Kuwait Entry Requirements determine all the rules that a person planning to visit Kuwait must be aware of to enter the country trouble-free. These requirements also include gathering all the necessary documents prior to the intended trip. Among the most essential documents required to travel to Kuwait are a passport with at least 6-month validity and a Kuwait visa.
According to the Kuwait visa policy, nationals of most countries in the world need to obtain a visa to access the country. Depending on their nationality, their purpose of travel, as well as the planned length of stay in Kuwait, different visa types may be required, including an electronic visa, visa on arrival, or embassy visa.
Travelers from around 170 different countries may use the online visa system and obtain a visa in a few easy steps requiring no Embassy appointments. Visitors from countries not eligible for Kuwait e-Visa must visit the nearest Kuwaiti diplomatic mission and obtain a visa in a traditional way.
Kuwait also allows some countries to obtain a visa once they arrive in the country. Nevertheless, getting a visa on arrival usually is a time-consuming procedure involving long hours spent in the immigration queue. That is why it is best for travelers to obtain a Kuwait visa prior to the planned departure.
The Kuwaiti authorities have imposed an entry ban on two countries, i.e., Ethiopia and Israel. As long as the ban remains in force, under no circumstances citizens of these countries can obtain a visa and enter Kuwait.
Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, there were some travel restrictions temporarily imposed in Kuwait. According to the latest update from May 1, 2022, all travel restrictions were already lifted. Regardless of your vaccination status, you no longer need to present any certificates confirming your immunity status.
Important! Please note that Covid-19 regulations are subject to change at short notice. Do remember to check the latest updates on entry requirements before planning any international travel.
Kuwait allows entry for all international travelers (except banned countries - Israel and Ethiopia). The entry requirements are the same regardless of the traveler's Covid-19 vaccination status.
Travelers arriving in Kuwait no longer need to provide any Covid-19 tests.
Travelers entering Kuwait no longer need to prove their vaccination status. One may enter Kuwait regardless of their vaccination status.
Since all covid-related restrictions were lifted in May 2022, there is currently no quaranitne in Kuwait.
There are no specific requirements to be met in order to depart Kuwait. Nevertheless, every traveler should check the recent update on the entry and exit requirements that may change rapidly.
Travelers visiting Kuwait now no longer need to meet any Covid-19 requirements. There is no need to provide Covid-19 tests or vaccination certificates. The quarantine requirements were lifted too.
A traveler arriving in Kuwait must only have a valid passport and a visa obtained prior to travel. Apart from these two documents, one should also consider purchasing travel insurance covering potential coronavirus treatment costs.
There are no specific requirements for children arriving in Kuwait. They should follow the same entry rules as adult travelers.
Kuwait has no specific requirements for tranist passengers. Nevertheless, if you plan to transit through Kuwait, you should check with your airlines whether they have imposed their own tranist rules.
Moreover, it is necessary to get familiar with visa policy and other required documents for the country you plan to visit next.
The current Kuwaiti visa policy states that nationals of 5 different countries can travel to Kuwait without a visa. All the visa-exempt countries are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council:
Citizens of these countries can enter Kuwait at any port of entry simply with a valid ID Card and stay in Kuwait for an unlimited period of time.
Additionally, Chinese holders of an ordinary passport issued for public affairs may travel to Kuwait visa-free.
Foreign nationals being residents of GCC member countries, cannot visit Kuwait visa-free, but they may apply for an e-Visa, which significantly speeds up the process of visa application.
Since 2016, Kuwait has been offering the service of electronic visas to travelers from certain countries. Applicants can complete the application form using any Internet-connected electornic device and obtain the approved e-Visa within maximally 3 business days.
Kuwait e-Visa is issued as a single-entry visa valid for 1 month from the date of issue. Its holder can spend up to 3 months (90 days) in Kuwait and use it for all kinds of tourism purposes.
The entire process consists of a few intuitive steps, and the confirmation of the electornic visa is delivered directly to the applicant's email address.
Apart from e-Visa eligible and visa-exempt countries, there are around 60 countries whose nationals need to obtain an embassy visa in person. An embassy or consular visa is also mandatory to be obtained by all those travelers who plan to visit Kuwait for long-term purposes, e.g., work, study, business, etc.
The application for a regular visa may take up to several weeks. Therefore, an applicant should remember to start their application process well in advance of the intended trip. It may be necessary to provide some supporting documents that may vary depending on the type of visa one applies for.
The full list of the countries that must apply for a regular visa includes the following:
Kuwait enables all the countries eligible for e-Visa to obtain a VoA as well. Nevertheless, since obtaining a visa on arrival may take long hours spent in border lines, all travelers are recommended to choose the online alternative to save plenty of their time and energy.
At the moment, a visa on arrival is mandatory only for citizens of Eswatini (Swaziland). The visa issued on arrival in Kuwait is a one-entry permit covering tourism purposes, and its holder may stay in Kuwait for up to 90 days within this single entry.
Eswatini nationals need to go to a border checkpoint and be granted a visa at the immigration point in Kuwait. They will also need to handle some paperwork and cover the visa fee.
Although Kuwaiti Government does not require foreign travelers to have travel or medical insurance, it is advisable to have a comprehensive insurance policy valid in Kuwait that will cover all potential costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, and medical transportation. During the still-ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it is recommended to choose a policy that includes Covid-19 coverage too.
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