Kuwait grants former citizens 10-year residency, ‘zero fees’


KUWAIT CITY, Sept 6: The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, issued Ministerial Decree No. 1410/2026, amending certain provisions of Ministerial Decree No. 2249/2025 concerning the executive regulations of the Law on the Residence of Foreigners, reports Al-Seyassah daily. The decree, published on Sunday in the official gazette “Kuwait Al-youm”, includes amendments related to ordinary residency for individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked, as well as those who acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through dependency and have since regained their original citizenship or obtained another nationality. The decision includes the following articles:
Article 1 - A new article, numbered 7-bis, has been added to Ministerial Decision No. 2249/2025, stipulating: “A regular residency permit may be granted for a period not exceeding ten years to individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship has been revoked, as well as to those who acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through dependency on them, in accordance with the provisions of Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15/1959, and who have regained their original foreign citizenship or obtained any other citizenship.

The Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs shall determine the conditions and regulations required for granting and renewing such residency permits. They are also authorized to work in the State of Kuwait in accordance with the applicable regulations.”
Article 2 - Article 37 of Ministerial Decision No. 2249/2025 is amended to read as follows: “A foreigner granted a residency permit may not remain outside the State of Kuwait for a period exceeding six consecutive months.” This provision excludes foreigners who are children of Kuwaiti mothers and do not hold Kuwaiti citizenship through marriage to a Kuwaiti citizen, property owners, and individuals who obtained residency as investors subject to the provisions of Law No. 116/2013 and who meet the criteria specified by the Council of Ministers, as well as those who obtained residency under Article 7-bis of this decision.
A foreigner with a valid residency permit may be granted permission to remain outside the State of Kuwait for a period exceeding the aforementioned six months, subject to the terms and conditions set by the General Directorate of Residency Affairs, provided that their residency permit remains valid.
A domestic worker with a valid residency permit may not remain outside the State of Kuwait for a period exceeding four months unless they obtain permission from the General Directorate of Residency Affairs to remain abroad before the expiry of this period. Otherwise, their residency permit will be forfeited.
Article 3 - First: Paragraph 12 is added to Section “Second: Residency Fees” of Article 39 of Ministerial Resolution No. 2249/2025, with the following text: Type of Residency: Those who obtained residency in accordance with Article 7-bis of this resolution. Fee per year: Exempt.
Second: Paragraphs 9 and 10 are added to Section “Third: Family Joining Fees” of Article 39 of Ministerial Resolution No. 2249/2025, with the following text:
9 - Type of Family Residency: “Husband, Wife, Children, Mother, Father” for the following categories: Those who obtained residency in accordance with Article 7 bis of this resolution. Gulf nationals against whom a decree was issued withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship, and those who acquired it through dependency in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15/1959, and who have returned to their original nationality.
The residency fee per person per year is KD 10. 10 - Type of Family Residency: Other relatives besides “spouse, children, mother, and father” for the following categories: Those who obtained residency in accordance with Article 7-bis of this decision. Gulf nationals against whom a decree was issued revoking Kuwaiti citizenship, and those who acquired it through dependency in accordance with the provisions of Clause 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15/1959, and who have returned to their original nationality. Annual residency fee: KD 300 per individual.
Third: A new paragraph is added to Clause 5: Fees for domestic workers and those in similar categories, Article 20 of Article 39 of Ministerial Resolution No. 2249/2025, are amended to read as follows: “The same fees applied to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families shall also apply to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families who obtained residency in accordance with Article 7-bis of this resolution, as well as to Gulf nationals against whom a decree has been issued withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship and to those who acquired citizenship through dependency in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of Article 13 of Amiri Decree No. 15/1959 and who have returned to their original nationality.”
Article 4 - The Undersecretary of the Ministry shall implement this resolution, which shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette.