Immigration to Kuwait

One of the driest desert situated in western Asia, at the tip of the Persian Gulf, nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, lies a very popular middle east country called “Kuwait”. Kuwait is rich in oil has a population of 4.45 million people, out of which almost 3 million are foreign nationals or expats from all around the world. This figure itself shows that Kuwait is one of the top immigration destination in the world. Visitors and tourist who want to experience the Arabian Desert in its best come to Kuwait during October and March. Most of the Arabian Desert is covering the land of Kuwait which span on an area of 17,820 sq km (11,072 sq. miles). Kuwait borders the Persian Gulf which has 195 km of coastline and has almost 10 Islands. There are peaceful beautiful beaches with palms trees and fine sands. Kuwait’s economy depends largely on its oil resources. It is regarded as one of the wealthiest countries of the world with the Kuwaiti dinar holding the strongest currency value. As of June’2023 1 Kuwaiti dinar equals 3.23 US$.

The oil industry in Kuwait offers loads of job opportunities to expats from all over the world. Over a period of time, Kuwait has transformed from a small producer of oil to a period of modernization and now Kuwait has it all. Unique design towers and Skyscrapers, Modern architecture houses, Largest Mosque, Huge malls and shopping centers. One example of modern design is the 617 ft (187 meters) tower holding a spherical Water Tank of 4500 cubic meters and on it upper half a restaurant having a capacity to hold 90 people. The largest Grand Mosque of Kuwait accommodates up to 10,000 men in the main hall and 950 women in a separate hall. The Grand Mosque occupies an area of 4500 square meters. It contains a 5-level car park which holds up to 550 cars belonging to the worshippers who visit the Mosque.

Apart from Oil, Kuwait has developed in telecommunications, IT (Information Technology), International Trade, Tourism and Agriculture. Kuwait is not self-sufficient when it comes to food and therefore it relies heavily on Food Imports. All these open great opportunities for jobs and business and hence a great number of foreigners and expats make up a large population. Skillful expatriates are in demand in Kuwait and are always welcomed by the locals.

Traveling information 

Kuwait is a very hospitable safe country for foreigners and tourists with a very low crime rate. However, there has been incidents of terrorism and anti-governments protest and the government advised to take precautions especially in some sensitive areas. So it is good to get the latest updates on current political situation of the country before making travel plans. It is advisable to take a travel insurance covering adventure activities and also emergency assistance. A very important thing to keep in mind of your dress and behavior as Kuwait is a Muslim Country and not as conservative as other Gulf countries. We recommend you to get familiar with all local traditions, customs, religious prayer timings, laws etc.,  so as not to offend others. The Emir of Kuwait is venerated and therefore visitors and foreigners must refrain from speaking or writing anything against the authority, failing to which a violator is imprisoned for up to 7 years. The following few important things are banned and prohibited in Kuwait: 

• Alcohol is totally prohibited in Kuwait
• Pornography
• Homosexual Acts
• Drink and Drive
• Unmarried heterosexual couples living together
• Import and use of Pork and Pork Products
• Taking pictures of government and other infrastructures like oil fields

By Air:
Kuwait has only one international airport known as the “Kuwait International Airport” where all major airlines from around the world operates. Kuwait Airways is the national carrier. There are flights to and from Kuwait to Paris, London, New York, Frankfurt, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Geneva, Mumbai, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Singapore and other major cities.

By Land:
People living in a neighboring country, such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, can enter Kuwait by land. Nuwaib Al-Dabaa Border Crossing (Nuwaiseeb Border), connects the town of Nuwaiseeb in Kuwait with the town of Khafji in Saudi Arabia. The Abdali Border Crossing is the primary land border crossing between Iraq and Kuwait. It connects the city of Abdali in Kuwait with Safwan in Iraq. Kuwait is connected to other GCC member states (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) via a network of well-maintained highways. Citizens of GCC countries can travel to Kuwait by road without requiring a visa, as part of the GCC’s free movement agreement.

Make sure you have the right visas and documents. Border rules can change due to safety and diplomatic issues, so check with the embassies for the latest info before land travel between Kuwait and these countries.

By Sea:
Kuwait has several ports, including Shuwaikh Port and Shuaiba Port, which handle cargo and passenger vessels. While sea travel is less common for international tourists, it’s possible to enter Kuwait by cruise ship or by private boat if you comply with the country’s maritime entry requirements.

How to Immigrate to Kuwait         

Kuwait is a friendly country and Kuwaitis are very hospitable to foreigners. Many Kuwaitis have been educated in overseas colleges and universities, so they are well acquainted with foreigners and their culture. Currently Israelis are not allowed to enter Kuwait. To enter Kuwait one must have a Visa, and it’s very easy to obtain a Visa for Kuwait. The citizens from the following GCC countries can enter Kuwait with their GCC residency cards. The citizens allowed must hold a certain profession as per the GCC agreement. The card must be valid for minimum six months. 

• UAE (United Arab Emirates)
• Bahrain
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia

There are almost 57 countries whose citizens can an obtain a eVisa or Visa-on-arrival. This type of visa has a validity of three months. If you require to extend the stay period, that you must apply for a Kuwait visa from the nearest consulate or Kuwait Embassy. The following types of Kuwait Visas are available: 

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Visit Visa
• Work Visa
• Family Visa
• Student Visa
• Transit Visa

The Visas can be obtained On arrival, Online or at a Kuwait Embassy or Consulate. The eVisa is issued through the Kuwait Ministry of Interior. Please click on the following link to obtain an eVisa: evisa.moi.gov.kw. The scanned copy of the passport’s bio page is required. Visa fee can be paid thru the website with debit/credit card. Your passport must have a validity of minimum six months at the time of application. It may take minimum 3 working days to process. Kindly print the visa copy which has to be shown at the immigration office on your arrival at Kuwait. A fee of KD3 (USD 10) is required at the entry.

People 

The people of Kuwait are known as “Kuwaiti”. They are also known as Arabs, a name given to the nomads of the Arabian Peninsula. The Kuwaiti Arabs have different physical features which resembles Persian, Turkish, African, Indian and South Asian countries. This is because of local Kuwaitis coming in contact with different people due to immigration & migration over the centuries. The younger generations of Kuwaitis are very open with expats and visitors, however talking to a stranger is frowned upon, especially for men talking to a woman. Now a day many Kuwaitis speak and understand English. Kuwaitis like to live within their cultural boundaries, their becoming familiar with their culture and traditions is a must before you land up in Kuwait. They are Muslims and are generally conservative. Family ties are very important to them. During weekends families are seen dining or visiting malls together. Kuwaitis are expressive in conversation and speak loudly which is indicative of sincerity.

Job offers in Kuwait 

Kuwait has attractive job opportunities for expats. There are many multinational companies in Kuwait, opening doors to foreigners and international workers. Knowing Arabic is also not a requisite to get a job in Kuwait, however over a period of time expats do learn to speak the required amount of Arabic used on a daily basis. No matter how long you stay in Kuwait, you cannot get a citizenship of Kuwait. You must have an employment offer to get a work permit to work in Kuwait. Citizens of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) do not require work permit to work in Kuwait.

Currency 

The official currency of Kuwait is the “Kuwaiti Dinar” (KWD). It is divided into 1,000 fils. No other currency is officially accepted in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Dinar is the strongest currency as of 2023. The Kuwaiti Dinar is issued and circulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait. 

The Kuwaiti dinar in Banknote is available and circulated in the following denominations:
KD ¼, KD ½, KD 1, KD 5, KD 10, KD 20

The Kuwaiti currency in Coins is available and circulated in the following denominations:
1 fils, 5 fils, 10 fils, 20 fils, 50 fils and 100 fils

Education 

In Kuwait Primary and intermediate education is compulsory by law for all children aged 5-14. Basic education is divided into three levels.

• Elementary- five years
• Intermediate- 4 years
• Secondary- 3 years

Since there are many expats and foreigners in Kuwait there are more than 100 private foreign schools. Some follow the Kuwaiti system of education with Arabic as the language instruction and others offer international curriculum. There are many international schools which caters to the expat community in Kuwait. Many of these international schools are co-educational and follow US, UK Canada or India curricula or the International Baccalaureate program.