Kuwait Visa for Indians: Visa Fees, Process & Documents Required

Kuwait is a nation in the Arab world renowned for its innovation, tradition, and history. Nowadays, many Indians are interested in visiting Kuwait for a variety of reasons, including work, tourism, commerce, etc.

Kuwait is one of the economic centres and cultural hubs of the Middle-east. This country's economic and cultural significance attracts several foreign citizens, including Indians. However, a Kuwait visa and a passport are mandatory documents for Indians to cross the borders of this country. Apart from it, there are other associated requirements to travel to Kuwait. Read more to know about the important details of a Kuwait visa for Indians.

Yes, Indians do need to apply for a visa before travelling to Kuwait. However, the visa type will vary with purpose, and they can also apply online for it.

A visa is an official document that authorises a foreign citizen to visit, stay within or leave a particular country's territory.

Similarly, every citizen planning to visit Kuwait needs to obtain a visa, except for residents of GCC of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Therefore, citizens can apply for a Kuwait visa from India, and for that, they need to fulfil specific requirements.

Indian citizens must meet the following eligibility criteria before applying for a Kuwait visa:

• Indian citizens who possess GCC resident permits can apply for a Kuwait visa. This permit's validity must be a minimum of 6 months from the intended date of visiting Kuwait.
• Must hold an Indian passport bearing a minimum validity of 6 months from the intended travel date to Kuwait. In addition, travellers need to carry this passport everywhere they go in Kuwait.
• The e-Visa is valid for tourists and hence working in Kuwait under this visa is not permissible.
• If an individual owns an e-Visa, they need to keep it with themselves everywhere they go in Kuwait during their entire staying period.
• Applicants for Kuwait work visas need to carry a copy of the No Objection Certificate issued by the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Ministry of Interior and a passport.
• A vaccination certificate is mandatory for infectious diseases like Yellow Fever or Cholera. In some cases, applicants need to undergo a medical checkup before visiting Kuwait if they travel from infected countries.
• A traveller needs to fill in an entry form mentioning the location at which he or she will stay.
• Travellers visiting Kuwait on a visit visa are not permitted to work. Instead, they need to acquire a work permit or a residence visa to work in Kuwait.

Potential applicants can follow the step-wise guide to apply for an e-Visa of Kuwait:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of the State of Kuwait Ministry of Interior. Fill in the application form with the following relevant personal details. This includes name, nationality, address, passport number, date of birth, along with other travel information to Kuwait.

Step 2: The second segment of the application form requires applicants to submit a biometric page of their passport.

Step 3: After successfully submitting the visa application, the Ministry of Interior of the State of Kuwait will review the application. If applicants meet all the criteria, they will receive their e-Visa via mail featuring the issuance date, visa number and expiry date.

Remember to take its printout to show it to authorities present at Kuwait's border control.

Travellers must note that to apply for a Kuwait visa, they must need a few documents. This will accelerate the process and will increase the chances of visa approval. Nevertheless, those documents are –

• An Indian passport or GCC residence permit bearing a minimum validity of 6 months.

• Clear passport-size photographs with a white background

• Two visa application forms (duly filled and signed) 

• A covering letter justifying visiting Kuwait

• Original Bank Statement (updated for the last three months and stamped with the bank seal).

• Airline tickets with evidence of round-trip airline tickets to and from your country of residence

• Hotel reservation: evidence of lodging for the duration of your visit 

• Travel Schedule: A day-by-day schedule outlining all aspects of the journey

• Certificate of Police Clearance (ideally issued from MEA)

• Medical certification issued by a physician certified by the Kuwaiti Embassy

Apart from these general requirements, you should also prepare a few supporting documents beforehand. The list of supporting documents is based on occupation and type of visit. Nevertheless, those documents are – 

For employed applicants

• Document showing leave sanctioned by the employer, provided with organisation seal.

• Last 3 months’ salary slip

For self-employed applicants

• Proof of business

• Last six months’ bank statement of the company, with an official bank seal

• Last 3 years’ company income tax returns

For students

• Identification document issued by an academic institution

For retired professionals

• Proof of retirement (such as pension book, bank statement etc.)

For minors

• Birth certificate with both parent’s names on it

• NOC

• The other parent must validate the letter of consent for travel if the child is travelling with only one parent.

• A notarized letter from both parents approving travel is required if the youngster is travelling alone or without one of the parents. 

• Death certificate if both parents or one of them have passed away

• ID proof of parents

For sponsored travellers

• A sponsorship letter should include the guests' names, the reason for their visit, their relationship with you, the length of their stay, the dates of their trip, and any other relevant details.

• Passport or residency permit as proof of inviter identification

• Utility bill as proof of inviter's address

• Updated bank statements and pay stubs are acceptable forms of identification 

If visiting a relative/friend

• Invitation letter

• Identification proof of the inviter

• Address proof of the inviter

For business visa

• Letter of introduction/recommendation from one of the Indian government's Chambers of Commerce and Industry or Export Promotion Council of India or a reference letter from a relevant ministry of Kuwait

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India

• Certificate of registration of the company from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India

• Income tax documents

Here, it is essential to note that applicants must review and verify the documents required from the official website only to avoid any mishaps.

Go through the additional requirements for each type of Kuwait visa:

1. Tourist Visa

A tourist visa allows the holder to enter Kuwait for a single time and entitles them to stay up to 90 days there.

Application Process

Foreign citizens of selected countries need to fill in an online application form by answering a few questions and submitting relevant information.

Documents Required

• Original and copy of passport
• Filled application form
• Copy of Civil ID

Approximate Fee

The cost of this visa is about KWD 31 for six months with multiple entries.

2. Visit Visa

A family relative who is a resident of Kuwait or a Kuwaiti company sponsors this visa for a willing applicant. It is sub-divided into three categories-

• Visit Visa Requirements for Business
• A Kuwaiti or a company sponsor is required for an applicant to acquire this visa
• Duly filled in visit visa application and security form by the sponsor
• A copy of an applicant's passport and signature of the sponsor
• Letter of invitation by the sponsor to the business mentioning the purpose of travel
• Visit Visa for Requirements for Relatives 

Documents Required

• Documents to confirm the kinship or relationship
• Valid passport of an applicant
• A photocopy and original civil ID of the family member who is a resident of Kuwait and sponsoring the applicant's trip to Kuwait
• Salary certificate of foreign sponsor

Application Procedure

• Submit the relevant documents listed above to the Kuwait Embassy.
• Download and fill in the service application form.
• Pay the appropriate fees for a family visit visa.

Approximate Fees

The cost of a Kuwait visit visa is KWD 120.03. It is KWD 434.82 for each month if the sponsor performs duty for the government, while the fee is KWD 627.5 if he or she works for a private organisation. Exit permits do not require any fees.

Validity

90 days from the date of issuance, and the staying period is 30 days after entering Kuwait.

Extension

Applicants need to pay KWD 10 per day to extend their staying period beyond 30 days in Kuwait.

Multiple Entry Visit Visa

Foreign citizens can apply for this visa if they want to visit Kuwait innumerable times within one year of obtaining this visa.

3. Residence Visa

An expatriate, other than citizens of GCC, must acquire a residence visa to reside in Kuwait. There are primarily four types-

• Family / Dependent Visa

With the help of a family visa, the wife and children of an employed man can visit Kuwait and live with him.

Requirements

• The man must earn a minimum monthly income of approximately KWD 435.44 (applicable for 17-visa holders) or around KWD 628.96 (applicable for 18-visa holders)
• In case working parents, wife and man must earn a combined monthly salary of KWD 338.67.
• A wife cannot apply for this visa on behalf of her husband.
• An individual can't sponsor a son aged more than 21 years old.
• A dependent family member cannot work in Kuwait unless they acquire a work visa.

Documents Required

• Passport of the dependent
• A photocopy of his civil ID
• Salary certificate of the sponsor
• A marriage or childbirth certificate authenticated by the embassy of the sponsor in his country of origin.

Application Process

• Applicants need to visit the "Jawazaat" bureau at Shuwaikh.
• Fill in an application for a family or dependent visa in Arabic.
• Submit the documents listed above.

Approximate Fees

Applicants working in the private sector need to pay KWD 100 (per person) for their two children and wife in the first year, while it is KWD 200 (each person) for the remaining children.

For public sector employees, the fee is KWD 10 (per person) for the wife and first two children in the first year of visiting Kuwait. Individuals need to incur KWD 100 (per person) for the remaining children.

In case of renewal visa fees, it is KWD 10 (per person) for wife and children in every situation, while it is KWD 200 (per person) for parents and in-laws of a sponsor.

Other Formalities

After entering Kuwait, the dependent needs to go through a medical checkup and provide fingerprints. Moreover, he or she needs to submit similar documents submitted by the sponsor except for the salary statement. Finally, the sponsor needs to submit a declaration stating that he will be responsible for supporting the dependent during his stay in Kuwait.

4. Work Visa

According to Articles 18 and 17 of immigrant instructions, work visas are issued to employees working in the private and public sectors.

Documents Required

• Employment offer
• Passport of the employee
• NOC from the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Ministry of Interior.

Application Process

A sponsor for this visa should be a Kuwaiti employer and can apply for this visa from the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour.

Approximate Fee

For getting this visa, the applicants need to submit an application fee of KWD 40 to the authorities.

• Domestic Servants Visa

This visa is issued to full-time servants of resident expatriates who live outside Kuwait. The expatriate will sponsor this visa.

Requirements

• A male sponsor must have a wife if he wishes to employ a female servant
• Servant's age limit should be from 20 to 50 years
• There is no requirement for a minimum salary
• It is not applicable to immediate family relatives or member

Documents Required

• Sponsor's and wife's salary certificate
• A copy of the house rental contract
• A copy of the passport of the wife and sponsor
• Age proof such as local birth certificates of children
• A copy of the civil ID of the sponsor and wife
• Servant's passport size photographs
• A copy of the work contract of the servant

Application Process

• Visit “Jawazaat” at Shuwaikh.
• Fill in the application form in Arabic.
• A maid or male servant may need to visit the Kuwait embassy located in his or her origin country for this visa application.

Approximate Fees

A servant may need to pay a residence fee of KWD 200 in the first year and KWD 10 for subsequent years.

5. Newborn Child Visa

Expatriate residents need to apply for this dependent visa for their child born in Kuwait. 

Requirements

• A sponsor for this visa can be a newborn child's father
• There is no minimum requirement for salary
• Child's birth certificate

Application Process

Parents must add their newborn's name on their passport or can apply for a separate passport.

Approximate Fees

Parents need to pay a fee of KWD 10 every year for this permit.

6. Transit Visa

It is essential to acquire a transit visa if travellers commute through Kuwait or stay there for more than or under 24 hours.

Documents Required

• Visa to travel to the next destination country
• Onward ticket

Application Process

Foreign citizens can acquire this visa from Kuwait's port authorities or its consulting board. Alternatively, they can apply for this visa online by entering the required details.

Approximate Fees

You need to submit KWD 3 as an application fee for this visa.

Validity

A transit visa has 7 days validity, and an e-visa is valid for 90 days.

7. Entrance Visa

This visa allows employees of government and civil sectors to provide permits for joining providers. Applicants must earn a minimum of KWD 400.

Documents Required

• A copy of a civil ID of the sponsor, dependent's passport, company agreement, attested marriage certificate and work permit
• Salary statement of government employee

Application Process

• Submit the documents listed above to the General Department of Immigration.
• Download and fill in the application form and pay the appropriate fees

Approximate Fees

Applicants need to pay KWD 3 for this visa.

Follow the steps stated below to check the Kuwait visa's application status:

Step 1: Go to the official portal of the State of Kuwait Ministry of Interior. 

Step 2: Click on "Visa Application Status". Type the visa application number and captcha code and select "Submit" to view the application status.