A new executive regulation under Ministerial Resolution No. 2249 of 2025 rolled out by Kuwait comes as a blow to thousands of expats living in the Gulf nation.

As per the country’s policy change, the maximum time expats can stay abroad has been limited to six months. The rule applies broadly to most categories of residency, unless exemptions are specified.

The new residency rule allows expats with valid residence permits to stay outside of Kuwait for not more than six consecutive months, failing which they risk losing their residency status.

While Kuwait has been introducing long-term visa options to retain investors and skilled workers, the new rule confirms the government’s move to reform residency and population management policies.

Under the policy shift, standard residency remains at five years, and 10-year residency is granted to property owners as well as to children of Kuwaiti women. The 15-year residency is reserved for foreign investors, meeting the criteria of the Foreign Direct Investment Law.

Domestic workers who fall under Article 20 residency are subject to stringent travel deadlines. They are allowed to stay outside of Kuwait for not more than four months. If their stay exceeds this period, their residency would be cancelled.

In order to avert accidental cancellations, the Ministry of Interior has introduced a digital safety net. Sponsors can request a ‘leave of absence’ to extend the stay beyond four months.

Kuwait has also introduced daily fines to check those who overstay their residency or visit visas. If found guilty, they would be fined KD 2 per day for the first month, increasing to KD 4 per day subsequently.

Parents of newborns would have to register their child’s birth within four months, failing which they would be fined KD 2 per day.

As part of its progressive targets, Kuwait is also gravitating to a ‘paperless’ immigration system that is likely to be launched soon. – editor@nrifocus.com