The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has introduced significant amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners Residency Law via Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026. This decree was issued by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah. The decision provides a 10-year regular residency to individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked, as well as their dependents. The decision was officially published in the Kuwait Al-Youm gazette and became effective on September 2, 2026.
- New 10-year residency for revoked citizenship holders and dependents
- Exemption from annual residency fees and six-month outside Kuwait rule
- Discontinuation of automatic visit visa and leave permit extensions
Under the new Article 7-bis, this residency status is available to individuals whose citizenship was revoked under Article 13, Clause 4 of the 1959 Amiri Decree No. 15, and those who obtained dependency status alongside them in the revocation decree.
Applicants must hold an original foreign nationality or another citizenship, as this measure does not restore Kuwaiti citizenship. Beneficiaries are exempt from annual residency fees, while family reunification fees for spouses, parents, and children are set at 10 Kuwaiti Dinars approximately $32 per person annually, with other relatives charged 300 Dinars per year. Work permits will be granted subject to the terms set by the General Department of Residency Affairs.
Furthermore, these individuals are exempt from the standard regulation that risks residency status for expatriates who remain outside Kuwait for more than six months. This exemption also applies to children of Kuwaiti mothers who did not obtain citizenship, property owners, and investors under Law No. 116/2013.
In contrast, domestic workers face stricter rules, risking residency loss if they remain abroad for more than four months without prior authorization. Concurrent with these changes, Kuwait discontinued the automatic extension of visit visas and leave permits effective September 1, 2026. Expatriates currently abroad are advised to monitor their status via the Sahel application to ensure compliance with return dates. Individuals seeking residency under Article 7-bis are encouraged to verify specific document requirements with the Department of Residency Affairs.
