Interior Ministry: Renewal of Electronic Passports via 'Sahl' App

The Ministry of Interior announced that the General Directorate of Nationality and Passport Documents of Kuwait offers the service of renewing Kuwaiti passports for citizen brothers aged 21 and above through the “Sahel” application, in accordance with the stipulated conditions. Regarding the renewal steps, the Ministry of Interior clarified in a press statement that they are as follows: 1. Access the “Sahel” application, select “Services,” then “Ministry of Interior.” 2. Select “Kuwaiti Passport Services,” then “Renew Kuwaiti Passport.” 3. Specify the location for passport collection and enter the automated address number for the residential address. 4. Choose the passport validity period of 5 or 10 years, depending on the options available in the service. 5. Attach a recent photograph that meets the required specifications. 6. Review the data and complete the electronic payment of the renewal fees. Regarding the validity period, the Ministry of Interior urged citizens to verify the validity of their passports and those of their children when planning to travel, and to initiate renewal well in advance to avoid any obstacles during travel. The Ministry also stressed the necessity of updating the photograph when renewing a passport, stating: “Ensure that you attach a recent, clear photograph showing your current features, taken no more than six months ago, while adhering to the approved specifications and not reusing the old photo from the previous passport.” With regard to renewing passports for individuals under the age of 21, the Ministry of Interior clarified that renewal is carried out by visiting National Identity Centers accompanied by a legal guardian, along with completing the required documents. The Ministry emphasized that passport validity is linked to the civil ID, noting that citizens are not permitted to travel to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using their civil ID if their passport has expired, even if the civil ID remains valid.