KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior, through the General Administration of Ports – Airport Passports Department, has begun implementing a new system that prevents any expatriate child from leaving the country without the approval of their guardian.

This requires the guardian to sign a statement prepared by the Passports Department.

The decision applies only to departing expatriates, even if the child is accompanied by their mother or a relative without the father present during the trip. The regulation, now in effect at all ports, requires that expatriate children receive explicit approval and a signature from their father before being allowed to leave the country.

A Ministry spokesperson clarified that this precautionary measure aims to prevent marital dispute issues.

Under the new rule, if a father legally sponsors his child within the country, his consent is mandatory for the child to travel with the mother. This stipulation is intended to address potential problems if the mother were to travel with the children and not return due to personal disputes or other reasons.

The spokesperson also highlighted concerns about instances where children in the father’s custody might be taken abroad by the mother without his consent, which is deemed a legal infraction under the new regulations.

Source: Arab Times