The Kuwaiti Cabinet has approved a draft decree-law that introduces significant modifications to the country’s nationality regulations, including the adoption of electronic certificates and reinforced measures against fraudulent acquisitions. Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the weekly meeting on Tuesday endorsed the amendments to Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 before referring the proposal for further legislative review. The initiative reflects ongoing government efforts to modernize administrative tools and safeguard the integrity of citizenship records, according to the Cabinet announcement.
According to the Cabinet’s draft, the updated law would allow for the revocation of nationality in cases where an individual knowingly incorporates a non-qualifying person into a nationality file. Investigations conducted by the Supreme Committee for Investigating Kuwaiti Nationality or conclusive judicial decisions would determine such instances, potentially impacting aware children or descendants of the perpetrator. This provision aims to deter intentional misrepresentation during the naturalization process or subsequent file updates, the draft decree-law specifies.
The Minister of Interior will oversee the issuance of electronic nationality certificates to all Kuwaitis following appropriate validation procedures, the draft decree-law states. These digital documents will carry the same legal force as their paper counterparts and will eventually supplant them in all applicable statutes, regulations and decrees. The minister is also tasked with establishing the technical and technological standards for the certificates’ creation, preservation, utilization, authentication, cancellation and suspension.
Persons who obtain Kuwaiti nationality by naturalization would be excluded from exercising core political rights under the proposed amendments. Such individuals would lack the ability to vote, contest elections or accept appointments to legislative or representative bodies. The restriction underscores the distinction maintained between birthright citizens and those granted nationality later in life, according to the Cabinet document.
This latest set of changes builds upon amendments enacted earlier in 2026 through Decree-Law No. 52 of 2026, which expanded the bases for citizenship revocation and imposed penalties for providing false data in nationality applications, a KPMG assessment from April found. The Official Gazette published that decree in mid-April, establishing clearer boundaries for sovereign decisions on nationality matters. Government statements have highlighted the scale of prior reviews, with authorities examining thousands of potentially irregular cases over recent years.
The Supreme Committee for Investigating Kuwaiti Nationality will continue to play a pivotal role in verifying claims and addressing discrepancies under the strengthened framework, the current draft indicates. Its findings, when combined with court rulings, will provide the evidentiary basis for any revocations linked to fraud. The Cabinet’s move comes amid a sustained focus on ensuring that citizenship reflects legitimate entitlements.
Implementation of the electronic certificate regime is anticipated to streamline verification processes across government agencies while minimizing risks associated with physical documents, according to the proposed legislation. Detailed guidelines from the Minister of Interior will specify all operational parameters to guarantee security and accessibility. The transition forms part of wider digital governance advancements pursued by Kuwaiti authorities.
