Article 4 of Amiri Decree No. 15 of 1959 concerning Kuwaiti Nationality

Kuwaiti nationality may be granted by decree - upon the submission of the chief of the Minister of Interior - to any person who has attained the age of majority if he meets the following conditions: 1- He must have lawfully established his residence in Kuwait for at least twenty consecutive years, or at least fifteen consecutive years if he is an Arab belonging to an Arab country. Continuity shall not be interrupted by the nationality applicant's departure from Kuwait on an official mission. If he departs for a purpose other than an official mission while retaining the intention to return, the period he spends abroad shall be deducted from the calculation of his period of residence in Kuwait. 2- He must have a lawful means of livelihood, be of good conduct, and not have been convicted of an offence involving dishonour or breach of trust. 3- He must know the Arabic language. 4- He must possess competence or render services needed by the country. 5- He must originally be Muslim by birth, or have embraced the Islamic religion and declared his conversion to Islam in accordance with the methods and procedures followed, and at least five years must have elapsed since that time before he is granted Kuwaiti nationality. He shall lose this nationality by operation of law, and the decree granting it to him shall be deemed never to have existed, upon his apostasy from Islam or his conduct conclusively indicating his intention to do so. His loss of Kuwaiti nationality in this case shall entail its loss by anyone who acquired it with him by dependency. A committee of Kuwaitis shall be formed - appointed by a decision of the Minister of Interior - whose task shall be to nominate those whom it proposes to grant nationality from among naturalisation applicants in application of the provisions of this Article. The number who may be granted nationality each year in application of the provisions of this Article shall be determined by law.