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Kuwait Announces 3-Month Visa Amnesty For Expats; Offering A Relief From Residency Rules & Easy Renewal

Three-month visa amnesty puts Kuwait in open-door position.

by Deeplata Garde
Kuwait Announces 3-Month Visa Amnesty For Expats; Offering A Relief From Residency Rules & Easy Renewal

In its latest residency rule alteration, Kuwait is making the news. Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior dropped a bomb by announcing a 3-month amnesty for those dancing rather freely with the country’s residency laws. It will begin on March 17th and end on June 7th thus being likened to the golden card that all expats facing visa violations would want.

What Is Amnesty? Kuwait Revises Residency Rules

Hold your breath! Expat residents who were once afraid of deportation can now reset their stay period in Kuwait. The Ministry of Interior has put it simply, fines are our saviours. Pay up before June 17, 2024 strikes. The price tag on every visa fine is KD2 (roughly $6.5), not exceeding KD600 ($1,952). This is like a reality check for visas, pay or keep staying or leave without a trace.

Exit Schemes And Return Revelations

H-1B visa
Image Credits: Canva Images

But what if you cannot afford it? No problem; Kuwait will take care of it. Can’t afford it? Bye-bye, no regrets, you can leave the country without any payment of fines at all.
And here’s the kicker: those who jet off without settling their dues can still stage a comeback. Just follow the new procedure playbook, and Kuwait’s doors might just swing back open.

The Fine Print: Pay The Fine or Pay The Price

Traffic Fines
Pic Creds: Canva Stock Images

Now, for the fine print for the amnesty. Those who choose to live in residency limbo, neither leaving nor paying fines, are in for a rocky ride. Residency? Forget about it. Deportation? Absolutely. And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s a hefty fine waiting to be served on your way out. Plus, a one-way ticket to the banned list, say adieu to Kuwait, at least for the foreseeable future.

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To Sum It Up!

1. Expats unable to pay fines or update their status can leave Kuwait from specific ports without penalties and may return later, while others must follow new rules.
2. Violators can fix their status by paying fines and following the rules.
3. Those breaking residency laws and not fixing their status or leaving in time will be deported and fined, unable to come back.
4. People with issues must seek help from the Residence Affairs Administration to check if they qualify for residency.

So, as the countdown to June 17 begins, expats in Kuwait are facing a choice: pay the piper or pack your bags. With the clock ticking, it’s time to make a move – and maybe, just maybe, rewrite your residency rulebook in the process.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Stock Images

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