Central Agency establishes legal framework for revoked citizenship individuals

The Central Agency for Illegal Residents has established a new legal framework and identification system for individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked, in line with recent amendments to the Kuwaiti Nationality Law under Amiri Decree No. (15) of 1959.

As part of this move, the Agency has introduced a specialized review card for this group, with the word “citizenship” written in the “request for status adjustment” field. This card grants access to basic services, such as healthcare and education, but does not confer any broader citizenship rights, reports Al-Rai daily.

This initiative follows the issuance of Cabinet Resolution No. (296) of 2024, which tasked the Central Agency with organizing, reviewing, and amending the status of individuals affected by citizenship revocation.

According to the Agency, the review card differs from the standard cards provided to illegal residents or “bedoun.” It reflects a distinct legal classification based on the individual’s revoked status and their eligibility for limited services.

In light of the recent legislative changes, the Agency explained that any individual categorized under “illegal residents (bedoun)” or whose citizenship has been withdrawn must undergo status adjustments.

The agency noted that this legal framework ensures that such individuals are documented within the national system, providing necessary information for both legal and security purposes.

The Central Agency, in coordination with security authorities and other government bodies, clarified how nationality statements are handled for individuals with known relatives of foreign nationalities.

If an individual has a relative — such as a brother, son, uncle, or cousin — whose nationality is officially documented by their country of origin (e.g., Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia), the person is issued a card stating their presumed nationality in relation to that relative.

For example, the card may read “Jordanian according to the brother” or “Iraqi according to the uncle.” Those with a clearly established nationality are granted review cards bearing that nationality without additional qualifiers.

Three classifications of review cards are now recognized by the Central Agency:

• Individuals with a verified nationality are issued review cards stating their nationality directly.
• Individuals whose nationality is inferred through relatives are issued review cards with an attribution label, such as “according to the brother” or “according to the cousin.”
• Individuals of unknown or disputed nationality are issued cards labeled “required to amend the status.”

The agency also referred to Ministerial Resolution No. (930) of 2017, which established a committee to investigate cases involving acquired passports.

As part of its efforts to track the legal status and presence of all residents in Kuwait, the committee created a database and issued health insurance cards that outlined the basis for each individual’s residency.

These bases include: recent presence, prior reservations, personal acknowledgment and undertaking, possession of foreign passports (e.g., Eritrean, Dominican), or relationships with Kuwaiti citizens (e.g., a Kuwaiti spouse or child).

In practical terms, the Central Agency noted that the issuance of review cards serves not only as a civil identification measure but also supports national security efforts.

However, it raised concerns that some banks had rejected these cards—particularly those labeled with “request to amend status.”

In response, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) stressed that all banks and financial institutions must recognize the validity of these cards, whether issued to illegal residents or individuals stripped of Kuwaiti citizenship.

CAPMAS further stated that any request to lift a banking ban or activate financial transactions for affected individuals must be accompanied by an official letter or email from the Agency. It emphasized that in all cases, the validity of the individual’s card is essential for its acceptance.

This new legal mechanism reflects Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to address longstanding issues related to nationality, identity documentation, and the legal status of residents in a manner consistent with national interests and governance reforms.