KUWAIT CITY, Oct 16: A security source has confirmed that Kuwait’s immigration departments across all six governorates have approved the issuance of approximately 235,000 visit visas since the launch of the “Kuwait Evisa” electronic platform in July of last year.

According to the source, the visa system has been opened to all nationalities, lifting previous restrictions that had limited entry for certain countries. Each residency department now processes about 1,000 visas per day, totaling roughly 6,000 visit visas daily across all six governorates. The source emphasized that no single nationality dominates the approvals; on some days, Arab expatriates lead in numbers, while on others, Asian nationalities comprise the majority. He also noted that the surge in visit visas coincided with the Gulf Cup “Gulf Zain 26” hosted in Kuwait, further boosting tourism.

The official explained that the platform aims to stimulate tourism and simplify entry procedures, allowing visitors to easily obtain tourist, business, or family visas. Discussions are ongoing regarding the issuance of visit visas for fourth-degree relatives, with concerns about approving visas for expatriates whose monthly salaries are very low — for instance, cousins earning 250 Kuwaiti dinars or slightly above or below. Family visits for elderly relatives are also scrutinized carefully, with visa eligibility depending on the expatriate sponsor’s job and salary.

The source issued a strong warning against visitors working illegally in Kuwait, stating that anyone caught performing work will be deported along with their sponsor and added to the ban list, preventing re-entry into the country.

For those wishing to visit, the process is straightforward: applicants can submit their requests through the “Kuwait e-Visa” website to obtain an electronic visa for eligible categories.

Regarding entry for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) residents, the source clarified that only certain professional categories, such as managers and doctors, are eligible for visas on arrival. Nevertheless, he recommended using the “Kuwait Evisa” platform for convenience. The platform currently offers four main services: tourist visas, family visit visas, government visit visas, and business visas, with certain requirements, such as salary thresholds for family visits and the national carrier condition, being waived.

The official highlighted that these measures reflect Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to facilitate travel, promote tourism, and simplify procedures for visitors while maintaining regulatory oversight over visa issuance and compliance.