Kuwait limits foreign residents’ stay abroad

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has amended its residency laws for foreigners, imposing strict limits on the length of stay abroad.

Foreign residents residing in Kuwait will no longer be allowed to stay outside the country for more than 6 months under the new residency regulations. The new restriction was introduced through a ministerial decision issued by the Ministry of Interior.

According to the 2025 ministerial decision, foreign residents will no longer be allowed to stay outside Kuwait for more than six months. This regulation will apply to all types of residency permits, however, children of Kuwaiti women, property owners and foreign investors are exempted from this restriction.

Separate rules have been set for domestic workers. Under Article 20, domestic workers can stay outside Kuwait for a maximum of 4 months, unless the sponsor submits an approved leave application through the relevant residency affairs departments or through the Sahel application.

The Home Office has said the new measures aim to improve the management of the residency system, while maintaining flexibility for certain categories.