KUWAIT CITY, Dec 6: Parliamentary insiders have confirmed that the Parliamentary Interior and Defense Committee greenlit the foreign residency project in its recent session, forwarding it to the Council for discussion in the ongoing 19th session.

According to sources interviewed by Al-Anbaa, the comprehensive project consists of 37 articles across 7 chapters, with a primary focus on delineating entry and deportation procedures for foreigners. It also outlines the process for notifying relevant authorities, addresses residency trafficking issues, and stipulates penalties. Notably, the proposal grants Kuwaiti women married to foreigners the right to sponsor their husbands and children, provided they haven't acquired citizenship, as outlined in Article 8, alongside other penalties.

The government has expressed a keen interest in swift approval of the project, which has established clear fees for residency, renewal processes, and various entry visas through ministerial decisions.

The initiative strictly prohibits the illicit trade of residency permits through exploitation, recruitment, or aiding in the recruitment of foreigners for financial gain or other benefits. Violators face severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years and fines ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 dinars.

As per the law, Kuwaiti citizens are granted the right to obtain a residence permit for their foreign spouses and children.