Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette Kuwait Al-Youm issue 1807 on 6 September 2026, amends the executive regulations of the residency law and creates a distinct residency status for people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn. In this article, Attorney Meshari Obeid Alenezi explains the decision article by article.
Key facts
- Instrument: Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026 amending Ministerial Decision No. 2249 of 2025, the executive regulations of the decree-law on the residence of foreigners.
- Issued by: the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.
- Date of issue: 20 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH, corresponding to 2 September 2026.
- Published: Kuwait Al-Youm, issue 1807, year 72, on 6 September 2026.
- In force: from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Article One — the new Article 7 bis
- Permission to reside: ordinary residence may be granted for a period not exceeding ten years.
- Who is covered: those against whom a decree withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship was issued, and those who acquired it with them by dependency, under item (4) of Article (13) of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959.
- The condition: that they have returned to their original foreign nationality or to any other nationality.
- Who sets the conditions: the Director General of the General Department of Residence Affairs determines the requirements for granting and renewing this residence.
- Permission to work: the Director General may also permit them to work in Kuwait according to controls to be determined.
The effect is to move this group from a regulatory gap into a long-term residency framework that expressly contemplates employment.
Article Two — absence from the country
- The general rule: a foreigner licensed to reside may not remain outside Kuwait for more than six months.
- Exempted from that period: children of a Kuwaiti woman who did not acquire Kuwaiti nationality by dependency through marriage to a Kuwaiti; property owners; those holding continuous residence under Law No. 116 of 2013 who meet the Cabinet’s controls; and those granted residence under the new Article 7 bis.
- Absence permit: a longer absence may be permitted under conditions set by the General Department of Residence Affairs, provided the residence permit is valid.
- Domestic workers: may not remain abroad for more than four months unless an absence permit is obtained before that period expires, failing which the right to residence lapses.
Article Three — fees under Article 39
Residence fees
| No. | Type of residence | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Those granted residence under Article 7 bis | Exempt |
Dependant fees
| No. | Category | Annual fee per person |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Spouse, children, mother and father of a holder of Article 7 bis residence, and of a GCC national subject to a withdrawal decree with those who acquired it by dependency and returned to their original nationality | KD 10 |
| 10 | Other degrees of kinship for the same categories | KD 300 |
Domestic workers
- The fees applicable to domestic workers sponsored by these categories are the same as those applicable to domestic workers sponsored by a Kuwaiti family.
Why the decision matters
- It addresses a consequence of the citizenship withdrawals of recent years, for those named in a decree and for those who held nationality by dependency.
- Stability: a term of up to ten years with exemption from fees removes the annual renewal cycle.
- The right to work is expressly contemplated, which was the most pressing practical problem for this group.
- Family reunification becomes affordable at KD 10 per year for immediate family.
- GCC nationals in the equivalent position are expressly included.
- Discretion remains: the conditions are set by the Director General, so application depends on the controls he issues.
Frequently asked questions
A decree withdrew my citizenship. Do I get this residence automatically?
No. The decision permits the grant of residence rather than conferring it by operation of law. It requires that the withdrawal was based on item (4) of Article (13) of the 1959 decree and that you have returned to your original foreign nationality or to another nationality. Applications are then made under the controls set by the Director General of the General Department of Residence Affairs.
Am I allowed to work?
Article 7 bis provides that the Director General may permit those holding this residence to work in Kuwait according to controls to be determined. The permission is expressly contemplated in the text, but it depends on the implementing controls that govern it.
What will my family pay?
Under the added paragraph (9) the fee is KD 10 per person per year for a spouse, children, mother and father. Other degrees of kinship are charged KD 300 per year under paragraph (10). Your own residence is exempt from fees under paragraph (12).
Am I bound by the six-month limit on absence?
No. Article 37 as amended expressly exempts holders of Article 7 bis residence from that limit, alongside children of Kuwaiti women, property owners and the Law 116 of 2013 category. The exemption does not extend to domestic workers, whose limit is four months and whose right to residence lapses if it is exceeded without an absence permit.
If a citizenship withdrawal decree affects you or your family and you need to regularise your residency, you may book an appointment with the office of Attorney Meshari Obeid Alenezi or call 22204490.
Disclaimer: this article provides general legal information and is not a substitute for specialised legal advice. The implementing controls for this decision are issued by the General Department of Residence Affairs and govern its application.
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