KUWAIT: Interior ministry has started allowing residency violators living illegally in the country prior to 2020 to regularize their status after paying the prescribed legal fines. The decision entails the annulment of decision no. 288 issued in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic regarding rules for the deportation of foreigners without residency permits or whose residency permits expired. The decision mandates the adjustment of the status of violators after March 1, 2020.

The interior ministry had previously banned such expat violators from getting legal residency after allowing them to leave the country without paying fines during the COVID-19 period. Security sources said residency departments have begun receiving violators, who should first consult with residency affairs investigators to obtain a “no objection certificate”, then pay the fine amounting to KD 600 to complete the renewal of their residency permit.