Kuwait Grants 10-Year Residency to People Who Lost Citizenship

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has issued Decision No. 1410 of 2026, which amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law.

Here are the key points of the new decision:

• Grants up to 10-year residency permits to individuals who lost Kuwaiti citizenship.
• Includes family members who acquired nationality by dependency.
• Requires individuals to regularize their status by securing original or alternative nationality.
• Allows eligible residents to work in Kuwait following labor and sector-specific rules.

Qualifying and Working in Kuwait

The decree was published in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Alyawm) in early September 2026. To qualify, individuals must have regularized their status by securing their original nationality or obtaining a different nationality. Under this new directive, eligible residents are permitted to work in Kuwait, provided they comply with existing labor and sector-specific regulations. Additionally, the standard residency requirement—which dictates that permits lapse if a holder remains outside Kuwait for more than six months—has been waived for these individuals. The Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs is tasked with establishing specific conditions and renewal procedures for these permits.

Fees and Documentation for Residents

Fee structures for the new residency status have been set at KD 10 per person per year for a spouse, children, or parents of the eligible resident. For other relatives, the fee is set at KD 300 per person per year. Domestic workers sponsored by eligible families will be subject to the same fee regulations that apply to Kuwaiti sponsors in several cases. Affected individuals, including those from Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian, and Syrian backgrounds, are advised to consult the text of Decision 1410/2026 and prepare necessary documentation, including proof of original or alternative nationality, previous Kuwaiti civil IDs, and family book documents. Further procedural details are expected through the General Department of Residency Affairs and the Sahel application. The decision provides a legal framework for long-term residency for those affected by recent citizenship withdrawals, though it does not restore Kuwaiti nationality.