A Kuwait work visa is a document issued by the Kuwait government to allow the holder to enter and work in Kuwait. There are different types depending on the purpose and duration of stay in Kuwait.
Types of Kuwait Entry Visas
Any expatriate other than Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens must apply for a Kuwait entry visa to visit, work or reside in Kuwait.
Kuwait offers different types of entry visas depending on the applicant’s intended duration of stay and entry purpose.
The different types of Kuwait entry visas include the following:
- Residence Visa: There are different types of this visa which include Kuwaiti work visa, family visa, study, professional practice, and domestic labour visa.
The residence visa permits the holder to reside temporarily in Kuwait for two months from the date of entry. During this period the visa holder should visit the General Department of Residency Affairs to submit the requirements for a regular residence in Kuwait.
Failure to regularise your stay in Kuwait after the stipulated period of two months will lead to payment of 2 K.D. per day as a penalty.
- Tourist Visa: This permits the visa entry holder to reside temporarily in the country for three months from the date of entry and exit the country immediately after the allowed duration of the visit.
Overstaying the legally allowed period will lead to payment of 2 K.D. per day as a penalty. This type of visa is for tourist purposes only and prohibits the holder from working in Kuwait.
- Visit Visa: Kuwait visit visa applicants must have a sponsor in Kuwait. The sponsor can be the Kuwaiti government, companies, organizations or a family member in Kuwait.
A visit entry visa permits the holder to stay in Kuwait for one month from the date of entry and exit the country immediately after the allowed duration of the visit.
Overstaying the legally allowed period of one month will lead to a payment of 10 K.D. per day as a penalty. This type of visa prohibits the holder to work in Kuwait.
- Transit visa: This permits the visa entry holder to reside temporarily in Kuwait for seven days from the date of entry and exit the country immediately after the allowed period.
Overstaying the legally allowed period will lead to paying 2 K.D. per day as a penalty. This type of visa is for travellers passing through Kuwait en route to other countries only and prohibits the holder from working in Kuwait.
- Truck Drivers visas: This permits the visa entry holder to reside temporarily in Kuwait for fourteen days from the date of entry and exit the country immediately after the allowed period. Overstaying the legally allowed period will lead to payment of 2 K.D. per day as a penalty.
Eligibility Criteria for Kuwait Work Visa
The eligibility criteria for Kuwait work visa include the following:
- Accepted job offer in Kuwait
- No past criminal records
- Medically fit according to Kuwait Ministry of Health standards
- Enough funds to sustain yourself and your dependants in Kuwait
- Intention to return to home country where applicable.
Kuwait Work Visa Requirements
The Kuwait work visa is issued to expatriates offered employment in Kuwait. After accepting the job offer the employer must apply for an entry visa or work permit on behalf of the employee.
Upon getting the entry visa the employer must send the entry visa to the expatriate in his home country which they will take to the Kuwait embassy in their country of residence for a visa stamp.
The following are required by the expatriate to get their passport stamped with a Kuwait visa:
- International passport with at least two years validity and two blank pages
- Passport photograph
- Medical certificate of fitness
- Police character certificate/Criminal Clearance certificate
- Original work permit/ entry visa
- International driving licence for drivers
- Experience certificates
- Educational qualifications and professional certificates
- Marriage certificates if applicable
Note: The educational and professional certificates must be authenticated by the Ministry of Education in the country of residence, also, all the documents mentioned above must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you can get the Kuwait visa stamped in your international passport.
Kuwait Work Visa Application Process
The Kuwait work visa application process includes the following:
- The Kuwaiti employer must apply for an entry visa/permit from the General Department of Residency Affairs on behalf of the expatriate.
- Upon receiving the entry visa/permit, the employer will send it via courier to the employee. The Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also send a copy of the entry visa/work permit to the embassy/consulate of the state of Kuwait in the employee’s country of residence.
- On receiving the entry visa, the employee will obtain a criminal clearance certificate from the appropriate authority in their country of residence.
- Armed with the entry visa and criminal clearance certificate the employee should proceed to the embassy/consulate of the state of Kuwait in the employee’s country of residence.
- Upon getting to the embassy/consulate of the state of Kuwait in the employee’s country of residence, the embassy staff will check the employee’s international passports, entry visas and criminal clearance certificates and subsequently direct them to a medical facility accredited by the Kuwait embassy for a medical fitness examination.
After the medical fitness examinations, the employee returns to the embassy/consulate of the state of Kuwait in the employee’s country of residence for passport submission and visa stamp.
Reasons for Rejection of Kuwait Work Visa
The common reasons for the rejection of a Kuwait work visa application include the following;
- Discrepancies between the international passport data and the entry visa
- Not medically fit according to the Kuwait Ministry of Health standards
- Submission of damaged or invalid passport
- Insufficient blank pages on the passport for visa stamps
- Previous criminal history
- Submission of falsified or wrong documents
- Insufficient funds to sustain stay in Kuwait where applicable