Kuwait Instant Tourist Visa On Arrival for GCC Expats

In a major step to boost tourism and regional travel, Kuwait has announced that foreign residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Indian nationals, are now eligible for an instant tourist visa on arrival.

The decision, published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, was approved by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. It marks a significant expansion from the 2008 rules, which limited visa-on-arrival eligibility to certain high-skilled professions.

Key Details of the New Policy:

• Applies to all expatriates holding a valid GCC residency permit with at least six months’ validity remaining.
• Available at all Kuwaiti airports, seaports, and land border crossings.
• No need for prior application at Kuwaiti embassies or consulates.
• Replaces older restrictions that excluded semi-skilled and domestic workers.

Officials say the move aligns with Kuwait’s Vision 2035 strategy to diversify the economy and enhance its tourism sector, which is projected to generate over US $1.13 billion in revenue this year.

The new rules also mirror similar travel facilitation measures introduced recently by other Gulf states, aiming to encourage easier movement of people across the region and strengthen economic integration.

With more than nine million Indian nationals living across the GCC, the policy is expected to significantly increase short-term leisure and family visits to Kuwait.

Applications for the visa-on-arrival are processed instantly upon entry, subject to standard immigration checks.