US, UK, Spain, Japan, Germany, France and Canada among 53 countries facing Kuwait e-visa suspension: New travel updates for you must know

Kuwait has announced the temporary suspension of its e-visa service in order to upgrade and improve the system, thereby improving the overall visitor experience. This decision affects travelers from 53 countries who had planned to apply for their visa online before arriving in the country.

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior explained that this temporary shutdown is part of an initiative to modernize the e-Visa platform and better serve international visitors. Although no specific date for the resumption of service has been provided, the government assures that other visa options are available to travelers during the upgrade period.

Why is Kuwait suspending e-visa services?

The suspension of the e-visa service is part of Kuwait's ongoing efforts to refine the visa application process and ensure the system meets the needs of travelers. The update will focus on improving functionality and streamlining the visa issuance experience. Although travelers cannot apply for their e-Visa online during this period, the government has assured that other visa options remain in place to facilitate travel to Kuwait.

Visa on arrival: an alternative for 53 countries

For citizens of 53 countries, this is good news! You can always obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at Kuwait City International Airport. This option allows travelers to obtain their visa without needing to apply online.

Eligible countries: The following 53 countries are eligible for visa on arrival in Kuwait:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bhutan
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Laos
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Monaco
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Suede
• Swiss
• Türkiye
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• UNITED STATES
• Vatican

How to get a visa on arrival in Kuwait

Eligible visa on arrival travelers can complete the process at the immigration checkpoint upon arrival at Kuwait City International Airport. Here's a quick guide to the requirements:

Required documents:

1. Nationality: You must be a citizen of one of the 53 eligible countries.
2. Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Kuwait.
3. Return ticket: You must be in possession of a return or onward ticket indicating your departure from Kuwait.

Once these conditions are met, immigration officers will process your visa upon arrival. The visa will generally be issued for a stay of up to 90 days, depending on your nationality and the discretion of the immigration authorities.

What travelers should expect during the suspension

Although the e-visa service is temporarily unavailable, travelers should expect no interruption to their ability to enter Kuwait as long as they follow the standard visa-on-arrival process. This temporary suspension provides authorities with an excellent opportunity to refine the online visa system, which is expected to provide a more user-friendly experience once it comes back online.

Conclusion

Kuwait's temporary suspension of e-visa service reflects the country's commitment to improving its visa processing system and improving the visitor experience. Travelers from 53 countries can still access visa-on-arrival services, ensuring that travel to Kuwait remains seamless and convenient during this transition period. Keep an eye on official government channels to find out when the e-Visa service will resume and be sure to follow the outlined procedures to ensure a hassle-free arrival in Kuwait.