Kuwait lifts Visa ban on Pakistanis after 19 years

The government of Pakistan confirmed this week Kuwait had lifted a 19-year-long ban on visas for Pakistani citizens and would resume issuing work, family, visit, tourist, and business visas.

Kuwait had stopped issuing visas to citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan, citing difficult security conditions in the countries.

“Kuwait has lifted 19-year visa ban on Pakistani citizens, resuming the issuance of work, family, visit, tourist, and business visas, a major diplomatic achievement and a step toward deeper bilateral cooperation,” the government of Pakistan announced on its official X account.

“This landmark decision paves the way for enhanced people-to-people contact, workforce opportunities, and stronger economic ties between the two nations.”

In May 2021, Kuwait decided to resume granting visas to Pakistani families and businessmen. It was also decided during the meeting that Kuwait would issue technical visas for Pakistani workers in the medical and oil fields.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Zaffar Iqbal issued a statement on the resumption of visas. “Community members have already begun receiving approvals, marking a positive step forward,” he said.

Separately, the ambassador said Pakistan and Kuwait were in the advanced stages of finalizing a new labor memorandum of understanding (MoU). Pakistan established diplomatic relations with Kuwait in October 1963.