Kuwait relaxes visa restrictions for some countries

Citizens of Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be allowed to apply for visit and family visas to Kuwait, it was reported.

The Gulf state will allow citizens working as government employees to apply for visas while male and female children will only be granted permission to stay in the country if they are below the ages of 15 and 18 years old, respectively, Arab Times reported, citing Arabic daily Al Jaridah.

“Citizens from those countries who are working as government employees can now apply for visit or family visas to bring their family members to Kuwait based on the above mentioned conditions,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.

Kuwait banned nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the country in 2011 amid fears political unrest in those nations could pose a risk to the Gulf state’s security.

The blacklist included trade, tourism and visit visas as well as visas sponsored by spouses.

Local reports on Saturday said Kuwait is considering lifting restrictions on visas for Pakistani workers following a meeting between the country’s ambassador and Pakistan’s prime minister.