Everything You Need To Know About Kuwait E-visa

All foreign nationals except citizens of countries like Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates need a visa to enter Kuwait. People of these visa-exempted countries can visit Kuwait using their national ID cards.

Citizens of all European Union countries and nations like the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada can either obtain a Kuwait visa via online or by applying at an entry port in Kuwait.

Is visa on arrival the right choice for me?

For travelers, the easiest choice to obtain a visa to enter Kuwait is by applying for a ‘visa on arrival’ after landing at the country’s entry port. After reaching the entry port, the traveler should show all the relevant documents including passport, travel arrangements and accommodation proofs to the immigration authorities. The immigration officers will analyze your ‘visa on arrival’ request, and will provide you an entry authorization soon.

However, experts recommend travelers to take an e-visa prior to visiting Kuwait. There are many cases where foreign nationals were denied entry to Kuwait citing various reasons by the immigration authorities. Moreover, there are possibilities that the Kuwait authorities may phase out the ‘visa on arrival’ privilege anytime. So, if you are a traveler who want to turn your Kuwait visa experience a comfortable one, always make sure that you have a sanctioned e-visa before your travel date.

What is a Kuwait e-visa?

In the earlier days, foreign nationals needed to visit the Kuwait consulate in their respective countries to obtain a visa. But now, things have changed, and the authorities have now introduced the e-visa facility that has eased the entire visa application process. Using an e-visa, the foreign national can apply for a travel authorization via online from the comfort of their home, and all they need to do is submitting the necessary documents. The foreign national should also pay a visa processing fee using their debit card or credit card.

A Kuwait e-visa is basically an authorization document that is electronically connected to the traveler’s passport. After entering the country, the traveler should show the print out of these e-visas at the immigration desk, and after checking it, authorities will do the stamping in the passport.

It is always recommended to avail the services of entrusted agencies like Visa Genie, and our professionalism and expertise in the field of visa processing will allow you to sit back and relax after handing over your request to us.

Kuwait tourist e-visas

Foreign nationals intending to visit Kuwait for tourism-related activities can apply for e-tourist visas. Please find below the necessary documents that should be submitted to obtain a tourist e-visa.

• The foreign national should submit the passport which has at least six months validity and two blank pages.
• The foreign national should also provide proof of travel arrangements and accommodation. For travel arrangement proofs, the foreign national can submit the onward and return copies of flight tickets. Hotel room booking confirmation can be used as a proof of accommodation.
• Photograph of the applicant.
• The visitor should also provide proof of sufficient funds.
• GCC residence card if applicable.

Note: Kuwait tourist visas are issued to foreign nationals who intend to visit the country for tourism-related activities. A foreign national is not supposed to engage in any kinds of works using these visas. If authorities find a foreign traveler violating the laws or working in Kuwait without a proper work visa, he or she should face serious legal consequences.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

I am a citizen of Israel. I am planning to visit Kuwait. How can I apply for an e-visa?

Unfortunately, Kuwait authorities have banned the entry of Israeli citizens in the country. Apart from Israel, citizens of Ethiopia are also not allowed to enter Kuwait.

How long can I stay in Kuwait after procuring a tourist e-visa?

After getting the e-tourist visa, the foreign national should enter Kuwait within 30 days. After entering the county, the foreign national can stay for a maximum period of 90 days. It should be noted that all Kuwait tourist e-visas offer only single-entry privilege to foreign citizens.

What should I do after reaching Kuwait with a tourist e-visa?

After reaching Kuwait, the foreign national should show the printout of the e-visa to immigration authorities. The immigration officers will check the validity of your e-visa, and will stamp the visa on your passport.

I am an Indian citizen. Can I apply for a Kuwait e-visa?

No, Indian nationals are not allowed to apply for a Kuwait tourism e-visa. Indian nationals should directly visit the Kuwait consulate in India and should apply for a regular visa.

How many entries does a Kuwait e-tourist visas allow?

Kuwait e-visas only allow single entry to foreign travelers. If you are a foreign national who wishes to enter Kuwait multiple times, you should apply for a regular visa, as e-visas do not offer this privilege to the traveler.

The data imprinted in the e-visa do not match with the information in my passport. Can I visit Kuwait using this e-visa?

If data in the e-visa is not matching with the details in passport, it will be considered as a serious anomaly, and you will be denied entry from Kuwait. In order to avoid issues, please make sure that you are applying for a new e-visa.

How long does it take to process a Kuwait e-tourist visa?

In usual cases, the Kuwait e-visas will be sanctioned within 72 hours. If the foreign national needs the visa before 72 hours, he or she can pay an additional fee and can obtain the travel authorization within 12 hours.

Can I apply for a Kuwait e-visa on Friday?

No, visa applications are not processed on Fridays and Saturdays.

I am a UK citizen planning to visit Kuwait with my children. Should I need to submit a separate application for them?

While applying for a Kuwait tourist e-visa, all adult foreign nationals should apply for it separately. When it comes to minors, parents can apply for the child from the parent’s account.

I am a United States citizen who is currently a GCC resident. Am I allowed to apply for a Kuwait tourist e-visa?

Residents of GCC countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman) can apply for an e-visa to enter Kuwait for tourism purposes. In order to obtain the e-visa, you should submit your residency card that has already exceeded six months stay in the GCC country.

It should be also noted that the profession of the GCC resident should be either the one mentioned below to get a tourist e-visa.

• Consultants
• Doctors
• Engineers
• Lawyers
• University teachers
• Press and media staff
• Pilots
• Computer programmers
• Managers
• Businessmen
• Diplomats
• University Graduates
• Representatives of commercial companies and establishments

Please note that visas will be granted to GCC residents only if they do not have any imposed travel restrictions.

Will Kuwait authorities refund my money if they deny my e-visa application?

Kuwait authorities will not refund the money irrespective of the outcome of the visa application. Even if your visa application gets denied, you will not get the money back, as authorities are charging this sum as the visa processing fee.

What should be my next step if my e-visa application gets denied?

Kuwait authorities may deny the request to get an e-visa due to various reasons. If your e-visa application gets denied, you can contact the embassy directly and can apply for a regular visa.

I do not have a passport, but have a temporary travel document. Can I apply for a Kuwait tourist e-visa?

Foreign nationals are permitted to apply for an online e-tourist visa only if they have a passport with six months validity. If you have a temporary travel document instead of a passport, you are not entitled to apply for an e-visa. For more details, it is advised to visit the nearest Kuwait embassy.

I am a labor worker who currently resides in Bahrain. Can I apply for a Kuwait tourist e-visa?

No, unfortunately, labor workers are not entitled to apply for a Kuwait e-visa. If you need a visa to enter Kuwait, you can contact the consulate and can apply for a regular visa.

Can I stay in Kuwait even after my e-visa validity gets expired?

Kuwait is a country known for imposing laws very strictly. If authorities find you overstaying in Kuwait after the expiry of your visa, you will be fined, and in the worst cases, they may disqualify you from getting another visa in the future.

I am planning to reach Kuwait via sea. Am I eligible to obtain a Kuwait e-tourist visa?

Kuwait e-visas are usually issued to foreign nationals who reach the country via air. If you are planning to enter the country via land or sea, you should make sure that you have a pre-approved regular visa. In order to obtain a regular visa, the foreign national should visit the Kuwait consulate in their respective country, and should submit the necessary documents.