As part of the most recent amendments to Kuwait’s foreign residency laws, the government has clarified three distinct scenarios under which administrative deportation can be enforced against expatriates. This move signals a firmer stance by authorities on regulating foreign labor and legal residency.

The first case concerns the lack of a lawful income source within Kuwait - if a resident has no legitimate means of earning, they may now face deportation under the new regulations. The second case involves working for an entity other than the one officially sponsoring their residency: expatriates found employed in unauthorized jobs or with third parties can be subject to removal. The third case empowers the Ministry of Interior to deport a foreigner if their continued presence is deemed a threat to the public interest, public order, or public morals.

These clarifications stem from the recent Amiri Decree No. 114/2024, which introduced stricter measures governing expatriate residency and tighter enforcement on labor and immigration compliance.

Under these new rules, administrative deportation is no longer merely an exceptional tool - it operates within a clearly defined legal framework, raising debates on the balance between state sovereignty and individual rights. Legal analysts warn that the strengthened powers granted to the interior authorities mean expatriates must be diligent about fulfilling residency conditions, especially around their employment and financial stability.