A new Ministry of Interior decision in Kuwait has introduced significant changes to the country’s foreign residency regulations.

Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026 was officially published in “Kuwait Al-Youm,” making the amendments effective from the date of publication.

The most notable change is the creation of Article 7 bis, allowing ordinary residency permits of up to 10 years for specific individuals whose Kuwaiti citizenship was withdrawn by decree, including those who acquired citizenship through dependency and later returned to their original foreign nationality or obtained another nationality.

The General Department of Residency Affairs will determine the conditions for granting and renewing these permits. Eligible individuals may also receive authorization to work in Kuwait in accordance with the applicable regulations.

The decision also changes the rules for residents staying abroad.

Foreign residents generally cannot remain outside Kuwait for more than six months. However, exemptions apply to specific categories, including certain children of Kuwaiti mothers, property owners, qualifying investors and individuals holding residency under Article 7 bis.

Residents may also obtain authorization to remain abroad beyond six months, subject to the conditions set by the General Department of Residency Affairs. Their residency must remain valid, and the required permit must be obtained before the deadline.

There are also important changes to residency-related fees.

Individuals granted residency under Article 7 bis are exempt from the annual residency fee. For dependent residency covering a spouse, children, mother or father, the fee is set at 10 Kuwaiti dinars per person per year for the categories covered by the decision.

For other family relationships, the annual fee is 300 Kuwaiti dinars per person. The decision also establishes that domestic workers sponsored by eligible individuals will be subject to the fees applicable to domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti families.

Ministerial Decision No. 1410 of 2026 is now effective in Kuwait from the date of its publication in the official gazette “Kuwait Al-Youm.”