KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21: Informed sources have clarified that the wives of Kuwaiti citizens who have amended their legal status by reverting to their original nationalities—following the withdrawal of the nationality they previously held under Article 8—are not subject to the provisions of Article 37 of the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law, which restricts absence from the country to a maximum of six months.

The sources stated that Article 37 does not apply to this category because these women are treated as having a special legal status derived from their marriage to Kuwaiti citizens. Although they have returned to their original nationalities, they continue to be regarded administratively as the wives of Kuwaiti citizens. As such, they are issued civil cards valid for five years, do not hold residency permits, and are not governed by the Foreigners’ Residence Law or its executive regulations.

According to the sources, these women are therefore outside the residency system altogether and are dealt with under a distinct legal framework, rather than as foreign residents. This is the key reason they are exempt from the six-month absence rule stipulated in Article 37.

The sources stressed, however, that this measure applies exclusively to wives who proactively amended their legal status and returned to their previous nationalities. It does not automatically extend to all individuals whose nationality was withdrawn, noting that each case is assessed separately based on the procedures followed and the individual’s legal circumstances.

Article 37 of the executive regulations states that a foreigner holding a residency permit may not remain outside Kuwait for more than six months, except in three specific cases: children of a Kuwaiti woman who did not acquire Kuwaiti citizenship through her marriage to a Kuwaiti man; property owners; and individuals granted residency as investors under Law No. 116 of 2013, provided they meet the criteria set by the Cabinet.

The sources reiterated that the wives of Kuwaiti citizens who have amended their status do not fall under Article 37 or its listed exceptions, as they are not considered residents under the law in the first place.