The department of immigration at the Ministry of Interior clarified in a press statement on Tuesday its requirement of all foreign applicants for residency in Kuwait to provide a "good conduct" certificate showing they have had no criminal charges against them in their countries of origin or whatever countries they were in prior to wishing to move to Kuwait.
The good conduct certificate ought to be endorsed by a Kuwaiti embassy abroad, in accordance with the residency requirement clause no. 2934 issued by the ministry on Nov. 27, 2008, said the press statement.
The ministry was issuing this clarification in response to a number of Kuwaiti sponsors of foreign workers who thought the additional requirement of a good conduct certificate posed an obstacle in bringing in foreign workers into the country.
The ministry statement underscored that the new requirement was necessary because the foreign applicants for residency in Kuwait had no record of any kind prior to their arrival to the country, which would make them a security risk to local authorities.
Prior to arriving in Kuwait, a foreign applicant should also obtain in his or her country of origin a certificate of good health, showing the person in question is free of diseases before setting foot in Kuwait, the ministry statement said, asking that the good health certificate be endorsed by the embassy of Kuwait in the applicant's country.
These requirements are asked only of those wishing to become long-term residents of Kuwait, not of those coming in for short visits. However those coming into the country for short visits who afterwards wish to become long-term residents must supply local authorities with a good conduct and a good health certificate issued from their native countries.
The ministry of Interior' statement indicated that visa applications provided by Kuwaiti embassies abroad will from now on include the good conduct and good health requirements of any applicant aged 18 and over.

Kuna