Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced the end of the exceptional procedures that had been in place and the restoration of the legal validity periods for entry visas and absence permits, effective September 1, 2026. The decision affects visitors and residents and marks a return to the regular regulations governing entry, residency, and periods spent outside the country.

The ministry explained that automatic extensions for all types of visit entry visas held by people currently inside Kuwait will stop from September 1. After that date, the legally prescribed validity periods, procedures, and regulations governing each type of entry visa will once again apply, bringing the exceptional automatic extension arrangement to an end.

The Ministry of Interior stressed that the decision restores the normal framework for visit visas, meaning visitors and concerned individuals must monitor the legally permitted duration of their visas and complete any required procedures before their validity expires. All relevant entry rules and regulations will be applied under the standard system from the announced effective date.

Regarding absence permits for residents currently outside Kuwait, the ministry said that the legal validity periods for absence permits will also be restored from September 1, 2026. However, the additional exceptional period will remain valid for residents who left Kuwait on or before August 31, 2026, in accordance with the applicable regulations and controls.

The Ministry of Interior also confirmed that the residence license certificate issued through the Sahel application is the official and approved reference for determining the expiration date of an absence permit. Residents are therefore required to follow the date stated in the certificate and return to Kuwait within the specified period to avoid violating the applicable regulations after the exceptional procedures officially end.