KUWAIT: Security sources have indicated that there will be no grace period granted to residency violators to correct their status in the near future. Previous experiences have shown that such measures are not effective, as violators tend to ignore the opportunity to rectify their status and choose to remain in Kuwait in violation, refusing to leave.

According to sources, the upcoming procedures for residency violators will include not only paying violation fees but also covering the costs of their deportation. To prevent illegal money transfers and evasion of fines, banks will be requested to freeze the accounts of violators. This will ensure that fines are withdrawn directly from the accounts, preventing individuals from claiming they lack the funds to pay.

Sources said decision to review the status correction for residency violators prior to 2020 is underway. If it is found to be ineffective, it will be officially canceled, and violators from before 2020 will be treated similarly to other violators.

On Thursday, the interior ministry started allowing residency violators living illegally in the country prior to March 1, 2020 to regularize their status after paying the prescribed legal fines. Security sources had 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 permits.

Meanwhile, a recent official document from the statistics department has revealed that the number of Kuwaiti citizens has reached 1.5 million, while expatriates constitute more than two-thirds of the population, accounting for 70 to 75 percent of the total population of the state. Population growth, whether among Kuwaitis or expatriates, is reported to be at a rate of 3.3 percent, according to the statistics.

The statistics further break down the expatriate population by nationality, with Indians reaching 1.12 million (31 percent of the population), Egyptians 671,000 (20.8 percent), Bangladeshis 281,000 (8.7 percent), Filipinos 214,000 (6.6 percent), Syrians 160,000 (4.9 percent), Saudis 128,000 (3.9 percent), Pakistanis 109,000 (3.4 percent), Sri Lankans 94,000 (2.9 percent) and Nepalese 70,000 (2.6 percent).