How to Get a Visit Visa to Kuwait | ExpatWoman.com
 

How to Get a Visit Visa to Kuwait

If you would like to visit Kuwait or you have a friend/relative wanting to visit you in Kuwait, here's all the information.

Posted on

1 July 2014

Last updated on 4 July 2017
How to Get a Visit Visa to Kuwait

A Kuwait visit visa must be sponsored by a Kuwait company or by a relative that is a resident foreigner staying in the country. Before travelling, a visitor can have their visa processed and passport stamped in a Kuwait Embassy.

Your sponsor can use a faxed copy of the visitor's passport to obtain the visit visa. The visa copy can then be faxed to the visitor to enable him to travel to Kuwait. They can then meet at the airport with the original visa upon entering the country. It's not hard to find - there is a special counter in the arrival hall where the sponsor can deposit the visa papers. Similarly, the visitor must pick up their original documents at a similar special counter inside the immigration area. The original documents are required to complete entry formalities. 

Kuwait Visit Visa

 

It can take approximately 2 working days to obtain a visit visa, and hotels can arrange visit visas for business which takes around 7 days. 

Visitors who enter Kuwait on a visit visa are not allowed to work. In order to do so, you must obtain a residence visa and a work permit.

Requirements for Business

  • Kuwait sponsor or company
  • Kuwait visit visa application and security form filled out by the sponsor
  • A copy of the visitor's passport
  • A copy of the sponsor's signature as regustered for business purposes
  • A copy of the sponsor's letter of invitation to the business, stating the purpose of the visit

Requirements for Relatives

Immediate family members and other relatives who reside in another country can visit family members living in Kuwait. No eligibility or criteria is required. As long as you have a proof of relationship, you can visit. 

The required documents for a family visit visa are:

  • Proof of relationship or kinship
  • Copy of the visitor's valid passport
  • Copy of the Civil ID of the sponsor/family who resides in Kuwait
  • Recent salary certifcate for sponsor

SEE ALSO: Kuwait residency visa guide

The procedure is as follows:

  • Go to the Kuwait Embassy in your country and submit the required documents for a family visit visa
  • Fill the service appliation form 
  • Pay the fees due, a flat fee of 3KD

You need at least 450KD per month if you work for the government and at least 650KD if you work in the private sector.

E-Visa 

Kuwait has an e-visa system available for specific nationalities. If you hold a passport from the following countries, you can apply for your e-visa here.

Andorra , Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican, Vietnam.

Additionally, if you are a GCC resident, you can also apply with an e-visa if you are from one of the following professions.

To check on the status of your e-visa after applying, you can go here.

Multiple Entry Visit Visa

Those who gain a multiple entry visit visa are able to enter Kuwait as many times as they want during a year period. This type of visa is most hand for business sponsored expats but the sponsor has to be the Ministry of Defence.

Unlike other Westerners, Americans are able to gain multiple entry visit visas that have a validity of 10 years and an unlimited number of entries.

SEE ALSO: An expatwoman's advice on moving to Kuwait

Vaccination

Vaccination certificates are almost wholly unnecessary to be granted entrance to the State, unless you are from an area that is infected by a viral disease - such as yellow fever or cholera. These certificates are proof that the visitor is healthy and won't be transmitting diseases. 

Kuwait is a disease-free state and you won't have to take any precautions before visiting it, but an up to date medical checkup is always recommended.

Address

Upon your entrance as a visitor, you must fill in an entry form at the airport to specify the location at which you are staying during your visit. Hotel managers are required to keep the Ministry of Interior informed about check-ins and -outs of foreign visitors. Plus, the immigration departments has to be informed of any change in address within 48 hours. 

Cost and Extensions

Visit visas are valid for entry within 90 days of issue. Visitors can stay in Kuwait up to 30 days after entry. The visit visa costs 3KD. Entry permits are free. If you overstay, a 10KD charge is applied per day. If your Kuwait visit visa has expired, you will not be allowed to leave the country until you pay the total fine.

Fines must be paid in the immigration department in Shuwaikh. The office is open during government working hours - you can not pay fines at the airport. 

If you wish to apply for a visa extension, you may apply for two one month extensions. This also applies to temporary residence visas. Your application should be submitted to the Immigration Department before the expiration of the visit visa. 

Another way for extending your Kuwait visit visa is to obtain a second visit visa in the country, schedule a day-long trip to Bahrain. You can leave Kuwait in the morning, and return in the evening.