Kuwait on cusp of extending expat residency to five years amid tighter penalties

Kuwait's parliamentary Interior and Defence Affairs Committee has passed draft rules extending the maximum residency period for expats to five years which now require a final vote from the National Assembly. 

Expats in Kuwait currently renew their residency visa every two-three years, depending on whether they are working in the private or public sector.

But expats who have their residency renewal application rejected must leave the country.

Head of the Interior and Defense Committee, MP Saadoun Hammad, announced on 27 May the committee's approval of the draft law submitted by the government regarding 'foreign residence'. 

In a statement to the National Assembly Media Center, Hammad said that the committee discussed, during its meeting that day, the 36-article law and voted on it in preparation for its referral to the National Assembly.

In a further statement on 29 May Hammad explained that "the main objective of presenting this bill by law as stipulated in Articles 18 and 28 is to combat residency traffickers by tightening the penalty of imprisonment and a fine for anyone who commits it". 

The proposal has also extended the maximum residency period for foreign investors to 15 years, while maximum residency period for children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis, as well as owners of real estate properties, will be 10 years.

Sponsors or employers will have to bear the cost of deportation of their expat workers.

The new rules also authorise the minister of interior to deport expats as he deems appropriate to maintain national security, and for moral reasons.