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Kuwait amends nationality law; naturalised citizens no longer eligible to vote
The law amendment introduces electronic nationality certificates with the same legal validity as paper ones, allowing them to replace paper versions for official purposes
- PUBLISHED: Sun 23 Aug 2026, 10:39 PM UPDATED: Mon 24 Aug 2026, 8:38 AM
Kuwait announced amendments to its nationality law, including revoking voting rights of naturalised citizens and introducing electronic nationality certificates.
Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah approved the decree law, Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA reported.
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The changes affect the political rights of naturalised citizens, the use of nationality certificates and the rules governing citizenship files.
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Rights of naturalised citizens
Under the amendment, people who acquire Kuwaiti citizenship through naturalisation will no longer be allowed to vote, run for election or be appointed to any parliamentary body.
Previously, naturalised Kuwaitis could vote after holding citizenship for 30 years, although they were already barred from running for office or being appointed to parliamentary bodies, according to AFP.
Electronic nationality certificates
The amendment also introduces electronic nationality certificates, which will carry the same legal validity and effect as paper nationality certificates and can replace them for official purposes.
The interior minister will set the technical and technological rules for issuing, storing and using the certificates, including procedures for verifying their validity, cancelling them or suspending their use.
Citizenship rules tightened
The amendment clearly lays out the rules for adding a child or descendant to a citizen's nationality file. If it is found through an investigation and established in court that a person was falsely and deliberately listed as a child or descendant, the citizenship of the person will be revoked.
