Kuwait to end automatic visa and leave permit extensions from September 1
Those leaving Kuwait by August 31 can still benefit from an exceptional extension
Dubai: Kuwait will end automatic extensions for entry visas and leave permits from September 1, 2026, returning to the standard validity periods set under the country’s residency rules, the Ministry of Interior has announced.
Under the change, automatic extensions covering all categories of visit visas for people currently inside Kuwait will cease. The usual validity periods, procedures and regulations governing those visas will once again apply.
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The change will also affect expatriate residents who are outside Kuwait, with the normal validity periods governing leave permits set to resume.
There is, however, an exception for residents who leave Kuwait on or before August 31, 2026. They will continue to benefit from the additional exceptional extension, subject to the applicable regulations.
Residents abroad urged to check Sahel
The ministry said the residency permit status certificate available through the Sahel app will serve as the official reference for determining when a resident’s leave permit expires.
Expatriates who are outside the country should therefore check the date shown on the certificate and ensure they return to Kuwait within the permitted period.
The ministry urged residents and visitors affected by the changes to comply with the relevant deadlines, regulations and procedures to avoid residency or immigration violations.
The September 1 change effectively brings the exceptional extension system to an end for new cases, with visa holders and residents once again required to follow the standard legal validity periods.
