Kuwait grants amnesty for illegal migrants

The State of Kuwait has granted a six week amnesty period for illegal migrants residing in the country, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced.

Sri Lankan migrants overstaying in Kuwait are advised to contact the Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait to obtain necessary documentation for the return, sources said.

According to sources the State of Kuwait requests all migrants without a valid visa or a permission of the Kuwaiti immigration authorities to leave the country within six weeks, starting from September 1. The amnesty will expire on October 15, SLBFE sources said. Sources added that persons staying illegally in Kuwait can leave for their home country without paying any fines or facing any legal action provided this is done while the amnesty is in force.

Those who have had legal residency before are usually required to pay KD 2 per day for a maximum of KD 600. Those who came on visit visas and overstayed are usually charged KD 10 per day with a maximum fine of KD 1,000. People in this category are required to go to the Immigration Department and get their residency stamped.

They are not referred to court, online edition of Kuwait Times Newspaper reported.