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Kuwait · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for Kuwait?

Entry rules for Kuwait by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from the Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked .

In brief

Citizens of 5 countries and territories can visit Kuwait without a visa. 54 get a visa on arrival. Everyone else, 139 nationalities, needs a visa; some have another route with a residence permit or another visa, shown below.

Visa-free
5
On arrival
54
eVisa or ETA
0
Visa required
139

About 5.3 bn people (65% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to Kuwait: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 31 Oct 2026Source: Ministry of Interior of KuwaitReport a change

Most commonIndiaPakistanUnited StatesHong KongVietnamSaudi ArabiaAll passports

Kuwait entry rules at a glance

GroupStayNationalitiesExamplesSource
Free movementNot stated5Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, QatarEmbassy of the State of Kuwait in Sweden
Visa on arrivalUp to 3 months, single entry54China, United States, Japan, TürkiyeMinistry of Interior of Kuwait
eVisaUp to 3 months, single entry; e-visa valid 1 month before entry54China, United States, Japan, TürkiyeMinistry of Interior of Kuwait
Visa requiredAs granted139India, Pakistan, Indonesia, NigeriaMinistry of Interior of Kuwait

Free movement: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and 2 more

5 nationalities

Free movement by treaty.

Source: Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Sweden, checked Nearly all nationalities, except GCC citizens, require visas to enter Kuwait.

Visa on arrival for up to 3 months: China, the US, Japan and 51 more

54 nationalities

Tourist visa, fee 3 KWD (may vary by nationality); passport valid 6 months.

Source: Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked Nationals of eligible countries can obtain the visa either through the official website or upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport

eVisa for up to 3 months: China, the US, Japan and 51 more

54 nationalities

Applied for on kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw; fee 3 KWD (may vary by nationality); hotel booking and return ticket.

Source: Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked 6. Countries Eligible for E-Visa or Visa on Arrival: The list of countries includes: Spain, Germany, Andorra, Ukraine, Ireland, Iceland, Australia

Visa required: India, Pakistan, Indonesia and 136 more

139 nationalities

Apply before you travel at an embassy or consulate of Kuwait, or the visa centre it names.

Nationalities not listed above: the official source says so in as many words.

Source: Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked Applicant is not eligible for applying online e-visa, However you can apply through Kuwait embassy

Or, for all of them: GCC residents in an eligible profession (doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, business owners and others listed); GCC residence valid 6 months; tourist e-visa or visa on arrival. Stay: up to 3 months.

Source: Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked 7. Eligible Professions for GCC Residents: These include: Doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, consultants, judges and prosecutors, university professors, journalists and media professionals, pilots, systems analysts, computer programmers, managers, businessmen

If you live in the UAE

Emirati citizens: free movement.

GCC residents in an eligible profession (doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, business owners and others listed); GCC residence valid 6 months; tourist e-visa or visa on arrival. Stay: up to 3 months. This applies to 139 nationalities, including India, Pakistan, Vietnam and 136 more.

Source: Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked 7. Eligible Professions for GCC Residents: These include: Doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, consultants, judges and prosecutors, university professors, journalists and media professionals, pilots, systems analysts, computer programmers, managers, businessmen

UAE residents, any passport: eVisa for GCC residents in eligible professions, Up to 3 months, single entry. Professions include doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, consultants, university professors, journalists and pilots. Use within 1 month of issue. Fee KWD 3. Source: Kuwait Ministry of Interior eVisa portal, checked 31 Oct 2026. See Kuwait in the visa-free table for UAE residents, by passport.

Where to apply

Apply for the eVisa only on the official site, kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of Kuwait, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules. Our guides: Kuwait e-Visa: who can apply, the fees and the official website.

Most searched passports

FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit Kuwait?

It depends on your passport: 5 nationalities are visa-free, 54 get a visa on arrival and 139 need a visa. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Kuwait?

Yes. Indian citizens need a visa before they travel to Kuwait (Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked 31 Oct 2026). Or GCC residents in an eligible profession (doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, business owners and others listed); GCC residence valid 6 months; tourist e-visa or visa on arrival. Stay: up to 3 months.

Do Pakistani citizens need a visa for Kuwait?

Yes. Pakistani citizens need a visa before they travel to Kuwait (Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (Kuwait Visa platform), checked 31 Oct 2026). Or GCC residents in an eligible profession (doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, business owners and others listed); GCC residence valid 6 months; tourist e-visa or visa on arrival. Stay: up to 3 months.

Can I apply for a Kuwait visa online?

Yes, where the official site offers it, and some others through a residence permit or another visa. Apply only at kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw.

Can UAE residents visit Kuwait more easily?

Some can. GCC residents in an eligible profession (doctors, engineers, lawyers, managers, business owners and others listed); GCC residence valid 6 months; tourist e-visa or visa on arrival. Stay: up to 3 months. See “If you live in the UAE” above.

Sources and changes

  1. Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Swedenkuwaitembassy.se · checked 31 Oct 2026
  2. Kuwait Visa (MOI): tourist visa instructionskuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw · checked 31 Oct 2026
  3. Kuwait Visa platform (MOI)kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw · checked 31 Oct 2026
  4. MOI Kuwait: General Directorate of Residency Affairsmoi.gov.kw · checked 31 Oct 2026
  1. All groups checked against Ministry of Interior of Kuwait (General Directorate of Residency Affairs). No change since.

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