Kuwait lifts years-long ban on issuance of visas to Pakistanis

The government in Kuwait has officially resumed issuing a wide range of visas to Pakistani nationals, in a significant step towards bolstering bilateral relations and addressing critical labour needs, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

According to Mustafa Malik, spokesperson Focalperson of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the Kuwaiti government has started issuing work, family, visit, tourist and commercial visas to Pakistanis.

The issuance of visas will provide employment, trade and tourism opportunities to thousands of people in Kuwait.

All visas can be obtained through an online platform and the processing time on the application can range from one minute to 24 hours.

In May 2025, through the efforts of Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, an MoU was also signed between Pakistan and Italy to prevent illegal immigration and provide employment opportunities for Pakistanis.

As a result of this great success, Italy is the first European country to directly sign an MoU to hire Pakistani workforce. 

Confirming the development, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Dr Zaffar Iqbal also announced plans to bring 1,200 Pakistani nurses to Kuwait’s healthcare sector, which faces rising demand. An initial group of 125 nurses was slated to arrive last week but faced delays due to housing challenges.

“Special teams are actively resolving the issue, and we expect the nurses to arrive in the coming days,” Dr Iqbal said.

Starting this May, Pakistani citizens after a gap of 19 years have begun receiving approvals for various visas, including work, family visit, dependent, tourist, and commercial categories, restoring a vital channel for travel and employment between the two countries.

Dr Iqbal also revealed that Pakistan and Kuwait are in the final stages of signing a new labour memorandum of understanding (MoU), designed to streamline worker mobility and cooperation. “Some provisions are already being implemented ahead of the formal signing,” he noted.

According to Gulf News, the ambassador commended the deep historical and fraternal ties linking Pakistan and Kuwait. ““The bond between Pakistan and Kuwait predates both nations’ modern statehoods,” he said. “From early economic migration to the role of Pakistani engineers and workers in shaping Kuwait’s infrastructure in the 1960s and 70s, our shared legacy runs deep.”

With over 93,000 Pakistanis residing in Kuwait, the community plays a vital role in healthcare, education, and other sectors. “Our citizens are exemplary and respected contributors,” Dr Iqbal said.

Highlighting economic collaboration, he pointed to Pakistan’s vast potential in food security, agriculture, housing, and infrastructure, sectors aligned with Kuwait’s Vision 2035 development goals. Kuwaiti investors are already among the largest Gulf investors in Pakistan, holding significant assets including hotels, reflecting strong confidence in the Pakistani market.

Dr Iqbal recalled Pakistan’s military support to Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion, praising the enduring defence ties forged through shared sacrifice and cooperation. He underscored frequent high-level communications between the two nations, with multiple engagements between Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Kuwait’s leadership in the past six months.

“Kuwait plays a key role in regional peace-building and international diplomacy,” the ambassador said, noting close cooperation at the United Nations. Kuwait’s support was instrumental in Pakistan’s recent successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, where it secured overwhelming global backing.

Reporter Awais Kiyani