Passport and visa regulations
Nationalities
| Passport required | visa required | Return ticket required | |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other EU countries | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passport information
Generally required, must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry and must not contain an Israeli entry stamp.
Visa information
A visa for Kuwait is required for citizens of the countries listed in the table above, among others. Visa on entry/ e-Visa: Travelers from the following countries listed in the table above receive an entry visa for a maximum of 3 months from airport customs directly at the airport for a tourist stay when entering by air. This requires confirmation from the airline that the visa is available upon arrival, as well as a confirmed return or onward flight, hotel booking or home address. When entering the country, it is advisable to show an invitation letter from a Kuwaiti sponsor. The possibly required examination of the documents can lead to longer waiting times at the border clearance. Alternatively, nationals of the countries listed below can apply for an e-Visa in advance. (a) EU countries and Switzerland; (b) Turkey. When entering by land, a visa must be obtained from the responsible Kuwaiti diplomatic mission before travelling.
- Ehuzhou: Offers ultimate guide to duty-free shopping in Kuwait. Also includes import and export regulations, as well as embassy and telecommunication information about this country.
Costs
Entry permit (visa on arrival by air for a stay of 3 months): 3 KD (approx. €9). Germany visa at the embassy Entry visa: 50 € (valid for 1 month), 100 € (valid for 1 year, multiple entries). Work visa: 100 €. Visa on arrival at the airport/ e-Visa: 3 KD (approx. 9 €). Switzerland entry visa: 150 CHF (single entry), 150 CHF (multiple entries). Transit: 75 CHF. Further information can be obtained from the relevant diplomatic missions (see contact addresses).
Visa types and costs
Tourist, Entry, Business Visa and Entry Permission (NOC).
Validity
Entry permit: 1-3 months from the date of issue. Visa obtained in advance: usually according to the period of time applied for.
Transit
Otherwise, transit travelers who require a visa and who fly on the next connection within 8 hours, have valid documents for onward travel and do not leave the transit area do not need a transit visa. A transit visa obtained in advance is required for travelers flying through the Shaikh Saad Terminal (KWI) with Wataniya Airlines travel on. Personally or by post at the consulate or the consular department of the embassy (see contact addresses) or as an e-visa. Tourist visas are also arranged for travelers through their hotel in Kuwait. A visitor visa requires a letter of invitation, which the inviting person must fax to the relevant consulate in Kuwait. Once approved by the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior, the visa application can be processed by the consulate. A business visa is usually applied for by the inviting Kuwaiti company or directly at the airport upon arrival in Kuwait. Once approved by the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior, the visa application can be processed by the consulate. A business visa is usually applied for by the inviting Kuwaiti company or directly at the airport upon arrival in Kuwait. Once approved by the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior, the visa application can be processed by the consulate. A business visa is usually applied for by the inviting Kuwaiti company or directly at the airport upon arrival in Kuwait.
Application required
Entry visa (application to the embassy): (a) 2 application forms (no photocopies). (b) 2 recent passport photos. (c) Passport that is still valid for at least six months. (d) Fee (original carbon copy of transfer receipt stamped by bank, no photocopies). (e) No Objection Certificate” (NOC) issued by the Kuwaiti Ministry of the Interior. (f) Letter from the German employer in English. Work visa (a)-(f) (g) No Objection Certificate or invitation from the Kuwaiti business partner or sponsor. ( h) Valid work permit from Kuwait (i) Health certificate and HIV test (for stays longer than three months) (j) Current police clearance certificate, certified by the Ministry of Justice or by the regional court and translated into English or Arabic. A stamped, registered return envelope should be enclosed with the application. Tourist visas are available through Kuwait hotels. The photocopies of the first three pages of the passport are required for this; the passport must be valid for at least six months. More information from the consular section of the embassy (see contact addresses). Business visas and entry permits are generally only granted upon prior invitation from the business partner or sponsor. If the partner in Kuwait applies for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the Ministry of the Interior, no visa is required, but the partner must pick up the visitor at the airport by presenting the NOC.
Temporary Residence
Applications to the embassy (see contact addresses).
Processing time
About the embassy: about 3-4 weeks.
Entry with children
German: Machine-readable personal passport. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa requirements apply to children as to their parents. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Entry restrictions
Persons with Israeli visas in their passports will be refused entry (second passport required).
