There will be no further provision of any temporary measures for visa visits and absence permits of expatriates in Kuwait as of September 1, 2026, indicating the end of emergency immigration policies that were introduced earlier this year.
According to an official announcement made by the Ministry of Interior on Thursday, the protocol for automatic extension for all types of visa entries will come to an end. In the future, normal statutory periods and procedures will apply to enter permits. This new policy brings an end to temporary measures that were introduced in February 2026, providing fee-free automatic monthly extensions for visitors stuck due to exceptional circumstances.
The policy reversal similarly applies to foreign residents currently residing outside the country. The emergency framework—which automatically granted three-month absence extensions through government electronic systems without requiring in-person visits to residency affairs departments—will be completely phased out. Beginning September 1, statutory
legal limits governing allowable time spent abroad will reapply to all expatriates, including those already overseas and residents departing Kuwait on or before August 31.
Interior Ministry officials emphasised that the digital residence permit certificate accessible via the official Sahel mobile application serves as the authoritative, legal standard for verifying permit validity and allowable absence periods. Expatriates, local sponsors, and corporate HR departments are strongly advised to consult the digital platform directly to review exact expiration dates, maintain regulatory compliance, and avoid financial penalties or status violations.
Authorities clarified that a temporary transition rule will apply to residents departing the country on or before August 31, 2026, allowing them subject-to-rule compliance during their travel. However, government officials stressed that foreign nationals must refrain from relying on past automated extensions and should instead proactively manage their residency status in full alignment with standard legal timelines.
The comprehensive rollback reflects Kuwait’s broader administrative strategy to normalise state operations, enforce public compliance, and reinstate regular regulatory frameworks across its national workforce and immigration management systems. As the enforcement date approaches, local sponsors, business entities, and foreign residents must ensure all travel itineraries and visa renewals strictly comply with standard statutory requirements, as no further emergency relief provisions will be granted beyond the end-of-month deadline.
