On September 25, 2024, the Kuwait cabinet approved proposed amendments to Law No. 15 of 1959 on Nationality concerning the acquisition and withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship. The bill is now referred to the Amir, who has the authority to promulgate the law.
Repeal of Wife’s Acquisition of Citizenship Through Husband
Under the current Nationality Law, at article 7, the wife of a foreigner who acquires Kuwaiti citizenship may herself become a Kuwaiti citizen if she declares her wish to do so within one year of her husband’s naturalization. The proposed amendments reverse this provision to stipulate that the acquisition of Kuwaiti citizenship by a foreigner shall not entitle his wife to become a Kuwaiti citizen. They also state that a foreign woman who marries a Kuwaiti man shall not acquire Kuwaiti citizenship as a result of the marriage.
Child’s Acquisition of Citizenship Through Parent Retained
The current law states that the minor children of a foreigner who acquires Kuwaiti citizenship “shall, ipso facto, themselves be considered to be Kuwaiti nationals,” and grants those minors the right to decide whether to retain their nationality of origin within one year of reaching the age of majority. The amendments make no change to these provisions.
Withdrawal of Naturalized Person’s Citizenship
The proposed law also amends article 13 of the Nationality Law, which lists circumstances in which the Kuwaiti authorities may withdraw the citizenship of a naturalized person.
The proposed amendments authorize Kuwaiti authorities to withdraw at any time the citizenship of a naturalized citizen who was convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty. This alters the current law, which allows the authorities to do so only within 15 years after the grant of naturalization.
Similarly, the proposed law amends a provision that allows authorities to withdraw the citizenship of a naturalized citizen dismissed from public office for reasons of honor or dishonesty within 10 years of naturalization. It permits the authorities to withdraw a person’s citizenship for these reasons at any time.
The proposed amendments also add new reasons for which the Kuwaiti authorities can withdraw a naturalized person’s citizenship. These new reasons include for security purposes; when the interest of the country requires it; when a naturalized citizen commits a crime against state security; and when the person commits the offense of insulting God, the prophets, or the Amir.
George Sadek, Law Library of Congress
October 8, 2024
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