Kuwait ends grace period; Article 8 passports no longer valid for travel
Those abroad can still use the document to return, but must surrender at entry points
The Ministry of Interior has officially ended the grace period granted to people whose Kuwaiti citizenships were revoked under Article 8, confirming that as of Wednesday, October 1, they are no longer permitted to use their Kuwaiti passports.
Notifications have been sent directly to affected individuals via the government’s “Sahel” App, instructing them to hand in their passports to the General Directorate of Nationality and Travel Documents.
The Al-Rai daily quoting security sources said, the expiration of the grace period means that Article 8 passport holders can no longer use these travel documents to leave Kuwait. The passports are now considered invalid for outbound travel, and any attempt to use them for exit will not be permitted.
The same sources clarified that a limited exception has been made for those who are already outside Kuwait. Holders of revoked passports currently abroad will still be allowed to return to the country.
However, upon arrival at airports, seaports, or land border crossings, they will be required to surrender their passports immediately to the authorities.
The move comes as part of Kuwait’s broader measures to regulate nationality and travel documentation, ensuring that individuals whose citizenships have been revoked under Article 8 no longer benefit from the privileges of holding a Kuwaiti passport.
The Ministry emphasized that compliance with the directive is mandatory and that the General Directorate of Nationality and Travel Documents remains the sole body authorized to handle surrendered passports.
This step reflects the government’s strict enforcement of nationality regulations, aimed at preventing the misuse of travel documents and strengthening oversight of citizenship-related matters. It also underscores Kuwait’s continued reliance on the Sahel app as an official channel for communicating sensitive administrative decisions directly to citizens and residents.
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