Kuwait Cabinet Issues Circular Detailing Rights of Revoked Citizens

31/10/2025

Kuwait Cabinet Issues Circular Detailing Rights of Revoked Citizens

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 31: The Cabinet has issued an official circular to the Acting Minister of Finance, Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, detailing the benefits and entitlements provided by the government to individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked. These provisions apply specifically to those who previously obtained citizenship under Article 5/Third, including individuals classified under the 1965 Census Category and those who acquired citizenship through dependency.

Key Benefits and Provisions
According to the circular, the Cabinet has approved the following measures:

1. Temporary Travel Permission Individuals whose citizenship has been revoked will be allowed to travel using a Kuwaiti passport for four months from the date of issuance and publication of the citizenship revocation decree in the Official Gazette. This is granted as part of a one-year grace period during which they must regularize their legal status in the country.

Those who fail to regularize their status within this period will forfeit all associated benefits and must obtain a passport from their respective embassy. The affected individuals must initiate this process within the first three months of the grace period and provide proof of intent. If they fail to show seriousness in adjusting their status during this time, all benefits will be withdrawn.

2. Continued Employment Affected individuals may continue to work in the public sector or government-owned companies under contracts issued by the Civil Service Commission or through special company contracts. However, they are not eligible for leadership or supervisory positions.

3. Education Rights The right to education granted prior to citizenship withdrawal will continue as follows:

Continuation of studies at all levels—primary, intermediate, and secondary.
Continuation of university, diploma, and postgraduate studies that were already in progress.
Continuation of internal or external scholarships awarded before citizenship withdrawal.

4. Ownership of Private Residence Individuals may retain one private residence within Kuwait. However, those who previously owned multiple residences (for example, in the case of multiple families) may retain more than one, provided all are used strictly for private residential purposes.

5. Retention of Housing Benefits Those who obtained housing benefits before the withdrawal of citizenship may retain them under the following conditions:

If construction is complete and all Credit Bank payments have been received, the individual must repay all funds within one year of the revocation decree’s publication.
If construction has started but is incomplete, the individual must complete it at their own expense and repay the Credit Bank loan within two years.
If only a building permit was obtained and construction has not begun, the land may be retained on the condition that it is developed into a private residence within two years.

6. Sponsorship and Personal Assets Beneficiaries may continue to sponsor domestic workers and own private vehicles in line with existing laws.

7. Investment and Trading Rights They may continue to trade, buy, and sell shares, bonds, and securities on the Kuwait Stock Exchange or other markets, whether as individuals or through companies owned by them.

8. SME Loan Repayment and Incentives Individuals will remain obligated to repay loans and financing obtained from the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development under the same contractual terms. While no new loans will be issued, they will continue to receive other benefits and incentives under Law No. 98 of 2013 and its amendments.

9. Housing Welfare Benefits The Public Authority for Housing Welfare will continue to extend the following benefits to those who obtained citizenship under Article 5/Third:

Participation in ownership documents for alternative housing units.
Continuation of residence in government-provided rental housing for five years, while cancelling any existing housing applications and prohibiting new ones.
Continuation of joint housing applications registered with their only Kuwaiti son, as per Article 2/7 of the Housing Welfare Regulations.

Restrictions and Conditions

1. Loss of Certain Privileges The affected individuals will no longer be treated as Kuwaiti citizens in the following matters:

They cannot use or possess public state property such as chalets, livestock pens, or agricultural, industrial, and commercial plots. A five-year grace period is provided to transfer such rights—without fees—to first-degree Kuwaiti relatives.
For privately owned commercial, investment, or industrial properties, as well as vacant land, a maximum of five years is granted to sell, gift, or otherwise transfer ownership and regularize their legal status.

2. Suspension of Benefits All privileges granted under this circular will be immediately suspended in the following cases:

Issuance of a final court judgment involving a felony, moral turpitude, dishonesty, crimes against state security, or offenses against religion or the Emir.
Failure to regularize legal status by obtaining a valid residency document or regaining original citizenship within one year of publication of the revocation decree.

3. Right to Appeal The amendment or regularization of status does not prevent affected individuals from filing a grievance before the Committee for the Withdrawal, Revocation, and Loss of Kuwaiti Citizenship, established under Cabinet Resolution No. 207 of 2025, and amended by Resolution No. 493 of 2025.