Why Has Kuwait Govt Started Amnesty Programme for Expats? What Can Indians Do? Scheme Explained – News18

The Kuwait government has introduced an Amnesty Scheme for expats for residency violators in the country. The Indian Embassy there has been receiving a surge in inquiries regarding the Kuwait government’s new programme, and is prioritising issuing emergency certificates and passports.

“The Embassy is prioritising the issuance of emergency certificates and passports, as applicable, with due regard to maintenance of other consular services as well. Advisories will be issued in case of change in the process of issuance of travel documents,” the embassy said via a post on social media site X. It also shared these two numbers and told Indians seeking assistance to reach out via these numbers: +965 65501767 and +965 65501769.

But why is the Middle Eastern government doing this?

The Kuwait government wants the expatriates living in the country illegally to rectify their status either by paying fines or obtaining the new residency certificates.

The idea is tackle residency infractions by providing individuals with a chance to rectify their status or leave the country without incurring financial penalties.

What exactly is the scheme?

The Amnesty Scheme, which is effective from March 17 to June 17, during the ongoing month of Ramadan, allows undocumented Indian residents to regularise their status by paying a fine 2 Kuwaiti Dinar (Rs 540) per day up to maximum of 600 KD (Rs 1,62,000).

Those unable to pay the fines can leave the country or will face deportation or legal penalties. If expats wish to return, they need to apply to a new procedure for residency.

Residents facing administrative hurdles or legal challenges can appeal to the residency affairs department for assessment.

Current Profile of Indians Living in Kuwait

According to the Indian Embassy data released on March 27, 2023, there are 9.8 lakh Indians living in Kuwait – the largest expat community in the country.

Around 3.6 lakh work in the domestic sector as workers (house-maids, houseboy, home-driver, home-cook, gardeners) who are not allowed to bring in their dependents. The private sector workers constitute around 4.7 lakh (construction workers, technicians, company drivers, engineers, doctors, nurses, chartered accountants, IT experts). Another category is that of dependents of people on work visa (1.08 lakh), out of which, there are about 40,000 Indian students studying in 26 Indian schools in the country. The government sector has around 25,000 Indian nationals (mainly engineers, doctors, paramedics, nurses), according to the Kuwait’s government data.

Most Indians are from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

There are over 200 Indian associations of professionals, cultural and educational institutions. They organise several cultural activities and festivals.

Have other countries had this scheme?

The UAE started a three-month visa amnesty programme for hundreds of illegal foreign workers, including Indians, overstaying their permits by allowing them to leave the country by paying up the penalties and giving them six months to find a job.

According to Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the entity responsible for entry and residence of foreigners in the UAE, visa violators before August 1, 2018, will be able to rectify their status legally during the amnesty period.