up to 400 dinars for non-compliance.
- Residency and Visit Violations: Imprisonment for up to one year and fines up to 1,200 dinars for residency violations; up to 2,000 dinars for visit-related violations.
- Illegal Entry: Punishable by up to three years imprisonment and fines up to 3,000 dinars.
- Employment Violations: Up to two years imprisonment and fines up to 10,000 dinars for employing foreigners unlawfully.
- Residency Trafficking: Punishable by up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to 10,000 dinars.
Additional Provisions:
- Expats must enter Kuwait with valid travel documents and enter through designated checkpoints. They must also have valid residency permits and cannot remain outside the country for over six months without prior approval.
- Unauthorized employment and work permits violations are strictly prohibited.
- Penalties for residency trafficking can include up to three years imprisonment and fines of 10,000 dinars, with increased penalties for repeat offenders or officials involved.
- Diplomatic personnel and specific individuals are exempt from some residency regulations.
- The law adheres to international agreements and ensures a transition period for implementing new regulations.