A person who want to work in Kuwait must apply for a residence visa. Holders of the other type of visa, the visit visa only allows entry in Kuwait but does not permit employment.

Visit visas and entry permits are valid for entry within 90 days of issue and then for a stay of up to 90 days only after entry. A visit visa costs KD3/-. Entry permits are free.

To be granted a visit visa and entry permit (valid for 90 days), a visitor in Kuwait must be sponsored by a Kuwaiti individual or company, or a resident foreigner who is a relative of the visitor. However, American citizens are sometimes given visit visas without having a Kuwaiti sponsor. The sponsor who is responsible for the visitor while he or she is in Kuwait makes the visa application.

To obtain a visit visa for a business visitor, a Kuwaiti sponsor or company will require:

Ø       visa application and security form completed by the sponsor

Ø       copy of the visitor's passport

Ø       copy of the sponsor's signature as registered for business purposes

Ø       copy of the letter of invitation from the sponsor to the business visitor stating the purpose of the visit.

To obtain a visit visa for a relative, a resident foreigner will require:

Ø       visa application and security form completed by the sponsor

Ø       copy of the visitor's passport

Ø       original and copy of the sponsor's passport

Ø       original and copy of the sponsor's civil ID

Ø       original and copy of the sponsor's work permit (private sector employees)

Ø       recent salary certificate from the sponsor's employer

Ø       authenticated proof of the family relationship. 

Normally a visitor goes to a Kuwaiti embassy to have his visa processed and his passport stamped before travelling to Kuwait. However a Kuwaiti sponsor can use a faxed copy of the visitor's passport to obtain the visa in Kuwait. The sponsor then faxes a copy of the visa to the visitor and meets him at the airport with the original visa. The sponsor deposits the visa papers at a special counter in the arrivals hall and the visitor must pick these up at a similar counter inside the immigration area in order to complete entry formalities.

Either way, obtaining a visit visa takes about two working days. Hotels can also arrange visit visas for businessmen but they take about a week to do so, and, naturally enough, expect the visitor to stay with them on arrival.

 Extension of Visit

The fine for staying more than 30 days is KD10 a day. A visitor whose visa has expired is not allowed to leave until he has paid the fine, which must be paid at the Immigration Department in Shuwaikh during government working hours and not at the airport. Fines however may be paid a few days in advance and, unless this is done, the flight out is invariably missed.