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IMPACT – MEDIUM
The Kuwaiti government has suspended the issuance of certain visit visas.
Key Points:
Additional Information: More information regarding Kuwait’s decision to suspend the issuance of visit visas is available here.
BAL Analysis: The Kuwaiti government has suspended the issuance of visit visas as immigration authorities prepare to implement new visa regulations. BAL will provide more details regarding the suspension of visit visas as information becomes available.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
The Kuwaiti government has resumed its processing of work permit renewals for certain foreign nationals ages 60 and over.
BAL Analysis: Authorities have resumed accepting work permit renewals with intent to increase work opportunities for foreign nationals in the affected age group living in Kuwait. Individuals who have temporary extensions to their work permits can now apply for renewals.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
The Kuwaiti government has updated its COVID-19 entry requirements.
Additional Information: Those traveling to Kuwait must register their health and travel information through the Kuwait Mosafer platform and the Shlonik application before traveling. Foreign nationals who have been in or traveled through Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe within 14 days of intended arrival are barred from entering the country.
BAL Analysis: Authorities may change entry requirements with little to no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
IMPACT – HIGH
The Kuwaiti government recently announced that it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated foreign nationals.
BAL Analysis: The decision to reopen the country to fully vaccinated foreign nationals is welcome news. Employers and employees should plan for longer than normal processing times as the country reopens. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
Foreign nationals can now register COVID-19 vaccination documents through the Public Health Department and view their status on the “Immune Mobile App.”
Additional Information: It will take up to three business days for the Public Health Department to update the vaccination status on the “Immune Mobile App” for those who submitted their vaccination documents.
BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
The Kuwaiti government announced last week that it would gradually reopen the country to travel over the next three months as more citizens and residents receive vaccinations.
The Kuwait Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced that they have suspended inbound flights from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka indefinitely.
Analysis & Comments: Individuals intending to travel to Kuwait from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka should work with their immigration provider to discuss best available options for travel to Kuwait. Employers should expect possible start-date delays for individuals traveling from these countries. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States, which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
IMPACT – MEDIUM What is the change? Kuwaiti officials recently announced that expatriates 60 years of age and older will soon no longer be allowed to renew their work permits and residencies.
What does the change mean? Expatriate employees who are 60 or older will need to leave the country or find an additional basis to remain in Kuwait once their current permits expire. This new regulation will only apply to work permit holders, not dependents 60 years of age or older.
Analysis & Comments: Kuwait is making this change in order to help protect the local workforce and address what the government calls “a demographic imbalance” in the country. Employers with employees who will be ineligible for work authorization and/or residence in Kuwait are encouraged to begin developing alternative plans to meet staffing needs. Expatriate employees who are ineligible for work authorization and residence under the new policy and who do not qualify for some other immigration status will have three months to leave Kuwait after their permit expires.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2020. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
The government has issued new guidelines for travel abroad, and has updated the lockdown regulations for some areas of the country, as it works toward entering phase 2 of the five-phase reopening plan.
Background: Kuwait implemented a five-phase plan to reopen the country, which originally included a curfew from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travel to Kuwait continues to be restricted to Kuwaiti citizens, their immediate family members and domestic workers accompanying them. Government entities closed temporarily in April, and new work permit applications continue to be suspended.
Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.
Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication.
The government has issued new guidelines for travel abroad, and has updated lockdown regulations for some areas of the country, as it works toward entering phase 2 of a five-phase reopening plan.
Background: Kuwait recently implemented a five-phase plan to reopen the country, which originally included a curfew from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travel to Kuwait continues to be restricted to Kuwaiti citizens, their immediate family members and domestic workers accompanying them. Government entities closed temporarily in April, and new work permit applications continue to be suspended.