kuwait travel ban philippines

• Subscribe Now

Kuwait suspends issuance of new visas for Filipinos

Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

KUWAIT. An aerial view taken with a drone shows the Kuwait National Assembly building, October 7, 2020.

Stephanie McGehee/Reuters

MANILA, Philippines – Kuwait has suspended the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, citing an official notice sent to the Philippines on Thursday, May 11.

The suspension took effect on Wednesday, May 10, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said in a Headstart interview on Friday, May 12. Foreign news outlets had been reporting on the suspension before Philippine authorities were officially informed.

De Vega said that the ban “appears” to include tourist visas. However, the suspension does not affect Filipinos who have residency status in Kuwait, which includes most of the around 300,000 Filipinos living in the Gulf state, he said.

In its official statement on Friday, May 12, the DFA said that the Philippines “remains committed to discussing and resolving bilateral issues with all countries in an amicable manner.”

“In the case of Kuwait, we are confident that with our friendly relations and strong people-to-people links, we shall be able to find a mutually satisfactory solution that will take into account the need to provide maximum protection and access to justice for all our nationals working in the country,” the DFA said.

In February, following the brutal killing of Kuwait-based Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara allegedly at the hands of her employer’s son, the Philippines halted the processing of applications of first-time Filipino domestic workers bound for Kuwait.

“We imposed the ban because of the heinous crime committed against our kababayans . Now the Kuwaitis are saying, ‘Well, in that case, we won’t hire any workers.’ And that’s not really a surprise. In other words, the timing was a surprise that they issued this. But that action, not really,” said De Vega.

A Gulf News report cited Kuwaiti authorities who alleged that the Philippines was not compliant with implementing provisions of their bilateral labor agreement. In the Headstart interview, De Vega described Kuwait’s issues with the Philippines’ labor protection mechanisms – the use of shelters, and tapping foreign placement agencies when there are labor disputes.

“They said that under Kuwaiti law, there should be no shelters for runaway workers, but then again, under Philippine law we have to have those shelters. And of course, it is the obligation of the Philippine government to protect them. We are not encouraging them to escape from their employers, if that’s what Kuwaitis are afraid of,” De Vega said in a mix of English and Filipino.

De Vega said the second issue was that whenever workers complain of abuse, Philippine authorities tap the foreign recruitment agency to step in. “They said that that is not applicable under Kuwaiti law. So there are these issues, they are not clearly defined in the agreement if whether these are violations or not.”

But the Philippines has had its own Bahay Kalinga in Kuwait for years , and tapping recruitment agencies to check on possible abuse is a standard practice. Why expand the ban now?

“We presume that this is diplomatic pressure for us to lift the suspension on household workers,” De Vega told Rappler. “But maximum protection and justice for our overseas nationals should come first.”

Before Jullebee: OFWs who died at the hands of their employers in Kuwait

The DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers are set to hold meetings on Kuwait’s latest move on Friday. De Vega said there have yet to be decision points on whether to lift the partial deployment ban.

“What happens if other countries do the same? [They would think,] ‘Well, okay, we apply pressure to the Philippines and then they will fold’…. So we won’t just lift the ban just like that,” he said.

The DFA also guaranteed that the Philippines was still pursuing justice for Ranara’s killing.

In a statement on Friday, the DMW said that it would continue to “pursue the track of  labor diplomacy  in ensuring the welfare and safety of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).”

“We are also coordinating with our Philippine recruitment agencies, Filipino communities and leaders, and other stakeholders on how to address this development in the best interest of all concerned. The DMW stands ready to assist our OFWs affected by this action of the Kuwait government,” the DMW said.

The DMW urged affected Kuwait-bound OFWs who need assistance to connect with the agency through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs hotlines at 09567821309 and 09603532532, or send an email to  [email protected] .

“We assure everyone that the DMW will work with all of its partners to mitigate the impact of this recent development [on] our Kuwait-bound workers,” the department said.

Overseas Filipino worker rights group Migrante International and Senator Joel Villanueva earlier questioned the effectiveness of deployment bans in protecting migrant workers, as abuses continue to happen, such as in the case of Kuwait.

In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office on Saturday, May 13, DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said the affected OFWs would be included in the DMW’s National Reintegration Program. 

According to the statement, a delegation of government officials from the DFA and DMW will head to Kuwait this May for the ongoing discussions on labor concerns between the Philippines and Kuwait. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines .

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

How does this make you feel?

Related Topics

Michelle Abad

Recommended stories, {{ item.sitename }}, {{ item.title }}, overseas filipinos, tradisyon, purple patch put their spin on filipino cuisine.

Efforts underway to bring home Filipinos killed in UAE floods

At least 3 Filipinos dead in UAE flooding

Filipinos aboard Iran-seized cargo ship ‘safe,’ expect release – DMW

At Home sa Abroad: TOYM awardee Hyku Desesto on making her mark overseas

Checking your Rappler+ subscription...

Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access.

Why is it important to subscribe? Learn more

You are subscribed to Rappler+

• Hi, My Account Subscriptions --> My KT Trading Contact Us Privacy Notice Sign Out

Wed, Apr 24, 2024 | Shawwal 15, 1445

Dubai 20°C

• Expo City Dubai
• Emergencies
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Umm Al Quwain

Life and Living

• Visa & Immigration in UAE
• Banking in UAE
• Schooling in UAE
• Housing in UAE
• Ramadan 2024
• Saudi Arabia
• Philippines
• Cryptocurrency
• Infrastructure
• Currency Exchange
• Horse Racing
• Local Sports

Entertainment

• Local Events

Dubai World Cup

• Track Notes
• Big Numbers
• Daily Updates
• Arts & Culture
• Mental Health
• Relationships
• Staycations
• UAE Attractions
• Tech Reviews
• Motoring Reviews
• Movie Reviews
• Book reviews
• Restaurant Reviews
• Young Times

Supplements

• Back To School
• Eid-Al-Adha
• It’s Summer Time
• Leading Universities
• Higher Education
• India Real Estate Show
• Future Of Insurance
• KT Desert Drive
• New Age Finance & Accounting Summit
• Digital Health Forum
• Subscriptions
• UAE Holidays
• Year of the 50th
• Latest News
• Prayer Timings
• Cinema Listings
• Inspired Living
• Advertise With Us
• Privacy Notice

KT APPDOWNLOAD

Kuwait's entry ban on filipinos explained : who will be affected by visa suspension, philippine government explains details about the recently announced travel restrictions, by web desk.

• Follow us on

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

Published: Thu 11 May 2023, 7:57 PM

Last updated: Fri 12 May 2023, 12:39 AM

Philippine authorities on Thursday confirmed that Kuwait has imposed an entry ban on Filipinos — but clarified that the restriction doesn't apply to all.

The ban reportedly came into force on May 10, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).

"All those (with) new entry visas in Kuwait from the Philippines are not allowed to enter," said Paul Raymund Cortes, assistant secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and former consul-general in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Cortes said the suspension applies to all visas — including tourist, student, business or employment — that was issued to Filipino travellers who are flying to the Gulf country for the first time.

The authority clarified, however, that those with 'Iqama' or residence permits will not be affected. "Those who have residence ID cards will be allowed to enter," Cortes told local media.

When Kuwait's visa suspension for Filipinos was announced, it was reported that the decision was taken because the Southeast Asian country violated some provisions of bilateral labour agreements. Cortes did not provide any comment on the issue.

“In the case of Kuwait, (we cannot deny) that there are very, very friendly relations plus very strong people-to-people links,” he said in the PNA report. “We’re confident that we will be able to find a mutually satisfactory solution to whatever issues we feel need to be discussed with Kuwait.”

• Kuwait suspends all work, entry visas for Filipinos: Local media
• Dubai: No appointment required for Filipino expats claiming passports at consulate
• UAE: Filipinos told not to present fake airline tickets to skip OEC online appointment
• Dubai flights: Dh10 airfare announced for popular Asian destination
• Newsletters

More news from World

Man sets self on fire outside new york court where trump trial underway.

The incident happened shortly after jury selection for the hush-money trial was completed

world 4 days ago -->

French police detain intruder at Iranian consulate in Paris

The neighbourhood around the consulate was closed after the 60-year-old entered the premises, claiming to be armed with an explosive vest

Indians vote in the first phase of the world’s largest election

The first of seven phases, Friday's vote covered 166 million voters in 102 constituencies across 21 states and territories

Reuters' Mohammed Salem wins 2024 World Press Photo of the Year award

The winning image portrays Inas Abu Maamar sobbing while holding Saly's sheet-clad body in the hospital morgue

world 5 days ago -->

India: Businessman Raj Kundra's properties worth nearly Rs 1-billion seized

The attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu registered in the name of actor Shilpa Shetty

Thousands evacuated as volcano erupts in Indonesia, tsunami warning issued

The crater of Mount Ruang flamed with lava against a backdrop of lightning bolts overnight after erupting four times on Wednesday

At least 33 killed, 27 injured in flash floods in Afghanistan

The majority of the casualties were in the provinces of Farah, Herat, Zabul, and Kandahar

world 1 week ago -->

India: Passengers from UAE caught smuggling 2.6 kg gold at Mumbai airport

In four days, Indian Customs seized more than 10.02 kg gold in different cases at Mumbai International Airport

Type your keywords

Kuwait pressuring PH to lift deployment ban --- DFA official

At a glance.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said the suspension of issuance of entry visas for Filipinos to Kuwaiti was a response to the decision of the Philippines in February to suspend the deployment of first-time household workers to Kuwait

There have also been two recurring issues the Kuwaiti Government is concerned about between the bilateral labor agreement of both countries

De Vega said the Philippines "won't just lift the ban just like that"

Kuwait's suspension of issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos was allegedly a move to "pressure" the Philippines to lift its deployment ban of Filipino workers to that country, a foreign affairs official said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said the suspension made by the Kuwaiti government was a response to the decision of the Philippines in February to suspend the deployment of first-time household workers to Kuwait.

De Vega said Kuwait's response to the ban was to "expand" the non-deployment of Filipinos to all other workers, aside from household workers.

"What Kuwait is saying is: well we won't take other workers then. So that was obviously their response and some measure of pressure, shall we say, for the Philippines to reconsider its decision," De Vega said in a television interview on Friday, May 12.

Violations of labor agreement

According to the foreign affairs official, there have been two recurring issues the Kuwaiti Government is concerned about pertaining to the bilateral labor agreement of both countries.

These are the initiative to set up a shelter for runaway Filipino household workers and the effort to reach out to Kuwaiti employers over reports of abuses.

De Vega said these efforts have been verbally identified by Kuwait as violations of its labor laws.

De Vega explained that while the setting up of shelter for Filipinos who run away from their employers due to abuses, is not supported under Kuwait's law, it is allowed under Philippine law.

"Sabi nila under Kuwaiti law, dapat walang (They say, under Kuwaiti law, there should not be a) shelter for runaway workers but then again under Philippine law, we have to have those shelters and of course it is the obligation of the Philippine government to protect them," he said.

"We are not encouraging them to escape from their employers—yun ang kinakatakutan ng employers (this is what the employers fear of)—but in case of abuses and they have to leave, then they have to have a place to go to," he explained.

The second issue they were complaining about was that whenever there is a complaint about labor abuse, the Philippine government asks the worker's foreign placement agency in Kuwait to contact the employer. This, De Vega said, is also not applicable under the Kuwaiti law.

While these issues are referred to by Kuwait as violations, these are "not clearly defined in the agreement (between Kuwait and the Philippines) whether these are violations or not," De Vega noted.

However, it is something that both governments will have to discuss to resolve the issue.

Will PH lift deployment ban?

De Vega said the decision to lift the ban will still have to be discussed by concerned agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

"We have meetings today. We hope to engage the Congress as well, (and then) eventually give recommendations to the President," he said.

De Vega further said the Philippines "won't just lift the ban just like that," as the country is still seeking justice on the death of Jullebee Ranara, a domestic helper in the Middle East country, who was killed by her employer's son. Her body was burned and dumped in the desert.

He stressed that the deployment ban was imposed "because of the heinous crime committed to (one of) our kababayans."

"As for lifting the ban, right now, we are not deciding that yet. It doesn't mean we won't. Hindi naman pwedeng permanent ban 'to 'no (This can't be permanent), but we'll have to sit down and discuss," De Vega said.

There will be meetings with Kuwaiti officials this month where both countries are expected to "mutually appeal" on the current bilateral agreement.

"What's going to happen is we're going to appeal and they are going to appeal. It will be a mutual appeal, I'm sure. So, we may have to put some revisions to the labor agreement or otherwise have some sort of paper on how we'll move forward," De Vega said.

Not massive

The DFA executive also said that while the suspension of issuance of entry visas to Filipinos covers all workers, the effect is not massive.

"It's not that massive yung maapektuhan, na hindi makakapunta sa Kuwait (The effect or the number of workers who won't be able to go to Kuwait will not be massive)," De Vega said.

"As for yung papunta dun (those who are going there), there's not that many non-household workers who are now being deployed," he added.

According to him, there are currently 275,000 to 300,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, almost all have a residency. About 5,000 to 10,000 of them are undocumented.

He clarified that for those who are already there and have a residency, they will be allowed to come home and go back.

READ MORE: DFA: Kuwait suspends issuing entry visas for Filipinos

Kuwait Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the Philippines to Kuwait

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Ready to travel?

Find flights to kuwait, find stays in kuwait, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, dominican republic, the bahamas, u.s. virgin islands, united kingdom, united states, know when to go.

Sign up for email alerts as countries begin to open - choose the destinations you're interested in so you're in the know.

Can I travel to Kuwait from the Philippines?

Most visitors from the Philippines, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Kuwait.

Can I travel to Kuwait if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the Philippines can enter Kuwait without restrictions.

Can I travel to Kuwait without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the Philippines can enter Kuwait without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Kuwait?

Visitors from the Philippines are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Kuwait.

Can I travel to Kuwait without quarantine?

Travelers from the Philippines are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Kuwait?

Mask usage in Kuwait is not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Kuwait?

Restaurants in Kuwait are open. Bars in Kuwait are .

Philippine officials travel to Kuwait to discuss entry ban

ADVERTISEMENT

Kuwait suspends new visas for Philippines workers in rights row

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Conor Humphries

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

World Chevron

Fire broke out at fuel and energy facilities in Russia's Smolensk region as a result of a drone attack launched by Ukraine, said Vasily Anokhin, the governor of the western region.

• Account details
• Newsletters
• Group subscription

Kuwait-bound Filipino migrants left stranded by entry ban

Two countries have clashed over how to address incidents of worker abuse

MANILA -- Irene Micabelo is one of thousands of Filipinos stuck at home since Kuwait imposed an entry ban on workers from the Philippines on May 10, escalating a long-simmering diplomatic feud between the two countries.

She is waiting with her bags packed for a chance to take up a job as a kitchen helper in Kuwait, where she can earn higher wages than at home, and has already paid around $390 to a recruitment agency for help finding the job. She has now spent much of her savings and is eager to get to work.

Philippines sovereign wealth fund plan wins key Senate approval

Philippine infrastructure king decides to go private, children in vietnam, philippines face high climate risks: report, philippines' top coal miner turns to japan to cut china reliance, philippines to step up ties with u.s.-japan-australia coalition, philippine airlines to add 1,500 flights as nation reopens for tourism, philippines startup marcopay gives sailors financial freedom at sea, latest on international relations, former japanese pm taro aso meets trump in new york, north korea officials visit iran in a rare public trip, germany suspects eu parliament staffer of spying for china, sponsored content, about sponsored content this content was commissioned by nikkei's global business bureau..

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

US sanctions over malicious cyber activity for Iran military

PA Prime Minister Mustafa announces new reform package

UNRWA chief calls for probe into attacks on staff, premises

Did Israel use Iran's attack to green light Rafah invasion?

The ad campaign in Lebanon fuelling violence against Syrians

What is GPS jamming and why is Israel using it?

How to justify the genocide of Palestinians in 14 easy steps

Kashmir and Palestine: Two occupations bound by struggle

How Zionism and nationalism crushed the Arab-Jewish alliance

Tents turn to makeshift schools for Afghan children

Gaza: World's deadliest place to be a humanitarian worker

London’s Science Museum protests against Adani Group

• Investigations

TRENDING NOW

Philippines to lift kuwait travel ban following workers' rights deal.

Kuwait and the Philippines signed a deal on Friday, following a huge diplomatic rift, that will see Manilla lift a ban on its nationals travelling to the Gulf state for work. The agreement will regulate the rights of Filipina domestic workers, after a dispute between the two countries on the issue led to Manila adopting a travel ban for its nationals to the country.

"A short time ago we signed an agreement between the two countries on the employment of domestic workers," Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khaled al-Sabah told a joint press conference with his Filipino counterpart Alan Peter Cayetano.

In February Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed a partial ban on workers travelling to Kuwait.

The ban followed the shocking discovery of the  corpse of Filipina maid  Joanna Demafelis in a freezer. Her murder brought global attention about the alleged mistreatment of domestic workers in Kuwait, and condemnation from leading human rights organisations.

The crisis deepened after Kuwaiti authorities in April expelled Manila's ambassador following the emergence of video footage showing a Philippine embassy staff member helping workers escape employers accused of mistreatment. 

Cayetano said a new ambassador to Kuwait would soon be appointed and that he would advise Duterte to "immediately" lift the ban.

"I think the crisis is over. We will move on with the bilateral relations and we will resume normal ties with Kuwait," said an official with Cayetano's delegation.

He added that the agreement "gives a number of rights to Philippine workers".

The agreement says that workers will be allowed to keep their passports and mobile phones - which are often confiscated by employers. 

It stipulates that contract renewals should be approved by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, instead of being automatically renewed.

Employers must provide domestic workers with food, housing, clothing and health insurance, according to the document.

About 262,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait, 60 percent of them in domestic labour, according to Manila.

More than two million Filipinos are employed across the Gulf.

• workers rights
• Philippines

More In News

• Environment
• Road to Net Zero
• Art & Design
• Film & TV
• Music & On-stage
• Pop Culture
• Fashion & Beauty
• Home & Garden
• Things to do
• Combat Sports
• Horse Racing
• Beyond the Headlines
• Trending Middle East
• Business Extra
• Culture Bites
• Year of Elections
• Pocketful of Dirhams
• Books of My Life
• Iraq: 20 Years On

Kuwait open to negotiations on Philippines visa ban if demands met

Gulf nation suspended all new visas for filipinos indefinitely, the interior ministry confirmed.

A labour official speaks to Filipino workers who had been repatriated from Kuwait, in Manila in 2018. Reuters

Kuwait has said it is open to negotiations with the Philippines on the visa ban for Filipino workers if Manila accepts its demands.

The country suspended all new work visas for Philippines citizens indefinitely in an escalation over workers' protection and employers' rights last week.

The visa suspension came after Manila stopped sending first-time workers to Kuwait in February, after the body of Filipina Jullebee Ranara was found in a desert in January.

Kuwait said there had been several employment violations in the Philippine embassy , including housing workers in shelters, searching for runaways without involving state institutions, communicating with Kuwaiti citizens without permission from authorities and pressuring employers to add clauses to work contracts.

Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Mansour Al Otaibi said: “The Philippine embassy must admit its violation of Kuwaiti laws and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“The embassy must also pledge not to repeat its violations and that those responsible for these violations will be held accountable.”

A bilateral meeting was held two weeks ago after the government of the Philippines submitted a request to discuss the latest developments regarding the suspension of worker visas.

While Kuwait said it would continue a temporary ban on all types of visas issued for Filipino workers, it confirmed it would renew visas for those with a valid residence permit who wished to continue working in the country.

The Philippines and Kuwait signed a labour agreement to regulate domestic workers in 2018, when a dispute between the two countries led to a ban on Filipino workers after the murder of Joanna Demafelis.

The killing of 35-year-old Jullebee Ranara this year, allegedly by a Kuwaiti teenager , led the Philippines to review its labour agreement with the country.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he will not impose a total ban on sending workers to Kuwait despite the recent decision of the Gulf state to suspend the issuing of work visas to Filipinos.

“Our workers can return there, especially those who have pending (visa applications),” Mr Marcos said.

Almost 270,000 Filipino workers are employed in Kuwait.

Middle East Today

The must read newsletter for the region

• Decomposed Body Found in Nugra Apartment
• A Female Citizen Accused Her Domestic Worker of Stealing 500KD
• Domestic Worker Suic!de Attemp By Taking Pills
• Expat Who Record Video And Posted Online To Be Deported
• Kuwait Increases Biometric Fingerprinting but 400,000 Still Pending

The Filipino Workers Could Return to Kuwait as early as 2024

In the first quarter, the Philippines is expected to allow Filipino workers back to Kuwait.   The Philippines and Kuwaiti authorities will hold talks early next month with the aim of lifting the May ban.

The Philippine Ministry of Labor will be involved in the discussions, as well as private employment agencies and the Kuwaiti government. They will focus on reviewing the domestic worker agreement and outlining the procedures for resuming the sending of Filipino workers to Kuwait.

Bassam Al-Shammari is a specialist in domestic workers. He expressed optimism over this development.   Al Rai reports that he welcomed the return of Filipino domestic workers. He stressed the importance of the timing, which coincides with Ramadan. During this month, there is an increased demand for domestic workers.   This is the culmination of a series of events that began with a visa ban in May 2023.

The Philippines had temporarily stopped sending domestic workers to Kuwait after the murder of Filipino Jullebee Raanara in February 2023.   The Philippine government has announced it will take measures to prevent abuses in Kuwait, including “rape and mistreatment of Filipina Workers”.

Source Arabtimes

Related Posts

Expatriates in GCC to be certified based on skills -Kuwait & UAE

Expat Deported After Entering A House in Kuwait To Meet A Domestic Helper

LE ROYAL Hotel Kuwait Job Vacancy -Walk in interview

83 New Cases of Corona-virus in Kuwait, Total Now are 993

HONOR introduces its global innovations as an iconic high-tech brand to the local media at the GO BEYOND Media Gathering in Kuwait

Kuwait is reportedly imposing a ban on the recruitment of Indian domestic helpers and workers in the private sector

What can you say about this, add comment, cancel reply.

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Ask the Law
• GN Fun Drive
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Dubai Airshow
• Corporate Tax
• Top Destinations
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• From the Editors
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Live the Luxury
• Culture and History
• Staying Connected
• Entertainment
• Live Scores
• Point Table
• Top Scorers
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• South Indian
• Arab Celebs
• Health+Fitness
• Gitex Global 2023
• Best Of Bollywood
• Special Features
• Investing in the Future
• Know Plan Go
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

Kuwait bans 16,000, including citizens, from travel in two months

Gulf kuwait.

Orders issued over cases related to family lawsuits, rents, power bills, bounced checks

Cairo: Some 16,000 Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates have been banned from leaving the country in January and February of this year for legal reasons, the country’s justice authorities have disclosed.

The figures were disclosed by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice’s Travel Ban Department that cited relevant official orders issued against the persons in question.

Get exclusive content with Gulf News WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile, 8,033 travel ban orders were lifted during those two months.

Some 6,642 travel ban orders were issued in January against 9,006 in February. Meanwhile, 6,642 travel ban orders were lifted in January and 3,811 in February, according to the figures.

• Kuwait taps ex-oil minister to form latest government
• UAE coach Lalchand Rajput heaps praise on young opener Alishan Sharafu
• Expat teacher replacement plans underway in Kuwait
• From vaccines to masks, Kuwait announces mandatory health requirements for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims

Al Ahmadi took the lead among Kuwait’s six governorates in terms of the travel ban orders issued during the two months with 4,321 followed by Farwaniya with 3,641, Hawalli with 2,452, Jahra with 2,381, and the Capital with 1,757 while Mubarak Al Kabeer finished last with 1,096.

The ban orders were mainly linked to cases involving bank checks, outstanding instalments, rents, power bills and family lawsuits, Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas quoted an unidentified source as saying.

The number of travel ban orders issued by the Family Court in the two months totalled 1,211 including 620 injunctions in January.

Kuwait has an overall population of 4.8 million people including around 3.2 million foreigners.

As of last September, Kuwait began implementing a government decree requiring all expatriates to pay their electricity and water bills before leaving the country. Earlier, the Interior Ministry alerted foreigners to clear all their outstanding traffic fines before leaving Kuwait.

More From Kuwait

Amnesty: 1,807 residency law violators exit Kuwait

First Hindi radio broadcast starts in Kuwait

Kuwait eases curbs on labour hires from abroad

Kuwait: Vaccines you need to take for Hajj, Umrah

Philippines: Top tourist source countries revealed

India delivers BrahMos missiles to the Philippines

12 militants killed in southern Philippines

Watch: Expats held in Riyadh over SR8 million fraud

Saudi Arabia sets deadline for Umrah pilgrims to depart

Fire hits 19 vehicles at Manila international airport

Tesla profits fall but shares rise on new vehicle plan, bird flu viral fragments found in pasteurized milk, al ain seal asian champions league final berth, usa gymnastics sex abuse victims to get $139m, stoinis ton helps lucknow chase 211 to beat chennai.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

How to Check Travel Bans in Kuwait

The year-end will once again see a lot of people, typically families  leaving or entering  Kuwait for vacation getaways. But before you decide on where to visit next for your holiday time-off, have you considered checking if you have an existing travel ban on your records? 

If so, you might be legally arrested upon leaving or entering Kuwait at all state ports. In this article, we will talk about how you can check if you are banned from traveling to and from Kuwait.

Traveling Overseas? Check Your Status If You’re Allowed to Do So

Perhaps one of the most dreadful things that could happen to any person, especially migrant workers, is getting arrested for something that you might have forgotten to settle in the past ( i.e. debt or loan in the bank, shops, etc.)

This is something that happens in real life, mind you, especially in a country such as Kuwait because of something known as a  travel ban .

A travel ban is an order issued by the authorities to all the state ports to prohibit a person from entering or leaving a country according to a court or police order for the protection of individual interests in cases like child custody, debt failure, or criminal investigation.

This only means that those who are sanctioned by the government with a travel ban are prohibited from leaving the country and may be arrested while entering if the reason(s) for prohibition is not settled right away.

Here are the procedures to perform to check if you have a travel ban in Kuwait:

• Visit the Kuwait government’s online portal ( here ).
• Input your VALID Civil ID number in the blank field provided.
• Copy the text that was shown after you submitted your Civil ID number.
• Click this  link  to open Google Translate services in a new tab on your browser.
• Paste the Arabic text you copied from  e.gov.kw  and click the translate button for the message.

It’s as simple as that!

Now, once you’ve checked (just to be sure) that you can travel anytime you want to and are clear of any state restrictions – then good for you!

However, if you did incur a travel ban in your record, say for example, for an unpaid fine, then you can immediately settle this at any Interior Ministry services centers. Once settled in this manner, the ban will be immediately lifted, unless you course your settlement through the Justice Ministry where the ban will only be lifted a day  after  you’ve settled your payment.

Best practice before traveling to and from Kuwait:  check if you have a travel ban first  before booking a flight or getting on that plane! You don’t want to end up in jail or be detained at the airport, right?  

ALSO READ:  Kuwait Announces New Collection System for Gov’t Fees & Fines

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked