Visa-on-arrival now available in Kuwait for GCC foreign residents

Kuwait has begun granting tourist visas on arrival to foreign residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, under a new policy announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. The decision, published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, took effect immediately and replaces a 2008 regulation on tourism entry for GCC residents.

The policy allows any foreign national holding a valid residency permit from a GCC member state—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, or Oman—with at least six months’ validity to enter Kuwait on a tourist visa issued at the port of entry. The nationality of the applicant will not affect eligibility as long as the residency condition is met.

At Kuwaiti airports and land borders, eligible travelers can apply at designated immigration counters. Officers will check residency permits, ensure the six-month validity, and verify travel documents before issuing the visa on the spot. The Interior Ministry said the move aims to align Kuwait’s entry rules with regional trends and ease travel for the expatriate population in GCC states.

Officials expect the change to encourage short leisure trips and family visits, boosting spending in Kuwait’s hospitality, retail, and cultural sectors. It also supports Gulf-wide goals of improving connectivity and diversifying economies through tourism.

The measure follows similar visa facilitation policies in the UAE and Oman. By streamlining entry, Kuwait hopes to attract more regional visitors and strengthen people-to-people ties within the GCC