Kuwait implements home biometrics for vulnerable groups

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KUWAIT CITY, April 13: With a three-month deadline for mandatory biometric fingerprinting set to expire in June, Kuwait has implemented home biometrics services for certain individuals unable to visit Interior Ministry centers.

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Acting Interior Minister Fahd Al Yousuf has issued directives to provide necessary biometric equipment for conducting the service at home, specifically targeting the elderly and those with illnesses preventing them from visiting ministry centers.

The primary goal of these directives is to streamline the fingerprinting process for individuals facing compulsory requirements.

The Kuwaiti government has mandated that both citizens and expatriates undergo fingerprinting within three months, starting from March 1, to retain access to Interior Ministry services. Failure to comply with this obligation will result in the suspension of all ministry transactions.

According to ministry officials, personnel are actively taking biometric fingerprints of Kuwaitis, citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and expatriates at various border outlets, Kuwait International Airport, and specific centers within security premises nationwide. Travelers are permitted to leave Kuwait without undergoing fingerprinting, with the procedure to be completed upon their return.

To facilitate the process, Kuwaitis and expatriates can now schedule fingerprinting appointments via the Sahel app for unified government electronic services, as confirmed by an official spokesperson.

Yousef Kazim, Sahel’s spokesperson, explained that the booking system allows individuals to select their preferred site and available time slot for fingerprinting. Upon receiving a confirmation alert for the appointment, individuals must present either the “My Identity” app or their civilian identification card when undergoing fingerprinting.

Foreigners constitute approximately 3.2 million of Kuwait’s total population of 4.8 million, underscoring the significance of these biometric measures in maintaining national security and governance protocols.

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