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Kuwait

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
2,417
Top destination, 2023
Türkiye
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
9,415
UK visas issued, 2025
5,728
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
6.6%
NationalityKWISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<KWKUWAIT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KW6<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Kuwait need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Kuwait move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Türkiye1,277
  2. Germany424
  3. Australia317
  4. United States110
  5. France64
  6. Japan52
  7. Canada40
  8. New Zealand39
  9. South Korea23
  10. Hungary15
  11. Austria15
  12. Netherlands14
  13. Italy10
  14. Switzerland8
  15. Mexico2

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,9853,971200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,9853,9712000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,371
20013,055
20022,153
2003971
20041,344
20051,527
20061,680
20071,429
2008616
2009570
2010600
2011495
20121,761
20131,953
20143,971
20153,477
20163,484
20171,847
20182,358
20193,166
20201,611
20213,735
20222,509
20232,417
Share going to the top destination
52.8%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Kuwait who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United Arab Emirates63,192
  2. Palestine19,583
  3. Canada18,999
  4. Türkiye15,838
  5. Libya12,185
  6. Australia8,304
  7. India7,034
  8. Qatar6,941
  9. Bahrain6,371
  10. Sri Lanka1,772
  11. Denmark1,516
  12. Algeria1,215

Living abroad by year

84k168k19901995200020052010201520202024
84k168k19902000201020202024
Data table
199064,245
199570,228
200079,931
200587,761
2010117,370
2015134,398
2020149,927
2024167,850
Living abroad, 2024
167,850
Change since 2000
+110.0%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
37.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Kuwait by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B27,949
  2. F1625
  3. A2462
  4. F2105
  5. G277
  6. C1/D54
  7. J142
  8. H1B23
  9. A121
  10. G414

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

10k21k201720182019202020212022202320242025
10k21k20172019202120232025
Data table
201713,163
201820,650
201920,220
20207,259
20218,255
202218,619
202318,733
202414,639
20259,415
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR5131
  2. F497
  3. IR184
  4. F383
  5. E339
  6. IR229
  7. F116
  8. E214
Immigrant visas, FY2025
551
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
3
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Kuwait who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Kuwait with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

6001,2002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
6001,200201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,060
20161,190
20171,180
20181,090
20191,200
2020770
2021920
20221,120
20231,170
20241,030
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens490
  2. Employment-based preferences200
  3. Family-sponsored preferences150
  4. Refugees and asylees110
  5. Diversity visa lottery70
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)70
  2. Intracompany transferees (L-1)10
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)10
  4. Spouses and children10
  5. Other temporary workers10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Kuwait)
1,030
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Kuwait)
870
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
35,210
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Kuwait (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Kuwait (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study5,292
  2. Visitor260
  3. Other77
  4. Work56
  5. Family43

Visas issued by year

46k91k201020122014201620182020202220242025
46k91k201020132016201920222025
Data table
201048,194
201159,888
201263,780
201389,649
201491,167
201591,408
201627,752
201712,478
201811,018
20199,487
20204,912
20217,903
20227,732
20237,896
20246,383
20255,728
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
7,275
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Kuwait, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202502301001515
20240195135105
20230275285255
20220235270250
20210175240205
202001408500
20190125165150
201807514550
201709516055
2016080150250
201507012000
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Kuwait, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

362005–062010–112012–132014–152016–172019–202021–222023–242025–26
362005–062011–122014–152018–192021–222024–252025–26
Data table
2005–061
2007–081
2010–112
2011–121
2012–131
2013–141
2014–152
2015–163
2016–171
2018–196
2019–202
2020–213
2021–224
2022–232
2023–244
2024–255
2025–263
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Specialist Skills3
Granted, 2025–26
3
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Kuwait living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

23452012201420162018202220242025
23452012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201225
201333
201431
201522
201626
201737
201845
201944
202232
202333
202438
202540
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student12
  2. Spouse or Child of Japanese National11
  3. Dependent10
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3
  5. Intra-company Transferee2
  6. Business Manager1
  7. Long-Term Resident1
Residents, December 2025
40
In work-related statuses
6
Share in work-related statuses
15.0%
Students
12
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Kuwait

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Kuwait, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France35,02333,6741,0252.9%
Spain33,22829,9092,6628.0%
Germany30,04526,5733,39211.3%
Italy28,97728,0029743.4%
Netherlands13,13611,8879056.9%
Austria7,5877,1284345.7%
Czechia7,4046,7226829.2%
Greece5,4585,0413616.6%
Belgium2,7182,35034112.5%
Poland2,5812,4591164.5%
Bulgaria1,5681,368925.9%
Hungary1,4771,21626117.7%
Croatia1,028952565.4%
Romania29028410.3%
Malta23422573.0%

Applications by year

97k194k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
97k194k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200976,408
201081,263
201195,336
2012114,152
2013142,321
2014164,753
2015193,540
2016172,387
2017166,498
2018174,765
2019163,313
202017,926
202153,632
2022147,694
2023179,444
2024170,754
Refusal rate, 2024
6.6%
Refusal rate, 2019
5.9%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Kuwait in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education462
  2. Other reasons157
  3. Family56
  4. Work31
First permits by country
  1. France155
  2. Ireland134
  3. Spain111
  4. Malta77
  5. Poland66
  6. Germany42
  7. Italy28
  8. Hungary27
  9. Netherlands18
  10. Portugal11
  11. Cyprus9
  12. Greece9
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)15
  2. Other paid activities16
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
2
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
46
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,473
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
270
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
2,807
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
60
Changed status into work, 2025
3
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Kuwait in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025110000
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria2025212-10
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Kuwait

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Kuwait, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Afghanistan1——
Albania1——
Algeria1——
Argentina1——
Australia1——
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Bahrain1——
Bangladesh1——
Belgium1——
Bosnia and Herzegovina1——
Brazil1——
Bulgaria1——
Burkina Faso1——
Canada1——
China1——
Croatia1——
Cyprus1——
Czechia1——
Egypt1——
Eswatini1——
France1——
Germany1——
Ghana1——
Greece1——
Guinea1——
Hungary1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Malawi1——
Malaysia1——
Malta1——
Mauritania1——
Mexico1——
Morocco1——
Nepal1——
Netherlands1——
Palestine1——
Peru1——
Poland1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Serbia1——
Slovakia1——
South Africa1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Switzerland1——
Syria1——
Tunisia1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
57
Missions
57
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Kuwait, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

404807201020132016201920222025
404807201020132016201920222025
Data table
20105
20116
20123
20134
20144
201534
20164
201723
201828
201926
202023
2021807
202222
202321
202420
202524
Remittances received, 2025
US$24 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.02%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Kuwait

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Kuwait → France
  • Kuwait → Spain
  • Kuwait → Germany
  • Kuwait → Italy
  • Kuwait → Netherlands
  • Kuwait → United States
  • Kuwait → Austria
  • Kuwait → Czechia
  • Kuwait → Türkiye
  • Kuwait → Greece
  • Kuwait → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more