Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced that expatriates who have not completed their biometric fingerprinting by the Dec 31, 2024 deadline will face suspension of various government services. These suspensions include the renewal of residence permits and the freezing of bank accounts. However, the ministry clarified that no fines will be imposed for failing to meet the deadline.
As of now, approximately 76% of Kuwait’s expatriate residents have successfully completed the biometric fingerprinting process. The Director of the General Department of Criminal Evidence, Major General Eid Al-Owihan, shared these details, adding that 224,000 expatriates and 16,442 Kuwaitis have yet to finish the procedure.
To accommodate those still needing to complete the process, 8 centers remain open daily from 8 am to 8 pm, and the services will continue throughout January 2025. For those unable to visit the centers, home visits are available for individuals with special needs and bed-ridden patients, with over 13,000 completed fingerprinting sessions through this service.
The government is also working with the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs to provide exceptions for Kuwaitis studying abroad, patients receiving treatment, and diplomats. These individuals will not face suspensions until they return to Kuwait and complete the process.
