The Kuwaiti government has introduced a new 10-year ordinary residency track for individuals whose citizenship was previously withdrawn, provided they have reclaimed their original nationality or acquired another.
- New 10-year residency track for those who lost citizenship
- Applies to people who reclaimed original nationality or got another
- Includes fee exemptions and absence rule updates
The policy, established under Interior Ministry Decision No. 1410 of 2026, amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law. Issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah on September 2, 2026, and published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, the regulation took immediate effect.
This measure does not restore citizenship but creates a legal framework for residency. The new Article 7 bis covers two specific groups: individuals who faced citizenship revocation under Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 regarding state security, and their dependants who were included in the same withdrawal decrees, provided both groups hold an alternative foreign nationality.
Eligible principal holders are exempt from annual residency fees. Spouses, parents, and children are subject to a fee of KD 10 per person annually, while other dependants must pay KD 300 per person annually. Domestic workers employed by these families will be charged the same fees as those applicable to Kuwaiti families.
Crucially, holders of the new residency status are exempt from the standard six-month absence rule, which typically results in the cancellation of residency for expatriates who stay outside Kuwait for longer than six months. This exemption also extends to children of Kuwaiti women who did not acquire citizenship, certain property owners, and investors under Law No. 116 of 2013. However, domestic staff associated with these households remain subject to the standard four-month limit and must obtain prior written permission to avoid permit expiration. While the regulation provides a path for long-term residency and work authorization subject to departmental control, exact application procedures and document requirements remain to be finalized by the General Department of Residency Affairs. This policy follows a series of citizenship revocations that have occurred since 2024. Officials emphasize that this is a specific residency category and not a blanket amnesty; applicants are advised to monitor official circulars rather than unofficial sources.
