Kuwaiti nationality law

The Kuwaiti nationality law restricts expats to become citizens of the State of Kuwait easily.The Kuwaiti nationality law is very old and a decree was first passed in 1920,then in 1959.An emir's decree was passed later in 1960 and from the 1970s the nationality law became restrictive.A number of amendments were made in 1980,1982,1994,1998,2000. Amendments were made in 1987 but was rejected by the assembly.There were also proposals in 2006 but the parliament which proposed it dissolved.Kuwait plans to change their nationality law to allow non muslims to become citizens.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}The most recent proposal to allow non-muslim to become Kuwaiti was made by MP Ashour who suggested to cancell item 5 of article 4.^[9]

Original Kuwaitis

An original Kuwaiti is a person who settled in Kuwait before 1920.A person who believes that he has maintained his normal residence in Kuwait even though he is living in another country if he has intended to go back to Kuwait.

Children born outside Kuwait

A child born to a Kuwaiti father outside Kuwait is a kuwaiti himself.

Children born to unknown parents

Children born to unknown parents in Kuwait are kuwaitis themselves.

Citizenship for non arab and arab

Kuwaiti citizenship may be granted by the Minister of the Interior to,if he or she must satisfy all of the following :

• has legally lived in Kuwait for 20 years continuously or 15 years if he or she is an Arab citizen.He or she will not be affected if she goes to an aboard for a business visit.
• has legal ways of earning their living and has not convicted of a crime.
• knows the Arabic Language
• is a muslim by birth or converted to Islam 5 years prior to the declaration of naturalization.But if he or she has the intention of leaving Islam before naturalization they will not get citizenship

Citizenship may be granted by the Minister of Interior,if he or she also must satisfy one of the following:

• has rendered valuable services to the State of Kuwait.
• has a Kuwaiti mother and father who is dead or divorced and lived in Kuwait till the age of majority.
• is an Arab and lived in kuwait before 1945 and maintained residence till the date of declaration of naturalization.
• is a non Arab and lived in Kuwait since before 1930 and maintained residence till the date of declaration of naturalization.

Citizenship though Marriage

Non Kuwaiti wife of a foreigner who is granted citizenship

The wife may be granted citizenship only if she declares her wish to be a Kuwaiti within one year of her husband's naturalization.The children of the naturalization is considered to be Kuwaiti.They can decide weather they wanted to be Kuwaiti or attain the nationality of the parent's pervious citizenship.

Foreign wife of Kuwaiti who requests citizenship

The wife may be granted citizenship only if she declares her wish to be Kuwaiti.She may be granted citizenship only after 15 years from the date of her wish to become a Kuwaiti.The Minister of Interior has the right to reduce the number of years.

Wife losing Citizenship

through termination of marriage

The foreign wife of a naturalized foreigner or Kuwaiti may not lose their ctizenship if the marriage is terminated unless she attains the citizenship of another nation.

through the naturalization(of another country) of her husband

The wife may not lose her nationality unless she wishes to do so.The children of their father who is a naturalized citizen of another nation may not get to keep their Kuwaiti citizenship and have to attain the citizenship of the father.The children may keep their nationality if the law of that country allows it.The chlidren can get back their Kuwaiti citizenship upon attaining the age of majority.

Participation in Parliament

He or she may not participate in Parliament for the next 30 years if the person is born to unknown parents,a naturalized citizen,a foreign wife of a foreigner who is granted citizenship or a foreign wife of Kuwaiti who was granted citizenship.

Loss of Kuwaiti citizenship

He or she may lose their citizenship if they:

• Committed a fraud and declared citizenship without satisfying the nesssaary.In this case the citizenship of any dependant person may also be revoked.
• are convited of a crime related to honour or honesty within the 15 years of grant of naturalization.
• are dismissed from public office on disciplinary grounds related to honesty or honor within 10 years of grant of naturalizied.
• are or were working for a foreign state and plan on seriously to undermine the economic or social structure.The authoritories must need proof that he is do so to revoke her or his citizenship.

Denaial of Kuwaiti Citizenship

A person may be denaied citizenship in if they sastify the following:

• has began work in a foreign state in their military

• has worked for a foreign state which has been in war or has suspended diplomatic relations.
• Is a resident in a country abroad and join an association which is plans on seriously undermine the economic or social structure or have be convicted of an offense that involves such a suition.

Any person may be restore or revoked of their citizenship if they had satisfy the above.

Resrictions and points to remember while obtaining citizenship

• The Head of the Police Department will give a certiifcate stating that the person is kuwaiti.

• Proof may be asked while obtaining citizenship
• After the certificate is given an investitgation will be carried out.If the investitgation finds that the certificate was obtained on the basis of fraud,It will be taken back.
• No kuwaiti passport will be given for 2 years.
• If a person given in correct statements orally or written.The person may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or be fined up to 200 KD.If the person has furnished statements which are false.The person may be imprisoned for not more than seven years and/or be fined 500 KD.
• Any passport which has been given to a person in the 2 years as told above will be invalid on the expiration of that two-year period.

Dual Nationality

Kuwait does not recognize dual nationality.

References