KUWAIT CITY, June 23: Authorities have clarified that travelers must apply for an exit permit no earlier than seven days and no later than 24 hours before their scheduled departure, due to the document’s limited validity period. Officials also confirmed that individuals are allowed to request leave multiple times across different periods, as required.

In response to the report that the newspaper published earlier regarding the delay in issuing exit permits to expatriate teachers, the Ministry of Education issued a circular to the directors general of educational districts and the Religious Education Department director on the need to update the procedures for approving the exit permit certificate for expatriate workers in schools.
The circular, approved by acting Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education Affairs Mansour Al-Dhafiri, stated that the ministry (after contacting the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and updating the electronic system data) decided to approve the issuance of exit permits through the integrated system, for implementation in all educational districts. The ministry confirmed that no school departure form will be accepted unless it is approved electronically through the system. It explained that exit permit approval will be through the school administrations and technical directorates, per approved authorities, without the need to refer to other districts or entities. “Each entity will bear responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the procedures,” it added. It called for full compliance with the new mechanism and the avoidance of using paper forms.

It also emphasized the need to adhere to the administrative hierarchy and follow the steps outlined in the procedures manual for issuing an exit permit certificate attached to the circular. The electronic mechanism consists of specific steps, including entering employee data, specifying the type and date of the permit, submitting the application for approval by the direct supervisor, and then final approval by the employer through the system. The mechanism also provides electronic follow-up forms to control departure and return times. Al-Dhafiri instructed all departments to prioritize the issue and deal with it urgently to ensure the full implementation of the mechanism, prevent violations related to attendance and departure, and enhance integrity and administrative discipline in schools.

By Abdulrahman Al-Shammari
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff