Immigration
Kuwait | Kuwait introduces new rules for visit visas
Summary
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior has introduced new rules for visit visas, set to boost the country’s tourism and commercial growth, while considering the social needs of expatriates residing in the country.
The Detail
The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait has announced the resumption of the issuance of visit visas for family, commercial and tourism purposes under revised guidelines effective from January 2024.
Applicants seeking to obtain a visit visa are requested to schedule an appointment via the Matta platform.
The Family Visit Visas are granted to expatriate workers’ parents, spouses, and children who earn a minimum monthly salary of KWD 400, and to other relatives for those earning a minimum monthly salary of KWD 800.
The applicant must comply with certain terms and conditions including:
With regards to commercial visas these are granted to individuals holding University or technical qualifications at the request of a local Kuwaiti company, ensuring it is aligned with the company activities and business nature.
Tourist Visas can be availed at the port of entry or via an electronic visa on the Ministry of Interior website ( www.moi.gov.kw ) and this is applicable to citizens of 53 countries, as per the following eligible nationalities:
For GCC residents, the tourist visas are issued to individuals holding specific professions on their residency permits, as listed in the Ministerial Resolution number 2030/2018 and its amendments, following specific rules and guidelines.
What this means
The changes aim to enhance the efficiency and security of the visa application procedures, aligning with the Kuwaiti Ministerial Decree No. 56 of 2024. It also takes into consideration the social needs of expatriates residing in the country. It is important for applicants to familiarise themselves with the new updated guidelines for a smoother application processing and to ensure compliance with the regulations.
How we can help
We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on any new updates announced by the Ministry of Interior and highlight the impact of any changes that may follow. For advice and assistance, please reach out to one of our team members listed below.
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner
Rekha Simpson
Director, Middle East Immigration
Umme Salma
Senior Manager, Middle East Immigration
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Contact us on the following address: me-immigration@vialto.com
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Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
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