KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait will end automatic extensions for entry visas and leave permits from September 1, 2026. The Ministry of Interior announced the decision on Friday.
The new policy will restore the normal validity periods set under Kuwaiti law. It will also bring back the standard procedures for different visa categories.
Under the new rules, automatic visa extensions will end for people currently inside Kuwait. This applies to all categories of visit visas.
Visitors will therefore need to follow the regular validity periods. They must also comply with the existing requirements and procedures.
The ministry also announced changes for expatriates who are currently outside Kuwait. Their leave permits will return to their normal legal validity periods.
However, an exception will apply to some expatriates who left Kuwait before the deadline. Those who departed on or before August 31, 2026, will retain the additional exceptional extension.
The extension will remain available according to the relevant regulations. Expats should check their individual status before making travel arrangements.
The Ministry of Interior also clarified how residents can confirm their leave permit expiry date. The residency permit status certificate available through the Sahel app will serve as the official reference.
Residents staying outside Kuwait must return before the date shown on the certificate. Authorities have urged residents to follow all applicable laws and procedures.
Failure to comply could result in violations under Kuwait’s residency regulations. The ministry advised concerned individuals to verify their status carefully.
The decision marks a return to the standard system after temporary measures allowed additional visa extensions. Residents and visitors will now need to monitor their permitted stay periods.
The ministry’s announcement is expected to affect visitors and expatriates with existing visa arrangements. Those affected should review their documents before September 1.
The development comes shortly after another major decision by the Kuwaiti Cabinet. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved a draft decree-law amending the Nationality Law.
The proposed changes concern several provisions of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959. They include stricter penalties for nationality fraud.
The draft also introduces electronic nationality certificates. It includes political restrictions for some naturalized citizens.
The Cabinet approved the draft during its weekly meeting. Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah chaired the meeting.
In other news read more about Saudi Arabia Opens Umrah Visa Issuance for New Season 1448 AH
The latest visa extensions decision and nationality law amendments are separate measures. Both reflect recent changes in Kuwait’s legal and administrative procedures.
