Kuwait Gives 10-Year Residency To People With Revoked Citizenship

Kuwait City, September 18, 2026: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has introduced important changes to foreign residency laws under Ministerial Decision No. 1410/2026, issued on September 2, 2026, by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The decision was published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm.

• New rules allow individuals with revoked citizenship to get a 10-year residency permit.
• The policy helps long-term residents, including Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi expats.
• Domestic workers face a stricter four-month limit for time spent outside Kuwait.

New Residency Rules For Affected Individuals

The new decision allows individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked to obtain a 10-year residency permit. This provision applies to those whose citizenship was revoked under Article 13, Clause 4 of the 1959 Amiri Decree No. 15, concerning state interests and national security. It also extends to dependents who originally obtained citizenship through the affected individual. To qualify, recipients must have reclaimed their original foreign nationality or acquired a new nationality.

Fees And Special Exemptions

Beneficiaries will be granted a 10-year residency under Article 7 Bis. Holders are exempt from annual residency fees. Annual fees for spouses, children, and parents are set at 10 Kuwaiti Dinars per person, while other relatives will be charged 300 Kuwaiti Dinars annually. Additionally, these holders are exempt from the standard six-month residency cancellation rule regarding time spent outside the country. Work authorization will be determined by the General Directorate of Residency, subject to established conditions. The policy addresses legal uncertainty for long-term residents, including a significant population of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi expatriates.

Rules For Domestic Workers

Separately, the same decision mandates that domestic workers remain subject to a stricter four-month limit for time spent outside Kuwait. Exceeding this period without prior authorization may result in the cancellation of residency.