Kuwait Launches Sweeping Visa Reforms with New 4-Tier System, Digital Platform

Kuwait has rolled out one of its most significant visa reforms in decades, extending entry eligibility to visitors from nearly every country, while continuing to bar Israeli nationals under a 1964 Amiri Decree citing a state of war.

 

The announcement was made during a presentation titled “Kuwait Visa Platform… New Entry Visas” by Colonel Abdulaziz Al Kandari of the General Department of Residency, who detailed a new four-tier visa structure that takes effect immediately.

 

The revamped system streamlines applications through the online “Kuwait Visa” platform, with requirements tailored by nationality and profession:

 

• Unrestricted Access (52 countries): Passport holders from nations such as the US, UK, EU/Schengen states, Japan, and Australia can apply without additional requirements beyond six months’ passport validity.

• GCC Residents and Professionals: Residents of Gulf Cooperation Council states and certain professionals from approved countries are eligible if they meet residency and passport criteria.

• Financial Solvency Route (pending rollout): Applicants from other nations may qualify by showing proof of funds via bank statements, confirmed hotel bookings, and a refundable deposit.

• Event-Specific Visas: Issued for international conferences and local events, with case-by-case requirements.

 

Visa Types and Validity

• Tourist visas: Single-entry (1-3 months) or multiple-entry (3-12 months), with a maximum 30-day stay per visit.

• Family visas: Require kinship proof (Arabic-translated, up to fourth-degree relatives), offering similar durations as tourist visas.

• Business visas: For corporate invitations, valid for either a single 30-day stay or multiple entries over one year.

 

Colonel Al Kandari said the reform follows “extensive studies of both immediate and long-term implications” and is aimed at enhancing Kuwait’s tourism appeal while protecting national security.

 

Kuwait remains the only Gulf country without diplomatic or travel links to Israel, maintaining its decades-long stance in support of Palestinian rights, including laws prohibiting trade with Israeli entities.

 

The Interior Ministry confirmed the platform is now active for eligible applicants, with the financial solvency tier expected to be implemented in the coming months.

 

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