Kuwait has announced a major change to its entry rules, making it easier for millions of foreign residents living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to visit the country. Under the new policy, any foreign national residing in a GCC member state including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain can now obtain a visa on arrival in Kuwait.

The new regulation, which took effect immediately, was published in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum and confirmed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. It replaces the 2008 entry rules that limited visa-on-arrival eligibility to certain professional categories, such as doctors, engineers, and executives.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must have a valid residency permit from a GCC nation with at least six months left on it in order to be eligible. After immigration officials confirm their residency status, visitors will obtain their tourist visa at the port of entry once they arrive in Kuwait.

Why It Matters

While GCC citizens have long been able to travel freely between member countries, foreign residents often faced stricter requirements. This update opens the door for a much larger group of residents to visit Kuwait for tourism, making travel in the region simpler and more accessible.

With foreign residents making up more than half of the GCC’s 61.2 million population, the move is expected to benefit a wide range of travelers from professionals and skilled workers to families looking for short leisure trips.

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