‘Interior’ may opt for residence renewal electronically by Jan ’19

Bid to save time, effort and to ease burden on expatriates

KUWAIT CITY, April 17: The Ministry of the Interior may opt for renewing the residence of expatriates ‘electronically’ from the beginning of 2019, reports Al-Rai daily.

However, the daily said the renewal of domestic workers sponsored by the Kuwaitis will begin this September on experimental basis.

This is in line with the plan to electronically renew the driving licences. The project is expected to kick off in June this year.

The sources added that the information technology sector in the Ministry of Interior has completed the program for this project, which consists of a form which can be filled online.

The documents also are uploaded electronically attached with a signed waiver for the authenticity of the data and holding legal accountability in case of providing false information. The system shall be linked with all the relevant ministries and related institutions.

The sources said the process will be linked with the Ministry of Social Affairs to check the work permits, the Ministry of Health for medical tests (medically fit) the Criminal Evidences to check the data of an expatriate and his family (in case of dependents) for approval from the State Security and Criminal Evidences departments before a residence is given electronically.

The sources pointed out the staff at the residence affairs department will be given passwords to log into the system to check and approve the transactions.

The sources explained the process of printing the residence is being considered, according to the current practice, therefore an expatriate will check with the relevant departments to print the residence in passport, with the possibility that a ‘residence card’ being issued bearing the applicant’s data as recorded in the computer.

On the mechanism of payment of fees, the sources said this will be either automatic or when printing the residence on the passport.

The sources said that the project will save time and effort, as it will contribute to easing the burden on expatriates, especially since most of them are employees and have obligations.

The government is keen to urge all ministries to cancel paper work by 2022.

Director General of Customs Administration Consultant Jamal AlJalawi stated the sector is responsible for stamping out trade cheating, imitation and counterfeit, reports Al-Qabas daily.

Al-Jalawi revealed this at a recent training course on the Protection of AC Delco trademark. He said the activities are conducted in conjunction with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of consumers and contribute to stable commercial activities in the market, reiterating the menace of counterfeit trademarks is no different from illicit drugs.

Corroborating Al-Jalawi, General Manager for Government Relations at Yousef Ahmad Al-Ghanim Company Mohammad Al-Duwaihes affirmed that counterfeit goods are as destructive as illicit drugs since it affects human health, safety and life in general.

He declared many training courses and workshops are organized for the purpose of training. He thanked General Customs Administration, the internal monitoring of local market unit and consumer protection department at the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.