Govt studying ‘exempting’ GCC women married to Kuwaitis from citizenship law

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MPs will endeavor to maintain current condition of 5 years

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: Government is conducting a study to exempt the GCC nationals who are married to Kuwaiti men from the new citizenship law that permits the spouses of Kuwaiti citizens to apply for citizenship only after 18 years of marriage.

The draft was recently referred to the Interior and Defense Committee of National Assembly, reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily quoting sources pointed out that several MPs have responded to government’s announcement regarding the issue and intend to press for exemption of the GCC nationals who are married to Kuwaiti men from the condition of staying married for 18 years before obtaining Kuwaiti citizenship, noting the MPs will endeavor to maintain the current condition of five years for the category.

They affirmed that Ministry of Interior understood the tendency of the lawmakers due to common traditions and close relations Kuwaitis have with other Gulf nationals, adding the amendment will be ready after the Interior and Defense Committee has completed discussing the law.

It is worth mentioning that the Parliament approved the amendment to Article 8 of the Amiri Decree No.15/1959 concerning citizenship, stipulating that the wife of a Kuwaiti man can obtain citizenship after 18 years of marriage instead of five years.

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