Kuwait amends nationality law; naturalised citizens no longer eligible to vote

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has approved a decree-law that significantly alters the nation's nationality law, impacting the political rights of naturalised citizens. The changes, reported by state news agency KUNA, affect voting eligibility, election participation, and the rules surrounding citizenship.

A key amendment bars individuals who acquire Kuwaiti citizenship through naturalisation from voting or running for election. Previously, naturalised citizens could vote after holding citizenship for 30 years, though they were already ineligible to hold office. This new law removes voting rights entirely for this group.

The legislation also introduces electronic nationality certificates, which will hold the same legal standing as traditional paper documents and can be used for official purposes. The interior minister will establish the specific technical and procedural guidelines for these digital certificates.

Furthermore, the amendment tightens the conditions under which citizenship can be revoked. It allows for citizenship to be withdrawn from the children or descendants of a person who intentionally includes someone not their child or descendant in their nationality file, provided the violation is confirmed by an official investigation or a final court ruling, and the children or descendants were aware of the deception.