Kuwait stopped issuance of visas to nationals from Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria

Lahore : Kuwait has imposed ban on the entry of the nationals of Afghanistan,Iran, Iraq , Pakistan, and due to “difficult security conditions” in these countries.

Additionally entry and transit is refused to Israeli  citizens too.

Kuwait having stopped issuance of visas to the nationals from Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria, several families have been facing difficulties.

A teacher from Pakistan, who resides in Kuwait, had spoken to the media in Kuwait about the difficulty faced by him, as he was unable to spend the summer with his family. The sole reason for denial of visa to his family, is the newly introduced visa ban by Kuwait on certain nationalities, owing to difficult security conditions in these nations.

The authorities have said that the ban will be strictly implemented, and no visa application will be considered from these five nations.

Kuwait said that no exception in the visa application would be tolerated, and that the ban was temporary and would be lifted after security situation stabilized.

Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghans have not been able to obtain visit, tourism or trade visas to Kuwait since 2011, in a move which seemingly pre-empted US restrictions on seven Muslim-majority countries.

Passport holders from the countries are not allowed to enter the Gulf state while the blanket ban is in place, and have been told not to apply to visas.

However, this rule has disrupted vacation plans of several expat families. The new decision has not been well-received by these communities in Kuwait.

Similarly, an event, scheduled to be inaugurated by a popular TV anchor from Pakistan, for a quiz show in Pakistani television channel, had to be indefinitely postponed, as he was refused visa, despite the organizers having sought approval from the State Security Department.

As of now, all these communities are awaiting that this temporary ban be lifted at the earliest.

The Ambassador of Pakistan to Kuwait, speaking about the current ban mentioned that it will only be temporary, and so there is no reason to be alarmed. The ban includes suspension of all tourist, visit and trade visasand visas sponsored by spouses. However, the immigration authorities have assured to the nationals of these countries that all visa renewals for their nationals, who are already residents of Kuwait, will not be affected.