Kuwait issues decree amending nationality law
Kuwait's Amiri Diwan has issued a decree amending key provisions of the 1959 Nationality Law, introducing new rules on citizenship and documentation.
Kuwait's Amiri Diwan issued a decree on August 23, 2026, amending the 1959 Nationality Law. The decree, known as Amiri Decree No. 79 of 2026, introduces new rules regarding citizenship and documentation. The decree replaces certain clauses in Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959, specifically Article (14), Clause (4) and Article (19). It stipulates that if a person deliberately adds non-descendants to their or another's nationality file, those individuals' citizenship can be revoked if proven they were aware of the act.
The decree also mandates that the Minister of Interior issue an electronic certificate of Kuwaiti nationality to every eligible Kuwaiti, replacing the paper certificate in all legal applications. Additionally, a new paragraph in Article (7) of the decree states that naturalized Kuwaitis are ineligible to vote, run for office, or hold any representative position. The decree will be enforced from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
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