Kuwait announces new fines for residency & visit visa violations

KUWIAT CITY: Kuwait’s new residency law, which introduces tougher penalties for residency and visa violations, officially came into effect on Sunday. The updated regulations aim to ensure compliance with residency laws for foreign nationals and impose significant fines for violations such as failure to renew residency permits or overstaying a visit visa.

Key Settlement Fines Under the New Law

Residency Permits

Foreign nationals entering Kuwait on the following types of entry visas must secure a residency permit to avoid penalties:

• Family joining
• School enrolment
• Government work
• Private sector work
• Commercial or industrial work
• Medical treatment
• Temporary government contracts

Penalties for failing to obtain a residency permit:

• KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
• KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
• Maximum fine: KD1,200.

Visit Visas

Overstaying after the expiration of a visit visa results in:

• KD10 per day for each day of overstay.
• Maximum fine: KD2,000.

This applies to various types of visit visas, including:

• Governmental visits
• Private visits
• Tourism
• Commercial purposes
• Family visits
• Multiple-entry visas
• Transport vehicle drivers (trucks, buses, etc.)
• Cultural, sports, or social activities

Domestic Workers

For domestic workers whose residency expires or is not renewed, and who fail to leave Kuwait:

• KD2 per day for delays.
• Maximum fine: KD600.

For domestic workers who do not obtain a residency permit at all:

• KD2 per day for delays.
• Maximum fine: KD600.

Absconding Cases

If a worker’s residency is canceled due to the termination of employment, and a new residency permit is later issued, the penalties are:

• KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
• KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
• Maximum fine: KD1,200.

Expired Residency

If a foreigner’s residency expires, and it will not be renewed, failure to leave the country incurs the following fines:

• KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
• KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
• Maximum fine: KD1,200.

Temporary Residency

Exceeding the specified duration of temporary residency results in:

• KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
• KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
• Maximum fine: KD1,200.

Newborn Notifications

Failure to notify authorities of the birth of a child within four months results in:

• KD2 per day for delays within the first month.
• KD4 per day for delays after the first month.
• Maximum fine: KD2,000.

The new regulations are part of Kuwait’s efforts to tighten its residency system and ensure better compliance with its immigration laws.