Omanghana
Kuwait has introduced major changes to its foreign residency system under Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.
The decision creates a long-term residency pathway for certain people who have lost Kuwaiti citizenship while tightening the rules governing how long other expatriates may remain outside the country.
One of the central changes is the introduction of Article 7 bis, which allows eligible former citizens to receive residency permits valid for up to 10 years.
The provision applies to specified individuals whose Kuwaiti nationality was revoked, including naturalized citizens affected under Clause 4 of Article 13 of Kuwait’s 1959 Nationality Law.
To qualify, an applicant must have regained their original foreign nationality or obtained citizenship from another country. Dependent’s who lost Kuwaiti citizenship under the same revocation decree may also be eligible.
The new status does not restore Kuwaiti nationality or overturn the earlier decision to revoke it. Instead, it allows affected individuals to remain in Kuwait legally as foreign residents.
Primary permit holders will be exempt from annual residency fees and may work in the country under conditions determined by the General Department of Residency Affairs.
Spouses, children and parents covered by the arrangement will be required to pay an annual fee of 10 Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to approximately $32. Other extended relatives will pay 300 dinars, or about $970, each year.
Article 7 bis permit holders will also be exempt from the standard restrictions governing the length of time residents may remain outside Kuwait. This gives eligible former citizens greater flexibility to travel or stay abroad without automatically losing their residency status.
The 10-year arrangement, however, does not apply to Kuwait’s wider expatriate workforce. Most foreign employees will continue to be governed by stricter rules on overseas absences.
Domestic workers may remain outside Kuwait for a maximum of four consecutive months without obtaining prior administrative approval. Those who exceed the period without authorization risk having their residency permits automatically cancelled.
The rule is particularly relevant to African migrant workers because domestic employment remains an important source of work for nationals of several African countries.
Other foreign employees are generally subject to a six-month limit. Expatriates who intend to stay outside Kuwait beyond that period must obtain the required approval to protect the validity of their residency permits.
Affected workers are therefore advised to confirm their residency category, monitor the duration of overseas trips and secure authorization before exceeding the applicable limit.
The changes are being implemented alongside adjustments to Kuwait’s labor recruitment policies. Recruitment channels have reportedly been expanded for domestic workers from countries including South Africa, Ethiopia and Benin, while pathways involving Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya remain restricted.
Employers, recruitment agencies and migrant workers will be expected to comply with both residency and labor requirements. Failure to observe the overseas absence rules could result in permit cancellation and complications when attempting to return to Kuwait.
The reforms create a special legal arrangement for eligible former citizens while reinforcing Kuwait’s regulatory control over its broader expatriate workforce. They also underline the importance of foreign residents obtaining official guidance before making extended travel plans.
Source: Omanghana
