Kuwait's new residency law: What are the latest regulations for expats?

Kuwait has officially introduced a new rule to limit the duration foreigners can remain outside the country as part of stricter residency regulations.

The prime motive behind this policy is to enforce a mandatory six-month limit on absences, ensuring foreign residents do not lose their status while spent abroad.

According to Gulf News, the Ministry of Interior has enforced a six-month cap on how long residents can remain abroad.

This decision is part of the new executive regulations of Kuwait’s residency law and applies to all categories, with specific exemptions for investors and property owners.

The updated executive provisions apply to domestic workers under Article 20.

According to these regulations, domestic staff may remain outside Kuwait for a maximum of four months unless the sponsor submits a leave request for approval.

The new renewal framework aims to strengthen compliance while implementing variable policies for selected categories such as investors and property owners.

To this end, the Interior Ministry is committed to ensuring these measures streamline residency management while maintaining flexibility for long-term residents.

Nonetheless, the enforcement of the six-month cap will mark a definite turn in Kuwait’s approach to immigration and demographic management.