The General Administration of Residence Investigations in Kuwait has announced significant reforms to address violations of the country’s residency laws. Brigadier Mishaal Al-Shanfa, in an interview with Al-Jarida, emphasized the strict penalties and new measures introduced under the updated residency law, which is expected to come into effect in March 2025.
Key Points of the New Residency Law
- Increased Penalties for Residency Trafficking
- The crime of residency trafficking, previously classified as a misdemeanor, is now treated as a felony.
- Penalty:
- Up to 5 years imprisonment and
- 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars fine per worker.
- If the violator is a public employee abusing their position, penalties will double.
- Deportation and Fines for Residency Violators
- In 2024, over 26,000 residency violators were deported, with expectations to exceed 30,000 deportations in 2025.
- Violators face imprisonment, fines, and eventual deportation.
- Regulations for Visitors
- Visitors to Kuwait can stay for up to three months, after which they must leave unless they secure permission from the Ministry of Interior.
- Penalty for overstaying:
- Imprisonment up to 1 year
- Fine between 1,000 and 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars, or both.
- Residency Monitoring and Inspections
- The General Administration of Residence Investigations oversees compliance for over three million foreign residents in Kuwait.
- Key focus:
- Identifying and penalizing violators through daily inspections.
- Coordinating with the Public Authority for Manpower to monitor violations of labor laws, especially cases of workers not employed by their sponsors.
- Rebranding of Residency Offenses
- The term “residency trafficking” is being replaced with “residency for money” to protect Kuwait’s international reputation.
Departments Involved in Residency Enforcement
- Monitoring Violators: Teams in each governorate track residency offenders.
- Inspection Department: Focuses on labor law violations in coordination with the Public Authority for Manpower.
- Operations Department: Handles reports and links investigations.
Implications for Foreign Residents
The introduction of stricter penalties and more rigorous enforcement highlights Kuwait’s commitment to curbing residency violations. Foreign residents and visitors are advised to adhere strictly to residency rules, update their statuses as necessary, and avoid engaging in activities that contravene the law.
These measures aim to safeguard the stability and security of the country while ensuring fairness in labor and residency practices.