Over 9,000 sons of Bedoun military officers register through e-system

20,000 new e-passports issued to citizens

KUWAIT CITY, April 3: The sons of several Bedoun military officers have been registering to join the Kuwait Army such that more than 9,000 of them have registered through the electronic system as of Sunday, reports Al-Nahar daily quoting informed sources.

They said 500 volunteers will be accepted in each batch for military training, the duration of which has been reduced to two and a half months in order to enable entry of a huge number of trainees among the applicants in the coming phase.

However, the sources stressed that registration does not necessarily mean admission, as priority will be given to the sons of martyrs and registered POWs as well as sons of retired military officers and those who are still serving in the military in addition to members of the families included in the 1965 census.

Meanwhile, General Department for Citizenship and Passport Affairs, through the approved service centers in all six governorates, has issued 20,000 new e-passports to citizens whose passports’ validity had expired or will expire in less than six months, reports Al-Shahed daily quoting an official.

He said it is possible for citizens with passports that are valid for more than one year to get the new e-passports, if they want, indicating that they will go through the same process just like the 20,000 citizens in getting fingerprints vetted before applying for the new passports.

Most of the 20,000 citizens who received e-passports are from the Capital, Hawally and Mubarak Al Kabeer governorates, while those from Farwaniya, Jahra and Ahmadi governorates form a minority.

It is reported that several MPs are under pressure from their constituencies to intervene in the cancellation of fingerprints conditions before applying for the new e-passport.