Kuwait travel ban for debtors

Kuwait is set to introduce a travel bank for those with unpaid state fines

Unpaid state fines in Kuwait amount to some KWD 12 million, which the Government hopes to recover by implementing a travel ban on those responsible

The ban, which could affect nearly 100,000 people in Kuwait, is due to come into effect January 2, reported the Kuwait Times citing Kuwait’s Justice Ministry.

Debtors will be automatically blacklisted from next year after which authorities will suspend the individuals’ transactions with all service-related ministries, reported the Kuwait-based newspaper.

The final stage will include a subpoena and a possible six-month jail sentence.

The travel ban will be effective 90 days after the court order is issued and will be only be lifted once the fee has been paid in full, the paper reported.

The ban can only be lifted on payment of pending dues or permission granted for humanitarian reasons, it said.