Canada Acts to Help Canadians Trapped in Kuwait Without Exit Permits

The government of Kuwait has agreed to help Canadians trapped in Kuwait who cannot leave because their employers are not giving exit permits, said Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand.

Some Canadians wanted to leave after Kuwait came under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. But foreign workers in Kuwait must get exit permits from their employers to leave the country.

Many Canadians reported that their requests for exit permits were ignored or denied. One Canadian described the situation as “hostage-like,” saying their emails were ignored and no help was provided.

Thousands Registered for Help

On March 8, 4,646 Canadians had registered their presence in Kuwait. Of these, 290 Canadians (about 6%) requested travel help from the Canadian government to leave safely.

More than 100 missiles and 300 drones have targeted Kuwait recently, hitting the airport, port, and office towers. Four people have died and nearly 70 were injured in these attacks.

Government Steps In

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called her Kuwaiti counterpart to resolve the issue. She said the minister agreed to expedite exit permits for Canadians.

Officials are now providing a list of Canadians wanting to leave so Kuwait can approve it quickly and help them exit safely.

Controversial Exit Permit Law

Kuwait requires foreign workers to get exit visas from their employers. Human rights groups have criticized this law, saying it violates international human rights.

Michael Page, a researcher, said: “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own. Restrictions should only apply for legitimate reasons like criminal investigations.”

The Canadian government continues to work with Kuwait to ensure citizens can leave safely amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.