Everything you need to know about a Kuwait visa
British
nationals who are visiting Kuwait for tourism can get a visa on arrival at the
airport. This document allows one to stay in the nation for a maximum span of
up to 90 days.
A VOA is issued after presentation of a six-month valid original
passport, a return or onward travel ticket, a letter from the Kuwaiti sponsor,
and hotel reservations.
If
you wish to avoid the long queues at the airport, you can also lodge a tourist e-visa application. All you will need is your valid UK
passport to start with the application.
Complete the online Kuwait eVisa
application which will comprise of questions such as applicant information,
passport details, and reasons for the visit.
Once
you submit the application, it takes around one working day to send a response
after being approved by the Ministry of Interior of the State of Kuwait. Once
you receive your e-visa, you can present it to the border authorities after
arrival, accompanied by the documents as listed for a VOA.
Please
note that a tourist e-visa allows a stay of up to three months and is issued
only in single-entry.
There
is also an option to apply for a traditional tourist visa through the Kuwait
Embassy in London. Again, if you are planning to arrive by land or sea or you
are traveling for purposes other than tourism, you need to obtain a traditional
visa, prior to your travel dates from the Embassy of Kuwait in London.
Below
is the complete address:
Kuwait
Consulate and Visa Office
2
Albert Gate
London
SW1X
7JU
Tel:
020 7590 3400
Tube
Station: Knightsbridge
Below
are the major traditional visas issued by Kuwaiti missions to British citizens:
- Visit Visa (for business trips or
for meeting relatives)
- Residence Visa
- Entrance Visa
Visit Visa
In order to apply for a visit visa, you must have a sponsor in Kuwait in the form of a Kuwaiti company or a resident relative.
The sponsoring party must lodge an application in Kuwait itself after obtaining a copy of the applicant’s passport. Once the visa is approved, a copy can be mailed to the foreigner.
Now, the applicant needs to carry this approval to the embassy in London after which the original visa will be stamped on the passport. A visit visa can be issued either for business or for meeting relatives in Kuwait. The documents required are as follows:
Visit Visa for Meeting Relatives
- A visit visa application form filled out by the sponsor in Kuwait
- Proof of relationship with the sponsor in Kuwait
- A copy of the applicant’s valid passport
- Civil ID of the sponsor (copies and originals)
- Salary statement of the sponsor
Note: A Kuwaiti visit visa comes with a validity of 90 days and allows a maximum stay of up to 30 days per visit. You can however extend your visa after paying an additional fee and applying to the Immigration Department before the expiry of the current visa.
Residence Visa
A residence visa is required when you wish to live long-term in Kuwait. It is issued in three types: work visa, domestic visa, and dependent visa.
All of these visas require you to have a sponsor in Kuwait.
The documents required for these different residence visas are as follows:
Work Visa
- An application form filled out by the Kuwaiti employer sponsor and submitted to the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour
- Employee’s passport and no-objection certificate from the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Ministry of Interior
Once the application is approved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait will share a copy of the work permit to the Kuwaiti Embassy in the UK. Once the applicant receives this document, he can apply for an entry visa at the UK mission.
Entrance Visa
A Kuwaiti entrance visa is granted to government and civil sector employees so that they can join providers.
The documents required are:
- A completed visa application form
- A copy of the sponsor’s civil ID
- A copy of the dependant’s passport
- Salary statement, accompanied by a copy of the company contract or license
- A copy of the attested marriage contract or proof of relationship
- A photocopy of the work permit
Once you have the documents ready, you can visit the General Department of Immigration in the governorate and submit the application package. If the visa is approved, you will receive the stamped passport within the set time frame.