The Kuwait Ministry of Interior has reaffirmed its keenness to enhance the visa issuance procedures, improving Kuwait’s status as an attractive tourist destination.
The announcement came during a visual presentation at the Center for Government Communication (CGC) by Director of Electronic Services at the Residency Affairs in the Interior Ministry, Col. Abdulaziz Al-Kandari.
Al-Kandari reviewed the new electronic visa system through the Kuwait Visa platform and highlighted the amendments made to tourist, family, commercial, and government visas. He provided a detailed explanation of the new entry visas and their requirements.
Most importantly, applicants should not have any security restrictions or prohibitions and must follow listed instructions and attach necessary documents on the Kuwait Visa platform.
Al-Kandari further pointed out that the tourist visas are divided into four main categories:
First category: Holders of strong passports and high safety indicators, requiring a passport valid for more than six months from the entry date.
Second category: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, skilled professionals, US, UK, or Schengen residency holders, similarly requiring a passport valid for more than six months, as well as proof of residency.
Third category: (Yet to be launched) Includes all other nationalities with financial eligibility, requiring similar documents alongside proof of financial eligibility through a recent bank statement, a confirmed hotel reservation, and an insurance amount from the visitor’s credit card, which will be charged in case of violations and refunded upon departure.
Fourth category: Specific to events and activities, local and international, with requirements determined according to the event or activity at the time.
Regarding entry options for tourist visas, Al-Kandari explained that they are divided into two categories: single-entry visas valid for up to three months with a stay of 30 days, and multiple-entry visas valid for three months, six months, or one year, each allowing a maximum stay of 30 days per entry.
He reviewed the new family visas, explaining that the main requirements are proof of relationship status, such as a marriage or birth certificate, in Arabic or translated into Arabic by a certified translation office.
Al-Kandari went over the business visas granted to individuals invited by a private entity, such as institutions or companies, to visit from abroad for commercial purposes. This visa is either single-entry for one month, valid for 30 days, or multiple entries for three, six months, or one year, with a duration of stay not exceeding 30 days for each entry.
He also reviewed the government visas, which is granted to individuals invited by a government entity from abroad. Applicants must pay the prescribed fees, with options including single-entry visas valid for one, two, or three months (each allowing a stay of up to 30 days), as well as multiple-entry visas valid for three months, six months, or one year, with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry.
The undersecretary of the ministry has been tasked to implement the new decision, aimed at facilitating tourism and strengthening Kuwait’s ties with neighboring Gulf states.
