Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced the end of exceptional measures concerning entry visas and absence permits, with the regular legal periods set to resume on September 1, 2026.

The ministry confirmed that automatic extensions for all types of visit entry visas held by people currently inside Kuwait will stop from the beginning of September.

From September 1, the standard legal periods, procedures and regulatory requirements governing entry visas will once again apply to visitors inside the country.

The decision also affects residents who are currently outside Kuwait, as the regular legal periods governing absence permits will resume under the applicable regulations.

The ministry clarified that an additional exceptional period will continue to apply to residents who left Kuwait on August 31, 2026, or earlier, subject to the rules governing these cases.

This means that residents covered by the additional exceptional period will continue to benefit from it according to the applicable regulatory conditions.

The Ministry of Interior urged residents outside Kuwait to pay close attention to the permitted absence period and the applicable return requirements.

The ministry also clarified that the official residence permit confirmation certificate obtained through the Sahel government electronic services application will serve as the official reference for determining the expiry date of an absence permit.

Residents were urged to rely on the information shown on that certificate and to comply with the specified period when returning to Kuwait.

The announcement comes as the exceptional measures approach their scheduled end, making the applicable dates and legal requirements particularly important for affected residents and visitors.

The return to the regular system includes all types of visit entry visas, with automatic extensions for people inside Kuwait ending from September 1.

The regular legal periods for absence permits will also resume for residents outside the country, while the specified exceptional provision will remain applicable to those who left Kuwait by August 31.

The Ministry of Interior emphasized that the residence permit confirmation certificate issued through the Sahel application is the official reference for determining the expiry date of an absence permit.

Residents are therefore expected to review the information shown in their official documents and follow the permitted period when planning their return.

The ministry’s announcement provides clarification on the transition from the exceptional measures back to the standard legal framework governing entry visas and absence permits.

Affected individuals are encouraged to observe the applicable dates and requirements to ensure compliance with the regulations governing residence and entry procedures.

The Ministry of Interior concluded by calling on everyone to comply with the provisions of the law and the regulations governing entry, residence and absence periods.

The new arrangements will take effect on September 1, 2026, marking the return to the standard legal periods and procedures after the exceptional measures come to an end.