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Updated March 2024
In our fast-changing global landscape, it’s essential for individuals considering travel to or residence in Kuwait to remain well-informed about immigration and visa developments. Kuwait, celebrated for its historical heritage, robust economy, and diverse culture, has consistently attracted a wide range of individuals. Whether you’re a tourist eager to discover its captivating scenery, a skilled worker pursuing career prospects, or a student with educational ambitions in Kuwait, keeping abreast of the most recent visa updates and regulations is of utmost importance.
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Keep reading, as Wego provides you with the latest news and updates regarding Kuwait visas for the year 2024.
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Kuwait visa news 2024
Given below are some of the latest news and updates regarding Kuwait visas, including entry visas, visit visas, and residency visas:
Kuwait visit visa news
Kuwait has implemented a series of modifications to its visit visa regulations, including revisions to both the tourist visit visa and the family visit visa.
Kuwait visit visa violators
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has implemented strict regulations, requiring visitors who exceed the duration of their visit visa, typically set at one month, and their sponsors, to rectify the violation within an additional week. Failure to comply with this regulation, alongside unpaid fines, will result in the deportation of both the visitor and the sponsor. This underscores Lieutenant General Salem Al Nawaf’s dedication to rigorously enforce visit visa laws.
Additionally, the ministry has introduced a grace period for individuals who have violated residency regulations. On the first day, 652 submissions were received for status regularization before the June 17 deadline. Among these, 258 individuals have been approved to leave Kuwait after resolving any legal or financial obligations. The ministry, in cooperation with various departments, is facilitating this process and urging violators to either regularize their status or promptly leave the country.
Kuwait family visit visa
As per some official sources, the Ministry of Interior will issue new conditions regarding Kuwaiti family visas at the end of this year. Family visas have been suspended for over a year in the implementation of ministerial directives to re-evaluate the mechanisms for their issuance and apply new mechanisms that prevent visitors from overstaying their permits.
According to the sources, “The new mechanism is almost ready and will be submitted to the Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled in the coming period.” They further stated, “It will include a granting a special card to the visitor and mandating the visitor gets health insurance, whether they are a son, daughter, or parent of a child older than 16 years old or a parent and their child.”
Moreover, the sources further added that visas would not be issued for a resident’s brother or sister. Additionally, the health insurance fee could reach up to KD 500 and the visit period cannot exceed one month.
Furthermore, the new conditions include that an applicant must ensure the departure of a visitor immediately after the end of the visit period. In case they fail to do so, the residents who applied for their visa will be legally accountable and subjected to financial and administrative punishment, including permanent bans on them from issuing a visit visa.
For more information, visit our dedicated article below.
GCC unified tourist visa
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has officially approved a unified tourist visa, allowing easier travel between six GCC member countries, namely the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. This significant decision was made during the 40th meeting of the Interior Ministers of the GCC, chaired by the Minister of Interior of Oman, Sayyed Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, in Muscat, Oman.
The unified GCC tourist visa is expected to be in effect between 2024 and 2025, following each country’s internal regulations. This move is aimed at boosting tourism and economic integration in the region, making travel more accessible for residents and tourists. Additionally, the ministers also agreed to electronically link traffic violations among GCC countries and work on a comprehensive strategy to combat drug-related issues in the region.
For more information, visit our dedicated article below.
