7% of Kuwait Residents Miss Biometric Deadline

Kuwait is facing a wave of restrictions for around 350,000 residents who missed the deadline for submitting their biometric data. This includes 244,000 expatriates, 16,000 Kuwaitis, and 90,000 Bedoons (stateless people) who failed to submit their fingerprints before the December 31st deadline.

The fingerprinting process is part of a government initiative aimed at building a national database to improve security and tackle issues surrounding dual nationalities. The total number of people missing the biometric submission may seem large, but it’s relatively small compared to the speed at which the General Department of Criminal Evidence has managed the registration. To date, 960,000 citizens and around 76% of expatriates have successfully registered.

The fingerprint registration process started in March 2024 and was mandatory for all individuals aged 18 or older. This program targets Kuwait’s population of 4.9 million, of which around 3.3 million are foreigners, many of whom hold dual citizenship or are living in the country on temporary work visas.

Although the deadline was extended to allow more time, around 60,000 Kuwaiti nationals missed their biometric submission by the September 30th deadline. As a result, the Kuwait Banking Association began freezing accounts for those who didn’t comply.

Now, the same fate is expected for expatriates who missed the December 31st deadline. Aside from the freeze on banking transactions, expatriates may also face challenges when renewing their residence permits. However, authorities have clarified that no fines will be imposed on those who failed to submit their biometric data.

For those who missed the deadline, it's essential to act quickly to avoid further complications with government and banking services. As the fingerprinting program continues, authorities are working to ensure that the vast majority of residents and citizens are registered to improve security and streamline administrative processes.