Kuwait New Residency Rules: Domestic Workers Face 4 Month Limit
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, led by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, issued Decision No. 1410/2026 on September 2, 2026. This decision, which amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law (No. 2249/2025) and is effective from the date of publication in the official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, introduces significant changes to residency requirements for foreign nationals, including the country's approximately 1 million Indian expatriates.
* Domestic workers cannot stay outside Kuwait for more than four continuous months without written permission.
* A six-month threshold remains for other categories, with new exemptions for specific groups.
* New rules cover residency permits, fees, and rules for revoked citizenship holders.
Domestic Workers and Standard Thresholds
Under the new regulations, domestic workers—including drivers, nurses, stewards, cooks, and assistants—are prohibited from staying outside Kuwait for more than four continuous months. Failure to obtain written permission from the General Directorate of Residency Affairs prior to exceeding this period may result in the cancellation of their residence permit (Iqama). Conversely, a six-month threshold remains for other categories, but specific groups are now exempt from standard residency duration restrictions. These include property owners in Kuwait, investors qualified under Law No. 116/2013 who meet Cabinet conditions, certain foreign children of Kuwaiti women, and holders of residency under the new Article 7 bis.
Residency Permits and Fees
Furthermore, individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked under Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree 15/1959, and who possess a second nationality, may now be granted a standard residence permit for up to 10 years. For this category, annual residency fees are waived. For families covered under Article 7 bis, the annual residency fee for spouses and parents is set at 10 Kuwaiti Dinars per person, while other relatives remain subject to a 300 Kuwaiti Dinar fee. Domestic workers sponsored by individuals in this category will incur the same fees as those applicable to Kuwaiti families. Authorities have advised expatriates to monitor their residency status via the Sahel app. The General Director of the General Directorate of Residency Affairs retains the authority to establish further conditions for these rules. This information was compiled from sources including Kuwait Al-Youm, Arab Times, Gulf News, and The Times Kuwait as of September 11, 2026.