Kuwait to End Exceptional Visa and Absence Measures from September 1, 2026
- Kuwait has confirmed that temporary visa and absence measures introduced earlier this year will officially end on September 1, 2026
- From that date, statutory rules will once again apply to visit visas and absence permits for residents abroad
- The Ministry of Interior has urged all residents and visitors to check their documentation via the Sahel app to ensure compliance with the updated regulations
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Kuwait has confirmed that temporary immigration arrangements introduced earlier this year will come to an end on September 1, 2026, with statutory rules once again applying to visit visas and absence permits for residents abroad.
The Ministry of Interior announced that exceptional renewals for visit entry visas will stop from September 1. Instead, the statutory periods governing entry visas will resume in line with existing regulations and procedures.
Source: Twitter
In February, Kuwait had introduced temporary measures granting an automatic one-month extension to all types of visit entry visas that expired or were due to expire. These extensions were processed electronically, with no need for applicants to attend residency affairs departments. Fees and fines were also waived during this period.
The Ministry has now clarified that these exceptional arrangements will cease, and normal visa rules will return.
Kuwait absence permit rules
According to ArabianKuwait, the change also affects expatriate residents outside Kuwait. From September 1, statutory absence periods will again apply.
Earlier this year, the Ministry had granted a three-month absence permit to residents abroad who had exceeded the permitted absence period and were unable to return. This was processed automatically through Kuwait’s electronic system, with fees waived.
The new announcement confirms that from September 1, absence rules will apply both to residents already outside Kuwait and those who leave on or before August 31, 2026.
September visa change
The Ministry outlined the following changes effective September 1:
- Exceptional renewal arrangements for visit entry visas will stop.
- Statutory periods and procedures governing entry visas will resume.
- Statutory absence periods will again apply to residents outside Kuwait.
- Absence rules will apply to residents already abroad and those leaving before August 31.
- The residence permit certificate obtained through the Sahel app will be the official reference for determining absence permit expiry.
The Ministry did not specify the exact statutory periods that will apply.
Sahel app reference
Residents abroad are advised to check their residence permit certificate via the Sahel app, which is now the approved reference for absence permit expiry dates. The Ministry stressed that residents must comply with the period specified in their documentation to avoid violating regulations.
Importantly, September 1 is not a universal deadline for all residents outside Kuwait to return. Instead, it marks the date when statutory absence rules resume. Each resident should refer to their Sahel certificate for the applicable period.
Kuwait exceptional visa measures
The exceptional measures introduced in February included:
- Automatic one-month extension of visit visas.
- Automatic three-month absence permits for residents abroad.
- Waiver of prescribed fees and fines.
- Processing through Kuwait’s electronic system without requiring in-person attendance.
At the time, the Ministry said extensions could be prolonged depending on developments. The latest announcement now confirms that these temporary arrangements will end on September 1, with statutory rules reinstated.
Source: Getty Images
Kuwait announces end of automatic visit visa
Legit.ng earlier reported that Kuwait has announced that it will end the special visa and leave permit arrangements it had in place during the period of conflict, with standard immigration rules returning on September 1, 2026.
Source: Legit.ng
