Kuwait has issued Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026 amending its 1959 Citizenship Law, with the changes taking effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette on 13 April 2026.
The decree reshapes who qualifies as Kuwaiti, how citizenship can be lost, and how nationality claims are verified, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Anyone planning to apply for Kuwaiti citizenship, marry into a Kuwaiti family, or travel to Kuwait on nationality-related matters should consult the Ministry of Interior or a qualified lawyer for how these changes apply to their case.
Who counts as Kuwaiti
The amended law states that the following may count as Kuwaiti:
- Descendants of people who lived in Kuwait before 1920 and remained there until 14 December 1959
- Anyone born to a Kuwaiti father, whether born inside or outside Kuwait
- Children of a Kuwaiti mother and a foreign father, who may be treated as Kuwaiti until age 21 in certain cases, including if the father is deceased, a prisoner of war, or has divorced the mother
- Children whose father is unknown or whose paternity has not been legally established, who may be treated as Kuwaiti until the age of maturity
- Children born in Kuwait to unknown parents, until the age of maturity
Marriage and citizenship
Under the amended rules:
- A foreign spouse does not automatically become Kuwaiti through marriage, as confirmed by KUNA.
- A Kuwaiti woman who marries a foreigner keeps her nationality, unless she voluntarily takes her husband’s citizenship.
- A foreign woman who gained Kuwaiti citizenship through marriage may lose it if the marriage ends and she has no children.
- A foreign woman who has children keeps that citizenship after the marriage ends — unless she remarries a non-Kuwaiti or acquires another nationality.
Losing citizenship and stricter checks
A Kuwaiti citizen — whether by origin or naturalisation — loses citizenship if they voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality, according to KUNA.
Newly naturalised citizens must renounce any other nationality within three months of being granted Kuwaiti nationality and submit proof to the Ministry of Interior, or the grant is treated as null and void from the date it was issued.
The decree also expands grounds for withdrawing citizenship, including fraud, false information, or national-interest considerations, with prison sentences and fines for false declarations.
Authorities may now use DNA testing and biometric identification to verify nationality claims, and citizenship decisions are classified as acts of sovereignty that are not subject to judicial review.
Sources
- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) — Kuwait Gazette Publishes Decree-into-Law Regarding Citizenship
- Kuwait Times — Kuwait Citizenship Law Amendments Published in Official Gazette
- Gulf News — Kuwait Issues Major Amendments to Citizenship Law Under New Decree
- Times Kuwait — Kuwait Issues Sweeping Amendments to Citizenship Law in New Decree
- Arab Times — Kuwait Issues Major Amendments to Kuwaiti Citizenship Law Under New Decree
- Fragomen — Kuwait: Nationality Law Revisions Implemented
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