Kuwait Imposes New Residency Restrictions on Foreign Workers’ Absences

The Kuwaiti government has introduced new restrictions on the duration that foreign workers can remain outside the country by amending its residency law. This decision directly impacts the residency status of thousands of migrant workers.

According to a report by Gulf News, under the new amendments, domestic workers are allowed to stay outside Kuwait for a maximum of four consecutive months. If a longer leave is needed, the worker’s sponsor must obtain official authorization through the relevant authorities.

For other legal residency holders, the maximum allowable absence from Kuwait has been set at six months. Kuwaiti officials have warned that staying beyond this period could seriously jeopardize one’s legal residency status.

This new measure broadly affects foreign workers, including those from Afghanistan and Pakistan, who travel for work, family visits, or extended vacations, raising concerns among migrant communities in Kuwait.