New Law

this whole issue came about because of the presence of a law that was not effected for prolonged periods of time, suddenly it was sprung into action with all those that fail it facing a fine of 600KD.

for those inquiring minds wanting to know what happened, its quite simple. your passport # XYZ for example has an expiry date of 31-12-2014, now, you go to your embassy and get your passport extended, so now you have a new expiry date, 31-12-2016, same passport # XYZ.

if you do not update your info at PACI (or wherever they request you to update it, probably immigration in Salmiya near City Center) then your residency, which was valid until 31-12-2015, is null and void on 01-01-2015 because your passport expired 31-12-2014.

for every day you stay past your original passport expiry date, in absence of updated information, you are a residency law violator since your residency has been cancelled on accounts of your passport expiry, you pay 2KD.

given that this law was slapped on expats in the blink of an eye, most had been long into their passport extensions, meaning they are candidates for the maximum penalty of 600KD i.e. 300 days after initial passport expiry (300X2=600).

the majority of those feeling the brunt of this are blue collar workers and laborers, some with families that also are affected meaning the effect is even more multiplied (600X3 members = 1,800KD, monthly income 250KD).

yes, it is quite brutal.