Kuwait Allows Visa on Arrival: Kuwait has implemented the facility of visa on arrival, meaning now you can get visa even after going there. This new rule will make it easier for expatriates living in nearby cities like Riyadh, Dammam, Manama and Doha to celebrate weekend trips or short trips in Kuwait.
There are many countries around the world that provide visa on arrival facility, these include countries like Thailand, Vietnam that provide this facility to Indians. But now Kuwait has also been included in this list, under this, foreigners living in GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council) can get a direct tourist visa after reaching Kuwait. Now there will be no need to apply for visa in advance or visit an embassy. Just travel and enjoy roaming around in the Gulf easily, let us tell you how you can apply and what will be the benefit to the country from this.
What is the new policy
Kuwait’s first deputy prime minister and interior minister, Sheikh Fahad al-Yousuf al-Sabah, issued a new order on Sunday, August 10, 2025, through the country’s official gazette Kuwait al-Yom.
It said that now any foreign national living in any of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, i.e. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman or Kuwait, if he has a valid residency (permission to stay) for at least 6 months, will get a tourist visa on arrival on reaching Kuwait.
The visa will be given directly at Kuwait’s airport or border and for this the nationality of the person (which country he is a citizen of) will not matter, only the residency condition must be met. This new rule has immediately abolished the old law of 2008, which determined the ways for foreign nationals living in GCC countries to come to Kuwait. The purpose of this change is to simplify the visa process and increase the movement of people between GCC countries.
Visa on Arrival Process in Kuwait
The visa on arrival process in Kuwait has been made easy and fast, whenever a passenger visits any border crossing or airport in Kuwait, eligible people can go directly to the designated border immigration counter.
The immigration officer will check the following things:
- Validity of GCC Residency Permit – Minimum 6 months remaining.
- Passport and travel related documents must be in order.
- If both these things are found correct, then the tourist visa will be given immediately. This will allow entry into Kuwait quickly and without any online application or going to the embassy. This facility is especially beneficial for those expatriates who travel suddenly, to meet family or for any other non-work reason
Who will get the benefit and why is it important?
This decision will greatly affect the population of a large part of the Gulf. By the end of 2024, the total population of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region will exceed 61.2 million, more than half of which are foreign residents. Earlier, while citizens of GCC countries could travel to each other’s countries without any problem, foreign expatriates faced strict entry rules, especially in Kuwait.
Now this change shows that the entire region is moving towards easing travel rules for foreign expatriates, so that tourism can be promoted among the Gulf countries. Countries like UAE and Oman have already eased visa rules for residents of neighboring Gulf countries. This new rule will make it easier for expatriates living in nearby cities like Riyadh, Dammam, Manama and Doha to celebrate weekend trips or short trips in Kuwait.
Kuwait’s tourism will increase
Kuwait’s visa on arrival policy is not just for convenience, but it also aims to promote tourism. It is believed that by 2025, tourism will earn Kuwait more than $1.13 billion. This is in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035, which aims to strengthen the economy and develop culture beyond oil. Traveling will become easier for citizens of GCC countries. Kuwait is not only strengthening mutual relations, but also promoting tourism and increasing cultural attractions like its neighboring Gulf countries.
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