KUWAIT CITY, July 13: The Public Relations and Security Media Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) clarified in a statement published on its account on the X platform, that all passports issued under Article 17 are considered canceled, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Individuals with humanitarian cases, such as those requiring treatment or study, must visit the Adan Center with a prior appointment made through the Ministry of Interior’s website.

All passports are considered cancelled and humanitarian cases must visit the Adan Center by prior appointment. Sources indicate that instructions have been issued to withdraw passports from arrivals and departures, with a receipt provided for review by the Nationality and Passports Department. It is prohibited to complete any transactions for those whose nationalities have been withdrawn, except with a card issued by the Central Agency for Illegal Residents.

This comes within the framework of further study and scrutiny by the competent authorities. Informed security sources told Al-Seyassah daily that instructions have been issued to stop issuing Article 17 passports to illegal residents and to withdraw them from those arriving and departing, providing a receipt for review by the Nationality and Passports Department. The Ministry of Interior began withdrawing passports yesterday afternoon and is considering establishing a new mechanism for issuing passports in coordination with the Central Agency for Illegal Residents.

Al-Seyassah learned that the Ministry of Interior issued a circular prohibiting any transactions for individuals whose nationalities have been revoked, except by a card planned to be issued by the Central Agency for Illegal Residents. The circular emphasized that all ministry agencies must implement it with precision. Informed sources indicated that the agency coordinated with relevant authorities to issue cards to individuals whose nationalities were withdrawn, reflecting their correct legal status according to decrees issued for each case individually. These cards will grant access to education and health services only.

The head of the Central Agency for Illegal Residents requested the Minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, to issue circulars to all government agencies under her authority, stipulating that no transactions be completed for individuals whose Kuwaiti nationalities were recently revoked, except after referring to the agency, with the necessity of providing photocopies of these circulars once issued. This request was based on Cabinet Resolution No. 296/2024, assigning the Central Agency to coordinate with appropriate government agencies to organize, amend, and follow up on the status of those whose nationalities have been withdrawn, in line with the decisions and circulars issued by the Central Agency