Kuwait Grants Up to 10-Year Residency to Those Who Lost Citizenship Under Article 4

KUWAIT CITY, Sep 6: Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has issued Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026, introducing a series of amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residency Law, including a provision allowing certain individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked to obtain regular residency permits for up to 10 years.

The decision amends provisions of Ministerial Decision No. 2249 of 2025 concerning the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residency Law.

Under the newly added Article 7 bis, regular residency may be granted for a period of up to 10 years to individuals against whom a decree was issued withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship under Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959, as well as persons who acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through dependency and were included in the withdrawal decree.

The provision applies to those who have subsequently returned to their original foreign nationality or obtained another nationality.

The Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs will determine the conditions and controls governing the granting and renewal of these residency permits.

The authority will also determine the rules under which holders of this residency may be permitted to work in Kuwait.

The ministry has also amended Article 37, which generally prohibits foreigners holding residency permits from remaining outside Kuwait for more than six months.

Under the amended provision, the six-month limit will not apply to:

The decision also allows other foreigners holding valid residency permits to obtain permission to remain outside Kuwait beyond six months, provided they meet conditions and regulations set by the General Department of Residency Affairs.

The residency permit must remain valid during the period of absence.

The decision separately sets a four-month maximum for domestic workers holding residency permits who remain outside Kuwait.

A domestic worker may stay abroad beyond four months only if prior permission is obtained from the General Department of Residence Affairs before the four-month period expires.

Otherwise, the worker’s right to the residency permit will be forfeited.

The amendments also introduce new provisions concerning residency fees.

Individuals who obtain residency under Article 7 bis will be exempt from annual residency fees.

The decision adds a new category to the residency fee schedule under Article 39, with the annual residency fee listed as exempt for holders of residency granted under Article 7 bis.

The decision also sets family/dependent residence fees for the immediate family members of those covered by the new provisions.

A fee of KD 10 will apply to family reunification residency for:

The same KD 10 fee applies to a Gulf national whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked under the relevant provisions and who subsequently returned to their original nationality.

For other relatives, the family residency fee will be KD 300.

The amendments also introduce a new provision concerning domestic worker fees.

Domestic workers sponsored by individuals covered by these provisions will be charged the same fees applicable to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families.

The ministerial decision states that its provisions will be implemented by the Ministry of Interior and will take effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

The decision was issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah and dated September 2, 2026.

Key changes at a glance:

The amendments create a specific residency framework for people affected by citizenship withdrawal while also extending exemptions from the six-month absence restriction to several categories of residents.