Kuwait Visa Guide

Visa Requirements: Visa required.

Additional Information: Passengers with a work permit traveling to Kuwait for the first time are required to hold an original Criminal Clearance Certificate authenticated by Kuwait Embassy in the country of residence. In case of no Kuwait Embassy in the country of residence, authentication is not required.

As per the latest update from Kuwait Ministry, Residency Affairs sector has started the cancellation of residency of expatriate workers (Article 18 Residency) who have been outside the country for a period of 6 months or more.

• The period of presence of these workers outside the country will be calculated from the date of May 1, 2022 until the date of October 31, 2022 whereby the residency will be terminated if completed 6 months period regardless of their residency expiration date.

• Passenger holding valid visa with expired residency cannot be accepted.

Warning: 

1. Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry.
2. Passengers with an article-14 visa in their passport are not allowed to re-enter Kuwait with this visa even if it is still valid. The article-14 visa is an exit permit.

Passport Requirement: Passport required.

Document Validity:

1. Passport and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for minimum 6 months from the arrival date.
2. Passports and other travel documents accepted for entry are considered valid until the day before the expiration date.

Admission and Transit Restrictions:
Passengers are not allowed to enter.

Information 1: This does not apply to children, husbands and wives of nationals of Kuwait.

Information 2: This does not apply to domestic workers accompanied by nationals of Kuwait.

Information 3: This does not apply to passengers with a visa or an e-visa issued by Kuwait.

If you plan to visit the Gulf state of Kuwait as a tourist, you can apply for a tourist visa. On a single entry, the tourist is allowed to stay for 90 days. If you are eligible for an e-visa, you can apply through their site and fill in your information.

Documents required

• Valid passport, not older than 10 years
• Passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the visa expiry date
• Completed visa application form
• Children under 18 years of age must have signatures of both parents, along with a copy of the parents’ passport
• Bank statement of non-Kuwaiti nationals for the last six months
• Children under 18 years of age must show their birth certificate
• At least two to five recent passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photographs with white background. The picture should not be older than six months
• Confirmed return flight tickets along with hotel reservation

Processing Time for Tourist Visa

The processing time for a Kuwait tourist visa is between one to three business days. Once your application is approved, the visa is sent to the traveller through email. You can check your application status from the official website of the Kuwait Ministry of Interior website.

A business visa is for an individual entering Kuwait for official work. The applicant will need to provide evidence, like an invitation letter from the company in Kuwait, to get a business visa.

Documents required

• Valid passport, not older than 10 years
• Passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the visa expiry date
• Completed visa application form
• At least two to five recent passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photographs with white background. The picture must not be older than six months
• Confirmed return flight tickets along with hotel reservation
• NOC letter from local sponsor. The letter must contain your qualification, salary, and date of joining in Kuwait
• Invitation letter provided by the inviting company
• Bank statement of the last six months for non-Kuwaiti nationals

Processing time for business visa

The processing time for a Kuwait business visa is between one to three business days. Once your application is approved, the visa is sent to the traveller through email. You can check your application status from the official website of the Kuwait Ministry of Interior website.

If you have a layover in Kuwait, you will need a transit visa in order to exit the Kuwait airport and explore the country. Nationals of GCC Countries do not need a Kuwait transit visa. Other nationals require a transit visa which is valid for seven days. You can obtain this visa online. If you need to stay longer, you can obtain one of the following types of Kuwait visas: e-visa, visa on arrival, or visit visa.

Documents required

• Valid passport, not older than 10 years
• Passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the visa expiry date
• Completed transit visa application form
• Children under 18 years of age must have signatures of both parents, along with a copy of the parents’ passport
• Bank statement of last six months for non-Kuwaiti nationals
• At least two to five recent passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photograph with white background. The picture must not be older than six months
• Confirmed flight tickets to third country
• Proof of hotel reservation

Where to obtain transit visa from?

A transit visa can be obtained from the Kuwait Consulate Abroad or from a Port Authority. It is mandatory to obtain a transit visa  if the customers are having connecting flight. The applicants must show proof of a flight ticket for the next destination. The transit fee for Kuwait is KD 2 (the price is subject to change).