Visa policy of Kuwait

Under normal circumstances, visitors to Kuwait must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival/eVisa.[1] All visitors except Gulf Cooperation Council citizens must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

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However, due to concerns over the effects of COVID19, Kuwait has suspended the issuance of all types of new visas until further notice. For travelers to Kuwait who held visitor visas that expired between April-Aug 2020, multiple 90 day extensions have been given to enable those visitors to remain in Kuwait without penalty.

The most current extension for visitor visas expires on 30 November 2020.

While the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has stated their intent to return to full normal operations with regards to visa issuance, they will not do so until the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has deemed it safe.

Visa policy map
Visa policy of Kuwait
  Kuwait
  Visa-free
  Visa on arrival or eVisa
  Visa required

Visa exemption

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to visit Kuwait and may use national ID Cards to enter the country:

As of February 2020 and until further notice, this policy has been amended so that the national ID cards are no longer valid to enter Kuwait as a prevention of the coronavirus.[2]

Nationals of China holding normal passports endorsed for public affairs do not require a visa.

Holders of diplomatic or official passports of Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cyprus, China, Egypt, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vietnam and just diplomatic passports of Armenia, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Iraq, Mexico, Poland, Spain and Uzbekistan[3] also do not require a visa. An agreement with Djibouti was signed in July 2019 and it is yet to be ratified.[4]

Visa on arrival/eVisa

Citizens of the following 54 countries and territories may obtain a visa valid for 3 months on arrival to Kuwait if arriving by air or they may obtain an eVisa before arrival:[5]

1-Can only obtain eVisa, not Visa on arrival

2-Can only obtain Visa on arrival, not eVisa

3-Suspended due to Coronavirus[6]

Visa can also be obtained on arrival valid for one month for those holding a confirmation from a transporting carrier and are travelling for tourism purposes.

Passengers arriving by sea or land must obtain visa in advance.[7]

Residents of GCC countries belonging to designated professions may also obtain a visa online.

Entry refusal

Nationals of Ethiopia (not listed in IATA) and Israel are banned from entering Kuwait.[8][9][10]

From 2011 until at least 2014, Kuwait is also banned of entry from Afghanistan, Bangladesh (ordinary passport holders), Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.[11][12]

In May 2016, Kuwait put a temporary visa ban on religious personalities deemed "controversial", while also planning to limit visits by people from specific countries to Kuwait during Ramadan, particularly the Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis and Yemenis, according to Al-Rai daily.[13]

After President of the United States Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769 which barred the nationals of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya, several news sites published stories about a similar ban. Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that they currently ban travel from those countries. However, the Kuwaiti Ministry has a history of denying any such bans on these particular countries, instead claiming "restrictions" on nationals who are almost never granted visas.[14][15][16][17]

From 31 January 2020, Kuwait has temporarily banned the admission to all China ordinary passport holders, including Hong Kong SAR passport holders, because of the severe spreading of SARS-CoV-2 in China. Citizens of other countries who have entered China and Hong Kong in the last 2 weeks are also refused entry.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-coronavirus-outbreak/kuwait-places-restriction-on-entry-of-gulf-citizens/1747108
  5. "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  6. https://www.passportindex.org/
  7. "Entry requirements - Kuwait travel advice - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  8. "Kuwait Banned All Ethiopians from Entering the Country". TesfaNews. 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  9. "No Ethiopians to Kuwait - Kuwait Times". Kuwait Times. 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  10. Archived 2017-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Pakistanis excluded from Kuwait's new visa plan - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  12. "Trump wrong to say Kuwait followed him with visa ban". @politifact. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  13. "'Govt will not issue visas to disputable religious people' - Visit by citizens of some countries banned in Ramadan - ARAB TIMES". ARAB TIMES. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  14. "Kuwait knocks down bogus claim following Trump's latest misstep". MSNBC. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  15. "KUNA : Kuwait denies reports entry visa ban of certain nationalities - Politics - 03/02/2017". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  16. ""سبوتنيك" الروسية: الكويت سبقت ترامب في منع دخول 5 جنسيات". Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  17. "Visa for Pakistani Family - No ban only "restrictions" - ARAB TIMES". ARAB TIMES. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  18. Hong Kong and Chinese nationals banned from entering Kuwait - GDN Online

Visa Requirements for GCC Residents

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