26/02/2026
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26/02/2026
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Kuwait has recently updated its family visit visa policies for expatriates, introducing a more streamlined and accessible process. The new system eliminates the previous minimum salary requirement, allows applications to be submitted digitally through the official Kuwait Visa platform, and expands eligibility to include a wider range of relatives. These changes simplify documentation and give visitors greater flexibility in travel arrangements, making it easier for sponsors to bring family members while ensuring proper verification of relationships and residency status.
Question:DearArab Times,
I want to seek clarification regarding the latest procedures for obtaining a family visit visa in Kuwait.
Previously, when I brought my family on a visit visa, the required documents included my work permit, original passport, an Indian Embassy relationship certificate, and attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
However, I understand that the procedures have now changed. I would appreciate detailed guidance on the updated requirements.
Currently, I have the following documents:
- My name is mentioned in my wife’s passport, and my wife’s name is mentioned in my passport.
- An old marriage affidavit on Indian stamp paper in English.
Kindly advise:
- Are these documents sufficient under the new system?
- Is it still necessary to obtain a relationship affidavit from the Indian Embassy?
- Should the application now be submitted online, and if so, what additional documents are required?
Additionally, I would like to inquire about planning Umrah after Ramadan. If I apply for a multiple-entry visa for my family:
- What would be the approximate cost?
- Is Umrah allowed immediately after Ramadan and before Eid Al-Adha?
- I plan to bring my family on a visit visa after Ramadan and then travel for Umrah for one week. Is this feasible under current regulations?
I would appreciate your guidance, as I am concerned about complying fully with the new procedures.
Thank you for your assistance.
Name Withheld
Answer:
These changes impact several key aspects of the family visit visa process, including eligibility criteria, document requirements, and the application process, while also clarifying the limitations for visitors wishing to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia. The following sections provide a detailed overview of the updated visa rules, relationship documentation, and guidelines for planning Umrah trips for residents and visitors.
- No minimum salary requirement: Kuwait has abolished the previous salary rule, so sponsors do not need to meet a specific salary threshold to apply for a family visit visa.
- Digital application: Family visit visas can now be applied for online through the official Kuwait Visa platform, which enables the electronic submission and processing of documents.
- Expanded eligibility: The definition of “family” has been expanded to include relatives up to the fourth degree by blood and the third degree by marriage.
- Airline flexibility: Visitors are no longer required to travel only via Kuwait’s national carrier.
- You must still provide proof of the relationship (e.g., marriage certificate or birth certificate) as part of the application, as this is a condition of eligibility in the updated system.
- The online system replaces older manual steps, reducing or eliminating the need for embassy affidavits as they used to be done
- Your marriage certificate showing your names may be sufficient for proving the relationship if uploaded in the application (with translation if required). Since you already had applied in past for visit visa, you can use the same affidavit
- The online branch of the MOFA/Kuwait Visa portal is now the primary avenue for applications, replacing the old manual method.
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