Kuwait Gives 10-Year Free Residency To People With Withdrawn Citizenship
Kuwait has set up a new legal framework to help people.
- Individuals who had their Kuwaiti citizenship withdrawn can now get a regular residence permit for up to 10 years.
- This new permit is completely free from annual iqama fees.
- The policy applies to those who lost citizenship under specific security clauses and their dependents.
This major policy change is outlined in Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026. It was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah on 2 September 2026 and published in the official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, on 6 September 2026. The amendment to the executive regulations of the Foreigners Residency Law takes immediate effect.
Eligibility Rules And Requirements
Under the new Article 7-bis, eligibility is restricted to those whose citizenship was withdrawn under Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959. This decree concerns state supreme interests and external security, as well as their dependents who have since secured another nationality. Applicants must hold a valid foreign passport to qualify, as this measure grants residency rather than restoring citizenship. The General Department of Residency Affairs is tasked with determining specific conditions for work authorization and permit renewal.
Fees And Absence Rules
Financial provisions include an exemption from annual residency fees for Article 7-bis holders. Immediate family members including spouses, children, and parents are subject to an annual fee of KD 10 per person, while other relatives are charged KD 300 per person annually. Domestic workers under Article 7-bis sponsorship follow the same fee structure as those sponsored by Kuwaiti citizens. Significantly, Article 7-bis holders are exempt from the standard six-month absence rule that typically terminates residency for expatriates remaining outside the country. However, domestic workers sponsored by such families face a stricter four-month absence limit unless they secure prior written authorization from Residency Affairs. These regulations were reported by Kuwait Al-Youm, Al-Seyassah, Arab Times, Gulf News, Kuwait Times, and Times Kuwait.