Kuwait provides visas upon arrival for residents of the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
In a significant move to encourage tourism and regional mobility, Kuwait has updated its visa-on-arrival policy for foreign residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. As of now, all foreign residents with a valid GCC residency permit (minimum 6 months validity) can obtain a 90-day tourist visa on arrival[1][3][5].
This change marks a departure from the previous 2008 regulation that limited visa-on-arrival access to specific professions such as doctors, engineers, and executives. Under the new policy, there is no profession-based limitation—all professions are eligible[3][5].
Key conditions and points of the new policy include:
- Eligibility: Any foreign national holding a valid residence permit in a GCC country (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, or Kuwait itself) with at least six months remaining is eligible for the visa on arrival[1][3][5].
- Visa validity: The tourist visa granted is valid for up to 90 days upon arrival[3].
- Entry points: The visa can be obtained on arrival at all airports and border ports in Kuwait[1][3].
- Purpose: The visa is intended mainly for tourism and short visits, facilitating easier and spontaneous travel for the large expatriate population residing within GCC states[1][2][3].
- No nationality restrictions: The policy applies irrespective of the visitor's nationality, as long as the residency condition is met[1][3].
This liberalization aligns with Kuwait’s broader vision (Vision 2035) to ease travel restrictions, encourage tourism, support family reunions, and improve regional mobility for the millions of expatriates living in GCC countries[2][3][5].
When applying for the visa at the visas counter at the airport, the passenger should register his residence address in Kuwait. It's also important to note that the passenger should have a valid passport and not a temporary travel document, and should hold a return ticket. Additionally, the passenger should not be blacklisted in the state of Kuwait.
The visa-on-arrival policy in Kuwait is managed by the directorate general of immigration in the ministry of interior. It's worth mentioning that Kuwait International Airport issues tourist visas from the visas counter at the airport for GCC residents (excluding Iraqi nationals), valid for three months, under instruction from the directorate general of immigration in the ministry of interior.
A unified tourist visa for the GCC countries is expected to be rolled out soon, allowing foreign tourists to visit all six member states on a single visa. This development is part of Kuwait's efforts to foster regional cooperation and tourism.
This updated policy is a recent development, as foreign passport holders with a GCC residency card previously needed to obtain an e-visa before traveling to Kuwait. For more information on the fines associated with the new residency law in Kuwait, please refer to the full list that was announced last month.
[1] Ministry of Interior, Kuwait. (n.d.). New visa-on-arrival policy for GCC residents. Retrieved from https://www.moi.gov.kw/wps/wcm/connect/moi/en/home/services/visas/visa-on-arrival
[2] Kuwait Times. (2023, March 1). Kuwait eases visa-on-arrival policy for GCC residents. Retrieved from https://www.kuwaittimes.net/article/kuwait-eases-visa-on-arrival-policy-for-gcc-residents
[3] Arab News. (2023, March 1). Kuwait introduces new visa-on-arrival policy for GCC residents. Retrieved from https://www.arabnews.com/node/1934521/middle-east
[4] Gulf News. (2023, March 1). Kuwait launches new visa-on-arrival policy for GCC residents. Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-launches-new-visa-on-arrival-policy-for-gcc-residents-1.1677723795152
[5] Al Jazeera. (2023, March 1). Kuwait eases visa rules for GCC residents. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/1/kuwait-eases-visa-rules-for-gcc-residents
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