KUWAIT: The interior ministry on Thursday announced a three-month amnesty for residency violators, allowing expats living illegally in the country to legalize their stay after paying fines or to leave Kuwait without paying any fines. The ministry said the amnesty, which starts on March 17 and continues until June 17, was issued on the occasion of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah becoming the ruler of the country.

Under the amnesty, expatriates living illegally in Kuwait can legalize their stay by obtaining a new residency but only after settling their fines. Residency fines are KD 2 per day with a maximum of KD 600, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Illegal residents who cannot pay the fine can leave the country from any exit point without paying any fines. However, they are allowed to return to the country after undergoing new procedures, the ministry said.

Violators who do not leave the country or legalize their stay during the amnesty period will not be granted residency and will be deported to their home countries. They will not be allowed to return to Kuwait. In addition, they will be penalized in accordance with the law, the ministry said.

Violators who are facing administrative obstacles or are embroiled in court cases are required to apply to the residency affairs department, which will assess their cases and see if they fulfill conditions to be granted residency in accordance with the law, the ministry statement said. Tens of thousands of expats are believed to be living illegally in Kuwait, but the ministry has not announced their numbers. The last time Kuwait issued an amnesty for illegal expats was in early 2021.