The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has introduced a new 10-year ordinary residency track for individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked and who have subsequently secured another nationality.
- New policy established under Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026 by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.
- Amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners Residence Law as outlined in Ministerial Decision No. 2249 of 2025.
- Applies to specific groups including those affected by state security clauses and their dependents.
The new Article 7-bis applies to two specific groups:
individuals who had their Kuwaiti nationality withdrawn under Clause 4 of Article 13 of the 1959 Nationality Law (Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959), typically involving state security or supreme national interests; and
their dependents who were included in the same withdrawal decree and have also obtained a foreign citizenship. This 10-year permit does not restore Kuwaiti citizenship, but instead
regularizes the holder's status as a foreign resident.
Beneficiaries are
exempt from annual residency fees and are granted the right to work in Kuwait according to regulations set by the General Department of Residency Affairs. A significant provision
exempts these individuals from the standard rule that invalidates residency status if a foreigner remains outside the country for more than six consecutive months. Furthermore,
family members including spouses, children, and parents can be sponsored at a rate of KD 10 per person annually, while other relatives are charged KD 300 per person per year. Domestic workers sponsored by these households will be subject to the same fee structure as those sponsored by Kuwaiti nationals. GCC nationals who had their Kuwaiti citizenship withdrawn and have returned to their original GCC nationality also qualify for these domestic-worker fee rules.
The Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs is tasked with establishing the specific conditions and application procedures for this track. The decision
officially took effect upon its publication in the official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, on Sunday, 6 September 2026. Applicants are advised to
consult with a licensed Public Relations Officer (PRO) or the General Department of Residency Affairs, while ensuring they possess documentation including their withdrawal decree, a current passport, and proof of their secondary nationality. This measure
follows a broader series of legislative updates in Kuwait throughout 2025 and 2026 concerning residency fees and visa regulations.
