Kuwait has officially begun granting tourist visas on arrival to residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, a move announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.

The policy, published on Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Alyoum, allows foreign nationals residing in a GCC country to enter Kuwait on a tourist visa issued directly at the port of entry, provided they hold a valid residency permit for at least six months.

The regulation took immediate effect and replaced a 2008 law governing the entry of foreign residents from other GCC nations for tourism purposes.

According to the Interior Ministry, the change is aimed at simplifying travel for the region’s substantial expatriate population while bringing Kuwait’s entry requirements in line with broader regional practices.

Local media reports say the measure aims to streamline entry procedures and encourage greater regional travel, reflecting a broader trend among Gulf states to ease movement for expatriate residents.