56,000 Expats Residency Revoked

20 March 2023 Kuwait

The Central Department of Statistics in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior has issued a recent immigration report, revealing that the total number of residence permits granted to expatriates in the past year was 2,838,613, which is a significant increase of 318,000 compared to the previous year.

The report highlights that the largest increase in residence permits was for domestic workers and civil work, with 162,000 new residences granted to domestic workers and 165,000 for the private sector. Furthermore, the report notes that 67.2% of first-time permits were issued to expatriates from non-Arab Asian countries.

In addition, the family sector saw a significant increase in domestic workers and families joining, with 42,800 new workers and an average of 23,416 residents. This is the highest figure for the family sector in the past three years. The private sector also saw an entry of only 22,258 expat workers, which is the highest percentage after a halt in entry during the COVID-19 pandemic period between 2020 and 2021.

The report also reveals that 27,690 expats violated the country’s residency laws last year, with 34% of them holding domestic worker residency permits, and 32% of them entered on visitor or temporary residence visas. Furthermore, 64.4% of residency violators were non-Arab Asians, with a total of 17,850 violators, followed by 7,582 residents of Arab nationalities. However, the number of residency violators in 2022 was the lowest in the past three years, ranging from 36,300 to 42,000 violators.

The report also states that during the previous year, 56,279 residence permits were cancelled, with 54% of them belonging to non-Arab Asian workers. The authorities cancelled 12,911 temporary residence visas during the same period, along with 4,769 government sector workers, followed by 17,376 private sector workers. Additionally, 5 self-sponsored visas were revoked, along with 5,871 permits for domestic workers. 15,131 family visas were cancelled, as well as 104 self sponsors under Article 24.

Immigration violations can have serious consequences, including fines, deportation, and blacklisting. It's important for expats in the UAE to ensure that they have the proper documentation and follow the residency laws to avoid any issues. The report also highlights the need for employers to adhere to the laws and regulations when hiring expats and obtaining the necessary permits and visas.

In conclusion, the immigration report sheds light on the state of immigration in the UAE, revealing an increase in residence permits for domestic workers and the private sector, as well as a decrease in residency violators. It's important for expats to seek proper guidance from immigration consultants and adhere to the laws and regulations to ensure a smooth and hassle-free immigration process.

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