Citizenship in Kuwait

If you want to obtain citizenship in Kuwait in 2026, it would be recommended to have specialized help at hand, because naturalization was abolished in April 2026 (Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026) and nationality now passes essentially by descent from a Kuwaiti father. As Kuwaiti nationality is offered under exceptional conditions, we invite you to inform yourself in the following lines and to collaborate with our immigration lawyers in Kuwait.

Provisions of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law

According to the Nationality Law in Kuwait of 1959, Kuwaiti women cannot transfer their nationality to foreign spouses and children, as Kuwaiti men can to foreign women. In other words, only children who have a Kuwaiti father can receive his citizenship, but mothers of Kuwaiti nationality are not allowed. On the other hand, if a Kuwaiti father changes his citizenship, this status can also change in the case of the children, regardless of the mother’s nationality. The same Kuwaiti Nationality Law historically provided the routes below, but marriage (December 2024) and naturalization (April 2026) have since been abolished:

• by birth,
• naturalization,
• descent,
• marriage.

Children born in Kuwait to a Kuwaiti father automatically acquire citizenship. However, there are also cases in which children of Kuwaiti mothers with a father of another nationality may only be treated as Kuwaiti temporarily until adulthood, in limited cases (e.g. father deceased or divorced). We invite you to talk to our lawyers in Kuwait and find out more information about citizenship and procedures in 2026 if you are interested in this status.

What is the Declaration of Intent to become a Kuwaiti citizen?

Foreign wives formerly declared their intention to become Kuwaiti citizens; this route was abolished by Decree-Law No. 116 of 2024. This is known as the first time Declaration of Intent to become a Kuwaiti citizen. Here are the documents required in this matter:

• Birth certificate and passport of the husband. Civil ID is also required.
• In the case of foreigners, the original and a copy of the passport, the wife’s civil ID, recent photos, a reference card, and a birth certificate if born in Kuwait.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, foreigners can no longer apply for naturalization in Kuwait (Articles 4 and 5 were repealed in April 2026); previously they had to prove that they have lived in this country for at least 20 years. In addition to the documents mentioned above, candidates for this status must have knowledge of the Arabic language, pass some medical tests, or present a report in this regard. There are other conditions to be fulfilled, but we recommend that you contact our attorneys in Kuwait and get ready with the conditions and formalities for obtaining citizenship in Kuwait in 2026.

Is dual citizenship in Kuwait available?

Dual citizenship in Kuwait is not recognized, which means that the original citizenship must be renounced. As obtaining citizenship in Kuwait is a fairly strict process and carefully supervised by the authorities due to the multiple benefits, it was natural that dual citizenship should not be an option at hand. If you are an American citizen, for example, and you want to obtain Kuwaiti nationality, you must think very carefully because the authorities in Kuwait will ask you to renounce your US nationality. And speaking of nationality, here is the latest information regarding the revocation of Kuwaiti citizenship:

• Kuwaiti authorities have agreed to revoke approximately 5,838 Kuwaiti citizenships in 2025.
• The High Committee for Kuwaiti Nationality approved this number of nationality revocations, following concerns linked to fraud, and already entered into force.
• Over 35,548 people lost their Kuwaiti citizenship between August 29, 2024, and January 16, 2025.

Citizenship updates in Kuwait for 2026

Ready to apply for citizenship in Kuwait in 2026? Please explore the updates and changes imposed for this year to residents in Kuwait:

• In 2026, DNA tests may be imposed to verify the lineage of applicants for citizenship in Kuwait. This follows the revocation of more than 70,000 Kuwaiti citizenships (about 71,000 by April 2026) following rigorous checks by the Supreme Committee for Kuwaiti Citizenship.
• Citizenship by marriage in Kuwait was abolished by Decree-Law No. 116 of 2024, and naturalization by Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026, following updates implemented in recent years through legislation. In addition, women who marry a Kuwaiti citizen will no longer automatically receive their nationality.
• Dual citizenship is still not permitted in Kuwait, as authorities consider Kuwaiti nationality to be a revokable privilege rather than a secured right for people found to have second passports.

In addition to assistance for obtaining citizenship in Kuwait in 2026, you can opt for other services too. For example, we help foreign citizens obtain residency in Kuwait. We offer consultancy for immigration to Kuwait at affordable prices. Besides, if you want to open a company in Kuwait, we are at your disposal with customized solutions. Please contact our law firm in Kuwait and discover the legal services you need.