As the three-month deadline for mandatory biometric fingerprinting approaches its June expiration, Kuwait has introduced home biometric services for individuals who cannot visit Interior Ministry centers. Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Acting Interior Minister Fahd Al Yousuf has directed the provision of necessary biometric equipment for conducting the service at home, specifically targeting the elderly and those with illnesses preventing them from visiting ministry centers.

These directives aim to streamline the fingerprinting process for individuals facing compulsory requirements. The Kuwaiti government has mandated both citizens and expatriates to undergo fingerprinting within three months, starting from March 1, to retain access to Interior Ministry services. Failure to comply will result in the suspension of all ministry transactions.

Ministry officials are actively taking biometric fingerprints of Kuwaitis, citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and expatriates at various border outlets, Kuwait International Airport, and specific centers within security premises nationwide. Travelers can leave Kuwait without fingerprinting, but the procedure must be completed upon their return.

To facilitate the process, Kuwaitis and expatriates can schedule fingerprinting appointments via the Sahel app for unified government electronic services, as confirmed by an official spokesperson. Yousef Kazim, Sahel’s spokesperson, explained that the booking system allows individuals to select their preferred site and available time slot for fingerprinting. Upon receiving a confirmation alert for the appointment, individuals must present either the “My Identity” app or their civilian identification card when undergoing fingerprinting.

Foreigners make up approximately 3.2 million of Kuwait’s total population of 4.8 million, highlighting the importance of these biometric measures in maintaining national security and governance protocols.