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VISIT VISA
Citizen of other GCC states
have a right to enter and live in Kuwait without undergoing any particular
formalities. Kuwait will
grant 34 nationalities entry visas upon arrival, according to a new decision
from the Ministry of Interior (Feb. 2004).
Among those that will benefit are nationals from the
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USA.
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UK.
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France.
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Italy.
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Germany.
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Canada.
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Australia.
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New Zealand.
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Japan.
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The Netherlands.
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Belgium.
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Luxembourg.
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Switzerland.
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Austria.
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Sweden.
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Norway.
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Denmark.
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Portugal.
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Ireland.
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Greece.
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Finland.
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Spain.
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Monaco.
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the Vatican.
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Iceland.
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Andorra.
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San Marino.
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Liechtenstein.
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Brunei.
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Singapore.
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Malaysia.
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Hong Kong.
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South Korea.
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China.
Other countries can obtain visas through Kuwait Airways offices as the airline
has an online facility to process the visa through the Ministry of Interior.
But all other nationals are subject to strict rules of entry
and registration as foreigners under the sponsorship of Kuwaitis or Kuwait
companies or as dependents of foreigners under who already enjoy residence
under Kuwait sponsorship. There are two basic types of visa, a visit visa
and a residence visa.
A foreigner whose country
without a visa abolition treaty with Kuwait, ie a treaty permitting Kuwait
to enter their country without a visa, may be granted reciprocal rights
in the Kuwait. These persons however may require an entry permit. Fntry
permits are acquired in the same way and under the same procedures as visit
visa.
International airline have
been instructed by the Kuwaiti authorities not to board passengers for
Kuwait unless they have valid visas or entry permits.
Application
for a Visit Visa (TOP)
Visit visas and entry permits
are valid for entry within 90 days of issue and then for a stay of up to
30 days only after entry, A visit visas costs KD 3/- . Entry permits are
free.
A visit to Kuwait must be
sponsored by a Kuwait individual or company, or a resident foreigner who
is relative of the visitor while he or she is in Kuwait.
To obtain a visit visa for
a business, visitor, a Kuwait sponsor or company will require:
· Visa application
and security from completed by the sponsor
· Copy of the visitor's
passport
· Copy of the sponsor's
signature as registered for business purposes
· Copy of the letter
of invitation from the sponsor to the business visitor stations the purpose
of the visit.
To obtain a visit visa for
a relative, a resident foreigner will require:
· Visa application
and security form completed by the sponsor
· Copy of the visitor's
passport
· Original and copy
of the sponsor's passport
· Original and copy
of the sponsor's civil ID
· Original and copy
of the sponsor's work permit (Private sector empolyees)
· Recent salary certificate
from the sponsor's employer
· Authenticated proof
of the family relationship
Usually the sponsor of a
relative is expected to be earning at least KD 450 per month if he works
for the government and at least KD 650 if he work in the private sector.
Normally a visitor goes
to a Kuwait embassy to have his visa processed and passport stamped before
travelling to Kuwait. However a Kuwait 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 (to enable him to travel to Kuwait) and
meets him at the airport with the original visa. The sponsor deposits the
visa papers at a special counter in the arrival 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 business but they take about a week to do so, naturly enough,
expect the visitor to stay with on arrival.
Extension
of Visit (TOP)
The fine for staying more
than 30 days on a visit visa is KD 10 a day. A visitor whose visa has expired
is not allowed to leave until the fine has been paid, The fine 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.
An expatriate may obtain
two one-month extension to a visit visa or temporary residence provided
application is made to the immigration Department before the visa has expired.
A pleasant solution for visitors wishing to extend their stay is to obtain
a second visit visa in Kuwait, travel to Bahrain on a morning flight and
re-enter Kuwait in the evening round trip ( 40 minuets flying time ) only
costs about KD 45.
Multiple
Entry Visas (TOP)
Multiple entry visits visas,
which allow holders to enter the country any number of times within a 12-month
period, may be available to business sponsored by the ministry of defence.
American citizen (but not
other Westerners) can sometimes obtain multiple entry visit that are valid
for up to 10 years and allow an indefinite number of entries.
Transit
Visas (TOP)
A transit visa, valid for
a maximum stay of 7 days, can be obtained from a Kuwait Consulteabroad
or from a Port Authority in Kuwait. The fee is KD 2. The applicant mustr
have a valid visa for his next country of destination and, unless he is
working on a ship or airline, a confirmed oward ticket. Bone fide international
truck drivers and their helpers may obtain multiple entry transit visas.
Vaccinations
(TOP)
As a general rule, vaccination
certificates are not required, though travelers arriving from areas infected
by cholera and yellow fever may need proof of inoculation. Persons from
areas where there has been an outbreak of certain communicable diseases
may be obliged to undergo a medical examination a few days after arrival.
The latest position should be checked with Kuwait consulates aboard before
travelling.
Kuwait is as diseases-free
as Europe and North America and no Particular precautions are recommended,
though up-to-date medical advice should be obtained before travilling.
Address
in Kuwait (TOP)
When entering Kuwait, a visitor
fills in s entry from at the airport, on which he states where he is going
to stay. For a business visitor this will probably be a hotel. Hotel Managers
are obliged to inform the ministry of the interior wherever an expatriate
checks in or out and do so routinely. A visitor who changes his address
in Kuwait must inform the Immigration Department within 48 hours of doing
so.
Employment
(TOP)
A person in Kuwait on a visit
visa may not take up employment, for which he or she must have a work permit
and a residence visa.
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