The Public Authority for Civil Information extended the registration period for newborns born in Kuwait to 120 days from the date of birth under a ministerial decision issued on January 11, 2026. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and chairman of the Public Authority for Civil Information, signed the amendment to existing civil information rules. The update, published in the Official Gazette, replaces a shorter previous deadline and maintains 30-day windows for other residency categories.
The decision amends Paragraph (b) of Article (2) in Decision No. (2/89), which itself amended Decision No. (5/88). It sets the new limit at 120 days for children born inside the country. According to the published text, this adjustment provides parents with additional time to complete formalities after birth. Additional clauses in the article specify the 30-day requirements for Kuwaiti citizens upon return to the country, GCC nationals upon arrival and expatriates upon securing residency permits. The full decision became effective upon its release in the Kuwait Alyoum gazette.
Central Statistical Bureau figures from the Annual Bulletin for Vital Statistics show that Kuwait consistently records tens of thousands of births each year. The 2023 edition of the bulletin, along with prior years, tracks live births, infant mortality and related data points essential for national planning. This volume of annual registrations makes the extended deadline a practical adjustment for the civil information authority. World Bank data places Kuwait’s birth registration completeness rate at nearly 100 percent. Such high compliance rates depend on accessible procedures that the new rule supports.
In coverage of the announcement, outlets such as the Times of India reported the change as providing four months for completion of civil ID formalities. The Public Authority for Civil Information oversees the issuance of these IDs, which serve as foundational documents for all residents. The ministerial order addresses occasional complications in accessing healthcare and education services that had arisen from tighter timelines. Al-Yousef’s dual role as interior minister and PACI chairman underscores the coordinated approach to the policy shift. Similar accounts appeared in reports by Daijiworld and Lexis Middle East.
Procedures for newborn registration differ slightly between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti families, according to the authority’s official services portal. Non-Kuwaiti registrations involve SMS-based verification at a cost of 50 fils per message, the PACI website explained. Parents must provide hospital birth certificates and other documentation within the allotted period. The online system has streamlined many aspects of the application process in recent years. This digital infrastructure complements the extended deadline by reducing overall processing friction.
The amendment forms part of periodic reviews of civil registration frameworks maintained by the interior ministry. Previous decisions had set tighter timelines that did not always align with family circumstances following childbirth. By extending the window to 120 days, the decision provides a buffer for parents to navigate post-delivery requirements. No immediate comments from ministry officials accompanied the gazette publication. Regional media uniformly presented the update based on the official text.
