Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait

Kuwait, Nov 2: In a significant policy move, the Kuwaiti Cabinet has released a new circular detailing the rights, privileges, and obligations of individuals whose citizenship has been revoked, particularly those naturalised under Article 5/Third of the 1965 Census or through dependency. The directive, part of Cabinet Resolution No. 1355 of 2025, establishes a comprehensive framework outlining what such individuals can retain — including access to travel, employment, education, housing, and investments — while setting clear limitations and time-bound conditions to ensure compliance with national laws.

The circular provides a one-year grace period from the date of publication of the revocation decree in the Official Gazette, allowing affected individuals to regularise their legal status. During this period, nine key entitlements are preserved under strict oversight.

Among the retained privileges are temporary travel rights, enabling individuals to use their Kuwaiti passports for up to four months, continued employment in public and semi-government institutions, and education rights extending through all academic levels, including existing scholarships.

The directive also allows individuals to retain ownership of one private residence and, under specific conditions, continue benefiting from housing or Credit Bank financing. Additionally, they may sponsor domestic workers, own vehicles, and trade in stocks and securities. Those with small or medium enterprise loans are required to continue repayments but remain eligible for certain existing incentives.

However, the circular enforces clear restrictions. Former citizens will no longer enjoy privileges linked to state-owned properties, such as agricultural plots, chalets, or commercial land. These assets must be transferred to first-degree Kuwaiti relatives within five years. Similarly, ownership of investment and industrial properties must be regularised or sold within the same timeframe.

All benefits will be immediately revoked if the individual is convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or state security — or if they fail to legalise their residency status within one year.

To ensure procedural fairness, the government reaffirmed the right to appeal through the Committee for the Withdrawal, Revocation, and Loss of Kuwaiti Citizenship, as stipulated in Cabinet Resolutions No. 207 and No. 493 of 2025.

By balancing state sovereignty with social stability, the circular reflects Kuwait’s effort to manage nationality issues through a structured, humane approach — ensuring affected individuals retain basic dignity and access to essential services while reaffirming the state’s authority over citizenship matters.