KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah has announced new visa regulations making it easier for foreigners residing in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to visit Kuwait.
Under Ministerial Decision No. 1386 of 2025, which was published on Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm and takes effect immediately, eligible GCC residents can now obtain a tourist visa directly upon arrival at Kuwaiti ports of entry.
According to the decision, applicants must hold a residence permit in a GCC country valid for at least six months to qualify for the visa-on-arrival facility.
The move repeals Decision No. 1228 of 2008, which previously governed the entry of GCC residents into Kuwait under similar provisions. The Ministry of Interior stated that the new regulation aligns with Decree Law No. 114 of 2024 concerning the residence of foreigners.
The undersecretary of the ministry has been tasked with implementing the new decision, aimed at facilitating tourism and strengthening Kuwait’s ties with neighboring Gulf states.
