Kuwait grants up to 10-year residency to those who lost Kuwaiti citizenship
Kuwait’s new residency rules, 10-year permits, work rights and fee exemptions explained
- The new rules apply to two main groups; What residency can they receive; No six-month limit outside Kuwait; Special rule for domestic workers; Residency fees; Domestic workers sponsored by eligible families;
Kuwait has introduced new residency rules for people whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been withdrawn and who rectified their residency status either by acquiring their original nationality or obtaining the nationality of another country.
The changes were issued under Ministry of Interior Decision No. 1410 of 2026, which amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law. The decision was published in the Official Gazette, Kuwait Alyawm, and took effect from the date of publication.
The new rules apply to two main groups:
First, people whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been withdrawn by decree and who have returned to their original foreign nationality or obtained another nationality and second, people who acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through dependency along with a person whose citizenship was withdrawn, and who have subsequently returned to their original foreign nationality or obtained another nationality.
What residency can they receive?
Eligible individuals may be granted a regular residence permit for up to 10 years. The Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs will determine the conditions and procedures for granting and renewing these residency permits.
The decision also allows eligible residents to work in Kuwait, subject to the applicable rules and controls set by the authorities.
No six-month limit outside Kuwait
The amendment also changes the rules governing how long foreigners with valid Kuwaiti residency can remain outside the country. Generally, a foreigner with a residence permit cannot remain outside Kuwait for more than six months.
However, the new rules exclude several categories from this six-month limit, including children of Kuwaiti women who did not obtain Kuwaiti citizenship through marriage to a Kuwaiti, property owners, investors covered by Law No. 116 of 2013 who meet the Council of Ministers’ requirements, and people who obtained residency under the new Article 7 bis.
A resident may also receive permission to remain outside Kuwait for longer than the permitted period, subject to conditions set by the General Department of Residency Affairs and provided that the residence permit remains valid.
Special rule for domestic workers
Domestic workers with residence permits generally cannot remain outside Kuwait for more than four months. They must obtain permission from the General Department of Residency Affairs before the four-month period ends if they wish to remain abroad longer. Otherwise, they can lose their right to the residence permit.
Residency fees
The decision provides a full exemption from the annual residency fee for people who obtain residency under the new Article 7 bis. However, fees apply to certain family members. For a husband, wife, children, mother or father of an eligible resident, the residency fee is 10 dinars per person per year.
For other relatives, apart from the spouse, children, mother and father, the residency fee is 300 dinars per person per year. These family-fee provisions also apply to Gulf nationals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn and who acquired citizenship through dependency, provided they have returned to their original nationality.
Domestic workers sponsored by eligible families
The fees applicable to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families will also apply to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families whose residency was granted under Article 7 bis.
The same provision applies to Gulf nationals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn, as well as those who acquired citizenship through dependency and subsequently returned to their original nationality.
What does the decision mean?
In simple terms, the new rules create a residency route of up to 10 years for people who lost Kuwaiti citizenship and returned to a foreign nationality, while allowing them to work in Kuwait subject to the applicable controls.
They are also exempt from the annual residency fee, while specific fees have been established for eligible family members.
The decision also places people granted residency under Article 7 bis among the categories exempted from the normal six-month limit on staying outside Kuwait, subject to the validity of their residence permit and applicable regulations.
