Kuwait to end exceptional visa extensions; expatriates must follow normal legal deadlines from Sept 1
From September 1, 2026, Kuwait will stop the temporary/exceptional extensions that were being given for visit visas and residents staying outside Kuwait when the country was passing through exceptional circumstances.
The normal legal deadlines will apply again which means visit visas will no longer be automatically extended. Visitors must
leave Kuwait or complete the required legal procedure before the visa expires. Residents outside Kuwait must return within the normal legally allowed absence period.
The decision is particularly important for expatriates holding visit visas and residents who are currently outside Kuwait, as they will once again have to follow the regular deadlines and procedures set by law. Under the new arrangements, automatic extensions of all types of entry (visit) visas will stop from September 1.
Visitors will therefore be required to comply with the validity period of their visas and complete any necessary procedures before their visas expire. The ministry said the normal legal time limits, procedures and regulations governing entry visas will be reinstated from that date.
However, an exceptional additional period will continue to apply to residents who leave Kuwait on or before August 31, 2026, subject to the applicable rules and regulations. This means residents who are currently outside Kuwait should pay close attention to their permitted absence period and make sure they return within the applicable deadline.
The Ministry of Interior clarified that the residence permit certificate issued through the Sahel application is the official and approved document for determining the expiry date of a resident’s permitted absence period.
Residents outside Kuwait should therefore check the date stated on their Sahel certificate and ensure that they return to Kuwait within the specified period. The ministry’s announcement effectively marks the end of the exceptional measures and the return to the regular legal system governing visit visas and residents’ absence periods.
Expatriates are advised not to rely on previous automatic extensions and to check their visa or residence status and applicable deadlines before making travel arrangements.
