What Is the Kuwait e-Visa?
The Kuwait Visit Visa for touristic proposes (Kuwait Tourist visa) is an electronic travel authorization which eligible travelers can obtain by completing a quick application form.
The online application portal for the visit visa for Kuwait is now open. It has simplified the process of applying for a visa for Kuwait as it eliminates the need to go to an embassy or consulate.
The e-Visa allow visitors to enter Kuwait and stay for a maximum of 90 days. It can only be used to enter Kuwait once.
You can find all the information you need to know regarding the Kuwait e-Visa and how to apply on this page.
Who Needs a Tourist Visa?
The e-Visa system for Kuwait was implemented in 2016 to streamline the process of applying for Kuwaiti visas.
All travelers need a visa to enter Kuwait, unless they are citizens of one of the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Citizens from countries including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and all EU countries are eligible to apply for a Kuwait visa online. The application process is quick and simple, requiring applicants to answer a series of basic questions.
Additionally, all foreign nationals residing in GCC countries, regardless of their citizenship, are also eligible to apply for the Kuwait e-Visa.
It’s important to check if you are eligible and meet the Kuwait visa requirements before beginning the application process.
Travel to Kuwait With a Kuwait e-Visa
The Kuwait online tourist visa has simplified the process of obtaining travel authorization to enter the country. The application form is completed online, meaning there is no need to go to an embassy or queue at the border to obtain an e-Visa to Kuwait. The e-Visa allows visitors to stay in Kuwait for up to 90 days.
Applying for a Kuwait online visa is simple. The application form for the tourist visa for Kuwait requires you to enter some basic personal and travel information, including name, address, passport details, and travel plans.
Applicants must complete the form as accurately as possible and meet the basic Kuwait visa requirements. Once approved, a copy of the e-Visa is sent to the applicant by email. The traveler can use the visa to enter the country by presenting it to the Kuwaiti border agents.
How to get an e-Visa
Before the e-Visa for Kuwait was introduced, visitors needed to go to an embassy or consulate or to queue at the border to obtain a visa.
The Kuwait online visa means that this is no longer necessary for citizens from eligible countries. Other types of visas are still available for travelers who meet certain criteria.
Once the Kuwait online visa application form has been submitted, a copy of the visa is sent to you by email. Processing usually takes no more than 2 days.
To enter the country, the traveler can show a copy of their Kuwait visa, along with their passport, to the Kuwaiti border authorities.
Kuwait Visa Validity
Kuwait visa validity depends upon the type of travel document visitors to Kuwait obtain. The most common type of visa for short stays is the online Kuwait e Visa available to 55 nationalities, but other visas may apply.
| Types of Visa | Validity Time |
|---|---|
| Electronic Visa | 90 days |
| Residence Visa | 10 years |
| Multiple Entry Visit Visa | 1 year |
| Transit Visa | 7 days |
Overstaying Your Kuwait Visa Validity
The online Kuwait visa expires 90 days after you enter the country. If a visitor stays in the country for longer than this duration, they will have overstayed and will need to pay a fine.
Thankfully, the consequences of exceeding the time limit of stay in Kuwait are not criminal. You would not spend time in prison or face deportation. However, you would not be allowed to leave the country until the fine was paid.
You can renew a Kuwait Visa either online (if you are outside the country) or do it from within the country by submitting an application to the immigration department. This allows you to avoid the fine for visa expiry in Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti Visa overstay penalty
The fine for overstaying a tourist visa in Kuwait is KD10 (roughly $US33) per day. You cannot leave the country until the fine is paid. The overstay fine in Kuwait needs to be paid at the Immigration Department in Shuwaikh.
If you know the day you need to leave, you can pay the fine in advance, saving the last minute rush on the day of your flight. The office is open during normal working hours. You cannot pay fines at the airport.
Alternatively, there are different ways to extend your Kuwait Visa which allow you to avoid the fine for visa expiry in Kuwait.
Check the Originality of my e-Visa for Kuwait
When entering Kuwait, it is important to have the correct and authentic documentation. There have been instances of people trying to enter countries with fake or fraudulent paperwork.
Such individuals can be refused entry or can even be arrested. Situations like these can be avoided by ensuring that your e-Visa for Kuwait is real and valid.
It is simple to check that your approved electronic visa for Kuwait is legitimate. See our advice below to find out how to check that your Kuwait e-Visa is original and not a duplicate.
Features of a Legitimate Kuwait Visa
A genuine approved Kuwait e-Visa document has the following characteristics:
- The heading “Welcome to State of Kuwait – e-Visa” at the very top of the document, first in English and then below it in Arabic. Beneath this, there is a subheading that reads “Tourist VISA-Application” in both English and Arabic.
- The badge of the Kuwait Police appears to the left of the heading and subheading.
- The emblem (coat of arms) of Kuwait appears to the right of the heading and subheading.
- The main text is a letter to the e-Visa applicant. It is written twice, in both English (aligned left) and Arabic (aligned right).
- The first section in English reads: “Dear [YOUR NAME] We are pleased to inform you that your e-Visa tourist application to Kuwait has been approved. Please print and keep this number as your reference which you will provide to an e-Visa employee at Kuwait International Airport.” It then mentions your 12-digit application number.
- Below this, the Visa number (this should be 9 digits long), the date it is valid from, and the date it is valid until are listed.
- Underneath these details, there is a disclaimer reading “Holding a visa does not guarantee you entry to the State of Kuwait. You must meet all of the conditions upon arrival to be granted entry.”
- We wish you a pleasant and safe journey to Kuwait.
- Ministry of Interior
- State of Kuwait
- At the foot of the e-Visa, there is a copyright notice, which reads: “© All Rights Reserved, Ministry Of Interior Kuwait 2016”, first in English, then in Arabic.
Other Instances when a Kuwait e-Visa is Not Valid
Even if the e-Visa is original, it may still not be valid, for example in the following circumstances:
- You have has entered Kuwait using their e-Visa, left once, and wishes to re-enter the country. The Kuwait e-Visa is for a single entry only. Travelers returning to Kuwait must apply for another visa.
- Over 30 days have passed since the issue date. You must enter Kuwait within 30 days of receiving your document.
In the later case, you must apply for a new visa for Kuwait in order to enter the country.