Kuwait has moved to ease immigration rules for foreigners affected by the growing crisis in the Middle East, announcing that visit visas nearing expiry and residency permits for citizens stuck outside the country will be automatically extended. The measure is meant to support people unable to travel or complete immigration procedures as tensions continue to rise in the region.
In a statement, the Ministry of Interior said visit visas that expire during the current period of instability will be prolonged for one month starting February 28, 2026. The ministry added that the extension will be granted without requiring individuals to appear at residency offices.
Authorities also confirmed that the relief comes with a full waiver of any fees or penalties that would normally apply once a visa expires. The process will instead be handled through the government’s electronic system.
“The extension will be applied automatically through the electronic system, without the need to visit residency affairs departments. There will be a full exemption from the prescribed fees and any resulting fines during this period, in consideration of the current exceptional circumstances,” reads the statement.
The ministry further explained that residents who are outside Kuwait and have exceeded the allowed duration of absence will also benefit from the decision. Their stay abroad will be extended by three months automatically through the same digital system.
Officials said the duration of the extensions may be reviewed depending on how the situation in the region evolves. Members of the public were also urged to rely on official communication channels for any updates related to the measures.
The decision comes as the Middle East conflict continues to intensify, with Israeli and United States forces carrying out strikes against targets in Iran. Among the sites reportedly hit was the Iranian state broadcaster.
The rising tension has placed many foreign nationals across the Gulf and surrounding areas in uncertain positions. About 500,000 Kenyans are believed to be living across the region, making them vulnerable if the conflict spreads further.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu recently outlined the number of Kenyans living in different countries within the affected zone.
“We have about 300,000 in Saudi Arabia, around 70,000 in Qatar, between 60,000 and 80,000 in the UAE, and growing numbers in Oman. In Iran, we are down to about 100 after last year’s evacuation. Israel has roughly 1,000, and Lebanon is a moving target due to past evacuations. There is also a small presence in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan,” she revealed in a recent interview.
Israel has said its strikes targeted Iranian missile facilities, while Iran has continued retaliatory attacks across several locations in the region. One of the responses reportedly left several people injured in Abu Dhabi.
Developments linked to the conflict are also being reported outside the core area. Iran denied claims that one of its drones struck an airport in Azerbaijan and condemned the United States for torpedoing a warship near Sri Lanka, describing the act as an atrocity.
Iran also said it had acted against “separatist terrorist groups (that) intended to enter the country’s western borders,” amid claims that Kurdish fighters supported by the CIA were trying to trigger unrest.
At the same time, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said two drones linked to Iran had struck parts of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
“One drone struck the terminal building of the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another drone fell near a school building in the village of Shakarabad,” the ministry said.
“We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
According to the ministry, the incident injured two civilians and damaged property at the airport. Azerbaijan demanded “a clear explanation” from Iran and said it “reserves the right to take appropriate response measures,” while also summoning Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Demirchilou.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed the claims, insisting that the country had not carried out any strike against Azerbaijan.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has not targeted the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he said, according to Tasnim news agency.
“We do not target our neighbouring countries. Iran’s policy is only to strike the military bases of its enemies that are active in the region and used to attack Iran, including those of the US and Israel.”
Nakhchivan lies along the borders of Iran and Türkiye and was included in a peace agreement reached last year between Armenia and Azerbaijan with mediation from the United States. The agreement proposed a land link connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan region.
The planned corridor, called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), would create a passage between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iran has opposed the proposal for years, warning that the route, also known as the Zangezur corridor, could allow foreign military forces to move closer to its territory.
