The existing immigration legislation, which has been in effect for more than 60 years, has been replaced with a new one in Kuwait.
The existing immigration legislation, which has been in effect for more than 60 years, has been replaced with a new one in Kuwait. The legislation adds certain noteworthy measures, especially pertaining to domestic workers and visa trading, coupled with harsher punishments, but it is hardly a total reform. Amiri Decree No. 114 of 2024, a new immigration legislation that governs migrant entrance and residence, was recently released by the Kuwaiti government on November 28, 2024. The former immigration legislation (legislation No. 17 of 1959), which has been in force for more than 60 years, is replaced by this statute.The 36 provisions that make up the new law's seven chapters went into effect on January 5, 2025, after it was published in the Official Gazette. Unless they are in violation with the new legislation's provisions, executive rules and decisions made under the prior law will stay in effect. Within six months after the law's publication, the Ministry of Interior is required to provide the relevant implementing rules. While not a total reform, the new immigration legislation improves on the old framework by adding stronger penalties along with several noteworthy features, especially for domestic workers and to stop visa trading.Comparing the new immigration legislation to the old one, the following are some of its key provisions:Extended Visa Validity, Notification Periods, and Visa RegulationsThe new law's Article 11 allows visitors from other countries to stay in Kuwait for a maximum of three months. Unless they receive a residency permission from the Ministry of Interior, they will have to depart the country when their visa expires. In the past, a visit visa could only be used for stays of up to one month.Gender discrimination is still present in the current immigration law. According to Article 10, a Kuwaiti woman who did not get her citizenship by marriage to a Kuwaiti man may sponsor a residency visa for her foreign spouse and children. Furthermore, if she has children with a Kuwaiti citizen, a foreign widow or divorcee of that person is eligible to apply for a residency card. The Kuwaiti government has limited its nationality legislation to exclude automatic naturalization for foreign wives of Kuwaiti males as part of a related change. Children of Kuwaiti women and other groups specified by the Ministry of Interior would not be required to pay residence costs, according to the new immigration legislation.Government workers are prohibited from obtaining residency permits from new employment without the permission of their former employer. New residency permits for employees of non-governmental organizations are subject to Ministry of Interior clearance. If a migrant employee's work expires or they quit, employers—whether governmental or non-governmental—must inform the Ministry of Interior within two weeks.
