Kuwait grants 10-year residency permits to former citizens: what is known?

Kuwait has introduced 10-year residency permits for former citizens. Find out who is eligible for the new status and how much it costs

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For years, the Kuwaiti dinar has remained the world's most valuable currency, and the country itself is one of the main employment destinations for millions of foreigners – most of whom come from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. In September 2026, the authorities adopted a decision that directly affects part of this population: those who previously lost Kuwaiti citizenship will now be able to obtain a residence permit valid for up to 10 years.

The changes were introduced by Kuwait's Ministry of Interior under Decision No. 1410 of 2026, which amends the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residency Law (Decision No. 2249 of 2025). The document was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah on September 2, 2026, and published in the official gazette "Kuwait Al-Youm" – taking effect from that date.

Also read how, in 2026, Kuwait abolished a naturalization route: the new citizenship rules for foreigners – via the link.

Relocating and obtaining a new legal status always means a mountain of documents, requirements, and deadlines that are easy to get lost in. To avoid spending weeks researching on your own, use the "Immigration Guide" from the Visit World team – just enter your citizenship and destination country, and within minutes a ready-made PDF with step-by-step instructions will arrive in your inbox. Find out more and order your guide right now.

A 10-Year Residence Permit Under Article 7 bis

The key change is a new Article 7 bis added to the residency regulations. It applies to people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn under Clause 4 of Article 13 of the 1959 Citizenship Law, as well as to those who acquired citizenship through dependency on such a person (for example, a spouse or children) and were included in the same withdrawal decree.

To obtain the new status, a person must restore their original citizenship or acquire another one. It's important to understand: this measure does not restore Kuwaiti citizenship and does not overturn the earlier withdrawal decision. It creates a separate, standalone legal status that allows the person to remain in the country legally – as a foreign resident, not as a citizen.

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Who Can Qualify for the New Status?

The specific conditions for granting and renewing the permit are set by the Director General of the Department of Residency Affairs – meaning decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Broadly, eligibility for the 10-year permit covers two categories:

- people whose Kuwaiti citizenship was formally withdrawn by decree and who have since returned to their original nationality or obtained another one;

- people who acquired Kuwaiti citizenship through dependency on such a person (under the same withdrawal decree) and have likewise resolved their citizenship status.

Holders of the new status will be able to work legally in Kuwait under conditions set by the same department.

A guide to obtaining commercial visas for Kuwait is available here.

How Much Will the New Kuwait Residence Permit Cost?

Holders of the Article 7 bis status themselves are exempt from the annual residency fee – this is explicitly stated in the updated fee schedule. Family members, however, pay separate rates: a spouse, children, father, or mother pay 10 Kuwaiti dinars (about $32) per person per year. The same reduced fee of 10 dinars applies to the close relatives of Gulf nationals who lost Kuwaiti citizenship and reverted to their original one.

For other relatives outside the immediate family, the annual fee is significantly higher – 300 dinars, roughly $970 per person. Separate rates are also set for domestic workers employed by such families: they are matched to the rates applied to domestic staff of Kuwaiti citizens.

What's Changing in the Rules for Leaving the Country?

The second major block of changes concerns how long a foreign resident can stay outside Kuwait without risking the loss of their residence permit. The general rule is no more than six consecutive months. But several categories are exempt, and Article 7 bis holders are one of them. The exemption also applies to foreign children of Kuwaiti women who did not acquire citizenship through their mother, property owners, and investors under Law No. 116 of 2013 who meet the Council of Ministers' conditions.

For domestic workers, by contrast, the rules remain stricter: the maximum period of absence is four months. If a worker fails to obtain prior approval for a longer absence, they risk automatically losing their right to residency.

Why Does This Matter for Labor Migrants?

Kuwait remains one of the wealthiest oil-producing economies in the Gulf, and oil, despite diversification efforts, still forms the backbone of the budget. At the same time, the country is heavily dependent on foreign labor: according to the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), Kuwait's population reached 5.31 million by mid-2026, of which 3.74 million – or 70% – were foreigners. The total workforce exceeds 3.2 million people, with roughly three-quarters of expatriates employed within it.

The Indian community remains the largest – over a million people, or nearly 29% of the workforce. Egyptians form the second-largest group, at around 14.6% of workers. Other African countries also make up a notable share of Kuwait's labor market: Ethiopia remains one of the main sources of domestic staff, while workers from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana traditionally travel to Kuwait for service-sector jobs.

However, during 2026 Kuwait further tightened its rules on hiring domestic workers: it allowed recruitment from Ethiopia, South Africa, and Benin, while introducing restrictions for nationals of Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda. That means the new 10-year permit has no direct relevance for most African labor migrants in Kuwait – it applies to a narrow category of former citizens. The new four-month absence limit for domestic workers, on the other hand, affects them directly, and it's worth paying close attention to for anyone planning an extended trip home.

We've previously covered the advantages of working in Kuwait, the types of work visas, and labor conditions for foreigners.

The Article 7 bis situation is a good example of how confusing residency rules can get when citizenship, residence, and the right to work are governed by different, often separate regulations. Every country has its own authority handling these matters, its own list of required documents, and its own processing timelines. 

Visit World's "Immigration Guide" brings all of this together in one place: step-by-step instructions for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship on various grounds, the contact details and address of the relevant authority, a full list of required documents, costs and processing times, as well as applicant requirements and practical tips. If you're planning to legalize your stay in a new country, start with verified information – not guesswork. Order your immigration guide now.

A reminder: Kuwait is preparing a large-scale labor migration reform that will affect thousands of foreign specialists. The country plans to introduce a special residence permit for freelancers, allowing them to work without being tied to a sponsoring employer. We've already covered the cost of the new visa, applicant requirements, and the program's expected launch timeline.

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