Gulf visa, applied for from the UK

Kuwait visa from the UK for non-UK passport holders

If you live in the UK on a non-UK passport, you can apply for a Kuwait tourist eVisa with UK residence and a listed profession, or with a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist visa. Pakistani nationals are excluded. It costs KWD 3 and typically takes 1 to 2 business days. Turkish nationals can get a visa on arrival.

Checked against official sourcesLast reviewed 9 October 2026 · sources at the foot of the page

Kuwait visa options

What each visa allows, what it costs and how long it takes. Fees change: we confirm them before you pay.

Tourist eVisa (single entry)

Stay: Up to 90 days from the date of entry
Validity: Single entry. Use it within 30 days (one month) of issue.
Fee: KWD 3, which the Ministry of Interior says may vary by nationality. It is collected only if your application is accepted and is then non-refundable.
Processing: Typically 1 to 2 business days

Who qualifies. Nationals of countries on Kuwait's eligible list, which includes Türkiye. Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals qualify with a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist visa, or with a US, UK or Schengen residence permit and a listed occupation. Pakistani nationals are not offered this visa.

How to apply. Online on the Ministry of Interior's Kuwait Visa platform (kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw). You create an account, complete your profile, then submit your application and track it online.

Tourist eVisa (multiple entry)

Stay: Up to 30 days from each entry
Validity: Multiple entry, valid according to the visa duration
Fee: See official site
Processing: Kuwait says tourist visas typically take 1 to 2 business days

Who qualifies. Not stated separately from the single-entry tourist eVisa.

How to apply. Online on the Kuwait Visa platform.

Tourist visa on arrival

Stay: Up to 90 days from the date of entry
Validity: Single entry
Fee: KWD 3, which may vary by nationality
Processing: Issued on arrival

Who qualifies. Citizens of the countries on Kuwait's visa-on-arrival list, which includes Türkiye. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals are not on the list.

How to apply. At Kuwait International Airport, for nationals of eligible countries.

Family visit visa

Stay: Up to 90 days from entry on a single-entry visa; up to 30 days from each entry on a multiple-entry visa
Validity: Single entry: use it within 30 days of issue. Multiple entry: valid according to the visa duration.
Fee: See official site
Processing: Not published

Who qualifies. Relatives of people living in Kuwait. The platform lists Pakistani nationals as eligible for this visa.

How to apply. A family member who lives in Kuwait requests it for you through the Kuwait Visa platform. Kuwait checks whether they are eligible to sponsor your relationship.

If you live in the UK

Routes that depend on your UK residence permit or visa, by passport.

UK residence: Kuwait's eligibility checker says Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals with a valid US, UK or Schengen residence permit can apply online, but only with an occupation from its list. The list includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, engineers, IT professionals, accountants, teachers, lawyers, managers, business owners and sales officers. It has no option for students.
US, UK or Schengen tourist visa: the same nationalities qualify for the tourist eVisa, with no occupation question, if they hold a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist visa. This can help if you have a current Schengen visa from a European trip.
Turkish nationals: Türkiye is on Kuwait's visa-on-arrival list. You can get the tourist visa on arrival at Kuwait International Airport or online, without relying on UK residence.
Pakistani nationals: Pakistan is not offered for the tourist eVisa on the Kuwait Visa platform, whatever your UK status. The platform shows the family visit visa, which a relative living in Kuwait requests for you, as open to Pakistani nationals.
Without a qualifying UK residence permit and occupation, or a qualifying tourist visa, Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals are told they are not eligible for the tourist eVisa. A relative living in Kuwait can request a family visit visa for you, subject to Kuwait's checks on the sponsor.

Documents for a Kuwait visa

You provide

Passport Valid for at least six months from the date you enter Kuwait. Kuwait does not accept other travel documents.
UK residence permit Needed if you qualify through UK residence, together with an occupation from Kuwait's list. Kuwait does not say how digital UK status is shown, so keep your eVisa details and a share code ready.
US, UK or Schengen tourist visa A valid tourist visa, if you qualify through that route instead of UK residence.
Photo A recent passport-style photo with a white background.
Proof of relationship (family visits) If a relative in Kuwait sponsors a family visit visa, documents proving the relationship and a copy of their civil ID.

We provide

Visa application Submitted on the Ministry of Interior's Kuwait Visa platform.
Return flight booking A confirmed round-trip flight ticket.
Hotel booking A hotel reservation or other proof of accommodation in Kuwait.

Kuwait visa questions from UK residents

Do Pakistani nationals living in the UK need a visa for Kuwait?

Yes. Pakistan is not offered for the tourist eVisa on the Kuwait Visa platform, even with UK residence. A relative living in Kuwait can request a family visit visa for you, which the platform shows as open to Pakistani nationals.

Can I get a Kuwait visa with a UK residence permit?

Yes, if your occupation is on Kuwait's list. Kuwait's eligibility checker says Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals with a valid US, UK or Schengen residence permit can apply online once they choose a listed occupation, such as engineer, nurse or sales officer.

Can I get a Kuwait eVisa with a Schengen visa?

Yes. Kuwait's eligibility checker says Indian, Bangladeshi, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Sri Lankan and Filipino nationals holding a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist visa can apply online, with no occupation question.

How much is a Kuwait tourist visa from the UK?

The Ministry of Interior lists a tourist visa fee of KWD 3, which may vary by nationality. The fee is collected only if your application is accepted, and it is not refunded after that.

How long does a Kuwait eVisa take?

Kuwait's visa platform says tourist visas typically take 1 to 2 business days. You must enter Kuwait within 30 days of issue.

Can Indian nationals get a visa on arrival in Kuwait?

No. India is not on Kuwait's visa-on-arrival list, so apply for the eVisa before you fly. Turkish nationals are on the list.

What happens if I overstay my Kuwait visa?

The Ministry of Interior fines visitors KWD 10 for each day they overstay. You may also be banned from entering Kuwait in future.

Is there a travel warning for Kuwait right now?

The UK government's travel advice, updated 20 August 2026, no longer advises against all but essential travel to Kuwait. It still reports strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran in the region since 8 July, and Kuwait International Airport is running from Terminals 4 and 5 with fewer flights. Check gov.uk and your airline before you travel.

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Last reviewed 9 October 2026. Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.