KUWAIT CITY – In a significant administrative move, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has announced that women who lost their citizenship under Article 8 of the Nationality Law will be permitted to travel internationally using their former Kuwaiti passports.
This temporary measure will be in effect from June 1 through September 30, 2025, and is aimed at facilitating the legal status adjustment of affected individuals who have long existed in a bureaucratic and humanitarian limbo.
LEGAL TRANSITION WITH STRICT CONDITIONS
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to support the regularization of legal status for this specific group, but the government has emphasized strict adherence to its conditions.
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The former Kuwaiti passport will only be valid for international travel during the four-month window.
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Affected individuals must initiate the process of obtaining valid travel documents from their country of original nationality or another internationally recognized passport that allows legal residency in Kuwait.
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The overall legal adjustment period will remain open until May 31, 2026, but to retain eligibility for state benefits, applicants must begin the process within the first three months (by August 31, 2025).
Proof of serious intent, such as a passport application or a formal embassy request, must be submitted. Any delay or failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of remaining benefits.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE & CIVIL ID UPDATE
The Ministry also clarified that filing for legal status adjustment does not preclude individuals from submitting an appeal.
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Grievances may be submitted to the Grievance Committee for Withdrawal, Forfeiture, and Loss of Kuwaiti Citizenship, operating under Cabinet Resolutions No. 207 and 493 of 2025.
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Upon successful regularization, affected individuals will be issued a new civil ID reflecting their updated nationality. This ID will include a note specifying “Kuwaiti individual treatment in accordance with established regulations.”
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF THROUGH STRUCTURED TRANSITION
The Ministry emphasized that this policy is designed to simplify the transition process while safeguarding humanitarian and administrative fairness.
It provides a structured pathway for those affected to adjust their legal status while still retaining a level of access to state services and benefits—so long as deadlines and compliance rules are followed.
Officials have urged affected individuals to act promptly, seek legal assistance if necessary, and remain fully engaged with the process throughout the designated period.
