KUWAIT CITY, July 28: Around 280,000 expats who are holding valid visas are stranded outside Kuwait majority of them are Arabs and Asians. Total of 250,000 residence permits of expats have expired since the beginning of last year as their sponsors have not renewed residence of employers. In addition to that thousands of expats left Kuwait due to conditions imposed due to the pandemic in the country.

Sources stated that a large percentage of expats  will not be able to return to Kuwait with the opening of the airports from 1st August due to strict health requirements that are being applied, specially the conditions of vaccinations. Many expats have not received vaccines which are approved in Kuwait whereas some countries have not adopted authentication methods (barcode) to verify over the internet as required by Kuwait to ensure the authenticity of vaccination certificates. 

Sources also stated that all visas such as Tourist, Family and Commercial Visit Visas are still suspended as it requires special permission from Corona Emergency Committee, reports Al Rai. Currently only Domestic workers visas (Visas for Maids) are being issued.