|
|
The Amiri Decree 17/ 1959, a law that regulates the
residency rules for expatriates was issued and it
consists of 28 articles. There has been amendments to it
thereafter.
It is not allowed for any expatriates to enter or depart
Kuwait without a valid passport issued by the formal
authority in his country. The passport must be stamped
with visa issued by the Kuwait Consulate abroad. No
expatriate can enter or depart Kuwait unless from
authorized entries and stamped from competent authority.
All expatriates must provide their passports upon
request, answer any information requested and must refer
to the Immigration Office upon request. In case of loss
or damage of passport, they must inform within 3 days to
the Immigration Office. All captains for ships,
airplanes and car drivers must provide list of their
names and their crew upon arrival to Kuwait and must
inform the local authorities about the passengers who
don't have valid passports and they must prevent them
from leaving the ship, airplane or car.
The Head of the Immigration Department can provide
temporary visa for 3 months and the expatriate must
leave Kuwait on its expiry unless renewal is granted
from the Ministry of Interior not exceeding one year. It
is possible to allow expatriate to reside in Kuwait
temporarily for a period not exceeding 3 months. An
expatriate who is a government employee is granted an
ordinary visa for the whole period of his engagement
with the government under condition of having a valid
passport. If the validity of the passport expires, the
expatriate must depart Kuwait within a period not less
than one week and not exceeding 3 months.
It is possible for the Head of Police Department to
issue a written deportation order for any expatriate
even if they have visa in the following situations:-
- If a judgment was issued from court for the
deportation of the expatriate.
- If expatriate has no means of living.
- Deportation can be issued in case of violation of
public order, public security or public morality.
It is not allowed for any expatriate who was deported
previously to come back to Kuwait unless there is
permission from the office of the Minister of Interior,
Kuwait. The fees for issuing visas and renewal are
regulated by an order from Police Department and Public
Security. An amount of KD 10 will be levied for every
day for delay if the entry of expatriate into Kuwait was
for a visit visa and the amount will be considered KD 2
for every day delay for ordinary or temporary visa. If
the expatriate did not intend to have full residency but
only a visit and if he/ she did not depart Kuwait within
the time limit, the court can impose imprisonment not
exceeding 3 months and fine not less than KD 600 and not
exceeding KD 1000. Some Arab citizens can be exempted
from visa requirements after special decree issued by
the Kuwait Government.
The exceptions from the implementation of this law are:-
a) Head of countries or President of countries and their
family.
b) Head of diplomatic missions, their family, their
formal employees, their consulates, family under the
conditions of the reciprocal treatment.
c) Holders of diplomatic passport under condition of
reciprocal treatment.
d) Members of tribes that enters Kuwait from land
borders.
e) Ships, air planes, crew which arrives to Kuwait which
they hold naval or air tickets from the authorities in
their countries.
This law does not contradict any international
agreements that regulates the expatriate treatments
under the International law.
|
