Manama: Bidoons (stateless Arabs) staying illegally in Kuwait can be granted five-year residence permits under a new scheme announced by authorities.
A bidoon refers to a stateless resident of Kuwait who has been unable to become a citizen due to the strict 1959 nationality law.
The term is also used to refer to foreigners who migrated to Kuwait mainly during the oil boom of the 1960s and 1970s, without passports or whose passports had expired. It can also refer to those who concealed their nationality in order to remain in Kuwait.
Kuwait now said that those who wish to benefit from the new scheme will have to regularise their status by producing the passport of their country of origin.
The new status will allow those above 21 years of age to sponsor themselves for the next five years.
Those who are below 21 will be granted a five-year residence visa as family members.
Beneficiaries of the scheme will not pay fees for the duration of their permits and will be handed special cards that will guarantee them free health and education services.
