Major General Tawheed Al-Kandari, Director General of the Ministry of Interior's General Department of Public Relations and Security Media, said that the ministry's residence affairs department receives requests for leave of absence for expatriates through the residence departments in the six governorates, provided that an acceptable and documented excuse is presented.

In an interview with Al-Jarida, Al-Kandari said, “immigrant students who complete their studies outside the country and hold an Article 22 residence permit may apply through their guardians for permission to stay for more than six months outside the country provided they submit proof from the university at which they are registered and the Kuwaiti embassy in that country attests to the same.

"The same applies to humanitarian cases and patients as well, provided that proof of their health condition is presented, which is also certified by the Kuwait Embassy in the same country." The residence permit will automatically be revoked if their stay outside the country exceeds six months.

Al-Kandari stated that the Public Relations and Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior announced about 3 months ago that the Nationality and Residence Affairs Sector will begin the electronic cancellation of the residencies of those who fall under Article 17 (government sector), Article 19 (partner in the private sector), Article 22 (dependent), Article 23, (study) and Article 24 (self-sponsor) and Article 18 (private sector employment) if they remain outside the country for more than six months.

He explained that his went into effect on Aug 1, 2022 and ended at the end of Jan 31, 2023. The cancellation will be done as per Article (12), Paragraph (3) of the Foreigners Residence Law.