10-Year Residency for Those Whose Kuwaiti Citizenship Was Revoked

Al-Taj News – Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior issued a decision amending certain provisions of the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residency Law, including granting a category of individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked by decree, as well as those who acquired citizenship with them by dependency, ordinary residency for up to 10 years, subject to conditions and regulations set by the General Department of Residency Affairs.

The decision, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and published in the official gazette “Kuwait Al-Youm,” stipulates that the residency shall include those who have returned to their original foreign nationality or acquired another nationality.

According to the decision, residency shall be granted to this category without fees, while allowing them to work in Kuwait in accordance with the regulations set by the General Department of Residency Affairs.

The decision also exempts holders of this residency from the rule preventing foreigners from remaining outside Kuwait for more than six months, allowing them to stay outside the country for a longer period as long as their residency remains valid and in accordance with the approved regulations.

Reduced Fees for Joining a Family Member

The decision sets an annual fee of 10 dinars per person for residency to join a family member for spouses, children, mothers and fathers, for those covered by the provisions of the new residency rules.

For other family relationships, the decision sets a fee of 300 dinars per person annually.

It also stipulates that domestic workers registered under the sponsorship of those covered by this residency, as well as Gulf nationals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was revoked and who returned to their original nationality, shall be charged the same fees applicable to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families.

Exemptions from the Period of Stay Outside Kuwait

The new amendments included Article 37 of the executive regulations, which originally stipulates that a foreigner authorized to reside in Kuwait may not remain outside the country for more than six months.

The decision exempts several categories from this rule, including children of Kuwaiti women who did not acquire Kuwaiti citizenship by dependency through their marriage to a Kuwaiti, property owners, investors who meet the regulations set by the Council of Ministers, and those granted residency under the new Article “7 bis.”

The decision also authorizes the General Department of Residency Affairs to grant permission for an absence exceeding six months, in accordance with the approved conditions and regulations, provided that the residency remains valid.

At the same time, the decision maintains a maximum period of four months for domestic workers to remain outside Kuwait, unless they obtain prior permission for absence from the General Department of Residency Affairs.

Powers of the Residency Affairs Department

Under the decision, the Director General of the General Department of Residency Affairs shall determine the conditions and regulations required for granting and renewing the new residency, in addition to determining the regulations governing permission for those covered by it to work in Kuwait.

The decision’s final article stipulates that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior shall oversee its implementation, and that it shall enter into force as of the date of its publication in the official gazette.