COVID-19: Kuwait renews 611,455 work permits online

Cairo: Kuwaiti authorities have renewed online a total of 611,455 iqamats for foreign residents in a single week due to exceptional circumstances prompted by the global new coronavirus pandemic, the country's Interior Ministry has said.

The figure, covering the period from May 29 to June 4, includes the automatic renewal of 313,273 Iqamats in line with a related ministerial decree.

In April, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anis Al Saleh ordered renewal of all Iqamats and visit visas that expire until May 31 due to the suspension of air travel to and from Kuwait over the spread of the coronavirus.

Late last month, the minister extended the automatic renewal for three more months.

The Interior Ministry has set up a range of online services via its website www.moi.gov.kw with the aim of saving time and efforts of citizens and expatriates as well as protecting public health.

Foreign workers make up 3.3 million of Kuwait’s 4.6 million population.