Kuwait Maintains Visa Restrictions on These 8 Counties

Kuwait's interior ministry has upheld its decision to impose entry restrictions on citizens from eight countries, requiring high-level security approvals for their entry into the country.

The affected nations include Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. All related transactions remain suspended, with no immediate plans for alteration, according to informed security sources.

Despite diplomatic requests and offers to sign labor and security memoranda, Kuwait has maintained its position, emphasizing that the decision is contingent upon security considerations and will be reassessed as conditions improve in the respective countries.

The rationale behind these stringent measures is to safeguard against the potential infiltration of individuals posing security threats amidst internal unrest and protests in the affected nations. 

Kuwait's interior ministry has previously announced the resumption of issuing family visas for expatriates starting January 28th, ending a nearly two-year suspension aimed at regulating visas and reducing the number of expats in the country.

Under the updated regulations, expatriates applying for dependent visas for their wives and children must now have a monthly salary of at least KD 800, an increase from the previous KD 600 requirement. Additionally, applicants are required to be university graduates, and their employment in Kuwait should align with their university specializations, according to a statement from the interior ministry.

The suspension of family visa issuance was part of Kuwait's broader plan to manage and control the number of expatriates, who make up over two-thirds of the country's population of 4.5 million.

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