Kuwait Launches 3-Month Family Visit Visa Under New Policy; Details Inside

If you’ve ever tried to bring family into Kuwait for an extended visit, you know how tangled the visa process could get, between paperwork loops, airline restrictions, and qualification rules that left a lot of people out. But that might be about to change.

Kuwait’s New 3-Month Family Visit Visa Could Change Everything For Expats

This week, Kuwait announced a major policy shift aimed squarely at making the country more open, more welcoming and, frankly, easier to navigate. At the heart of it is the long-anticipated three-month family visit visa, now live and ready for use through the updated Kuwait Visa platform.

The announcement came straight from the top: Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al Sabah, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, shared the news in a candid phone interview with Al Seyassah newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, Ahmed Al Jarallah.

So What’s Actually Changed?

For starters, travellers are no longer required to book through Kuwait’s national airline to qualify for a visa. That restriction? Gone. Visitors now have the freedom to choose whichever airline fits their plans or budget, which, for families flying in from multiple countries, is a game-changer.

Even bigger: the requirement to hold a university degree has been dropped. That rule had quietly shut out thousands of expats whose family members didn’t meet the criteria. Now, families separated by paperwork alone can reconnect more easily and for longer.

Longer Stays, Simpler Rules

Under the new policy, a family visit visa grants a stay of up to three months right off the bat. Need more time? Extensions of six months or even up to a full year are possible, depending on your case.

The eligibility net has also widened. Relatives up to the fourth degree are now included, meaning not just siblings or parents, but extended family too. It’s a move that recognises how families actually work in the real world, not just on paper.

One other shift worth noting: the process is getting more transparent. Anyone flagged with travel restrictions will be notified immediately and guided through the legal steps to resolve the issue. No more mystery holds or unexplained denials.

Also Read: From E-Visa To Family Visa; Now Eligible Foreigners Can Apply For Kuwait Visa Through New Portal! 

Bottom Line?

Visa fees are still being finalised. A pricing proposal is expected to land on the Council of Ministers’ desk later this week.

This isn’t just a family-first policy. It’s part of a broader play to position Kuwait as a regional tourism hub. Abdulrahman Al Mutairi, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, recently introduced “Visit Kuwait,” a centralised digital platform that will serve as the country’s tourism brand moving forward.

And in 2026, Kuwait will host the 52nd session of the UN World Tourism Organisation’s Regional Committee for the Middle East. It’s a bold step onto the global tourism stage and these new visa policies are laying the groundwork.

Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Anson Fernandez Dionisio from Getty Images