Kuwait: Visa ‘Ban’ Remains on 8 Countries as Family Visas Queried
The interior ministry has refused to change a previous decision that prohibits the entry of citizens from eight countries into Kuwait without high-level security approvals, suspending all related transactions. These countries are Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. Informed security sources have indicated that the decision is periodically reviewed, but no new developments have occurred that warrant a change. Despite official requests from these countries to allow their citizens to enter Kuwait like others, the decision remains unchanged.
Sources revealed that embassies of these eight countries have submitted requests from their governments, urging Kuwait to lift restrictions on their citizens’ entry into Kuwait. However, Kuwait rejected negotiations on this matter, presenting reasons for the decision and addressing any issues that could contribute to lifting the restrictions. Some of these countries offered to sign labour and security memoranda with Kuwait to facilitate the entry of their citizens.
The sources emphasised that Kuwait responded by stating that the decision is not a principled refusal to allow the entry of citizens from these countries. Instead, it is based on pure security considerations due to the internal conditions in these countries. Kuwait expressed appreciation for its relationships with these nations and indicated that restrictions on their citizens would be lifted once the conditions in these countries improved.
The sources further explained that similar measures have been taken in most countries experiencing internal disturbances. The objective is to prevent communities facing internal unrest and protests from intensively bringing their residents to Kuwait through visits, family reunification, and residency on company sponsorships. This is to prevent the potential infiltration of wanted individuals or security-threatening elements, a scenario not acceptable to Kuwaiti security authorities for the sake of maintaining internal security.
The same sources affirmed that residents from these countries who already have visas in Kuwait are not affected by the decision, and they have the right to return to the country and renew their visas.
The interior ministry resumed issuing dependent visas for expats last month after suspending the procedure for close to two years, but required stricter conditions from expats to benefit from the decision. It said those who can bring their wives and children to live with them in the country must draw a monthly salary of at least KD 800, must hold a university degree and their job should be in line with their study field. However, it exempted several categories from the salary condition.
