Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of a Filipina who had obtained Kuwaiti nationality through marriage, according to reports on Monday (December 23).

The decision comes after the woman remarried following the death of her Kuwaiti husband. The woman had initially gained citizenship under the Kuwaiti law that allows foreign spouses to be naturalized. Her marriage to an elderly Kuwaiti man, which lasted only a few months before his death, secured her Kuwaiti nationality.

However, her subsequent marriage to an Asian driver has alarmed authorities. Kuwaiti officials have expressed concerns that the woman may attempt to secure Kuwaiti citizenship for any children from her second marriage, claiming they are born to a Kuwaiti mother. This was seen as a potential exploitation of the naturalization system, prompting the government to strip her of her citizenship.

Key changes to nationality law

The controversy coincides with new amendments to Kuwait’s nationality law, which took effect on December 10. Under these amendments, foreign spouses of naturalized Kuwaitis are no longer automatically granted Kuwaiti citizenship.

The amendments introduce significant changes to the law, which now specifies that foreign children of naturalized Kuwaitis will be considered Kuwaiti but can choose their original nationality within one year of reaching adulthood.

The updated law also eliminates the automatic conferment of citizenship to foreign spouses. The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the move as a step toward safeguarding national identity, and others criticizing it as discriminatory. ICA/Expat Media