Kuwait to end exceptional visa extensions starting September 2026

Kuwait will terminate all exceptional and temporary extensions for visit visas and resident absence permits effective September 1, 2026. This move marks a return to the country’s standard legal procedures and regulations following a period of exceptional circumstances.

Under the new rules, visit visas will no longer be automatically extended. Visitors must either depart the country or complete the necessary legal procedures before their current visa expires. Similarly, residents currently outside Kuwait must ensure they return within the standard legally allowed absence period.

The Ministry of Interior has clarified that the residence permit certificate issued via the Sahel application serves as the official document for verifying the expiry date of a resident’s permitted absence. An exceptional additional period will continue to apply only to residents who depart Kuwait on or before August 31, 2026.