Kuwait: Ministerial Decree No. 15 of 1959 promulgating the Nationality Law

Date of adoption

1959

Last amended by: Law No. 33 of 2004 (effective 27.06.2004)

Entry into force

In effect

Text versions

Arabic

English

Sources:

– Legal Information Network of the Gulf Cooperation Council, accessed: 18 August 2013,

– Nationality Law, 1959 [accessed 5 August 2013]

Abstract

Art. 1 considers Kuwaiti nationals to be those who were settled in Kuwait prior to 1920 and who maintained their normal residence there until the date of the publication of this Law. Ancestral residence is deemed to be complementary to the period of residence of descendants.

A person is deemed to have maintained his normal residence in Kuwait even if he resides in a foreign country if he has the intention of returning to Kuwait.

Art. 2 grants Kuwaiti nationality to any person born to a Kuwaiti father regardless of his place of birth.

Kuwaiti nationality may be granted by Decree upon the recommendation of the Minister of the

Interior to any person of full age satisfying the following conditions (Art. 4):

1. That he has lawfully resided in Kuwait for at least 20 consecutive years or 15 consecutive years if he is an Arab national.

2. That he has lawful means of earning his living, is of good character and has not been convicted of an honor-related crime or of an honesty-related crime;

3. That he has knowledge of the Arabic language;

4. That he is qualified or renders services needed in Kuwait;

5. That he be an original Muslim by birth, or that he has converted to Islam according to the prescribed rules and procedures and that a period of at least 5 years has passed since he embraced

Islam before the grant of naturalization.

In accordance with Art. 11, a Kuwaiti national loses his Kuwaiti nationality if he becomes voluntarily naturalized as per the law of another State.