India launches e-visa for Kuwait from July 14: 5-year tourist visas available

Dubai: Beginning Monday, July 14, 2025, Kuwaiti citizens will be able to apply for Indian e-visas — a move hailed as a significant step in easing travel and strengthening bilateral ties.

“Kuwaiti citizens will now be able to apply for Indian visas entirely online,” announced Dr. Adarsh Swaika, India’s Ambassador to Kuwait, on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Swaika described the launch of the e-visa platform as a “qualitative shift” in the way the two nations engage.

“This has been a long-standing request from Kuwaiti citizens,” he noted, “and it reflects the enduring historic ties between our countries.”

The digital platform allows Kuwaitis to apply under five visa categories — tourism, business, medical, conference, and AYUSH (which covers alternative medicine, including yoga and Ayurveda) — without the need to visit a visa centre.

All steps, including application, documentation, and payment, can now be completed online.

Dr. Swaika said biometric data will be collected upon arrival at Indian airports. Most applications are expected to be processed within three to four days, although some minor technical issues may arise as the system is rolled out.

Among the system’s highlights: tourist visas will be valid for up to five years and will cost $80. Other visa types range from $40 to $80, depending on the purpose and duration of the visit.

The ambassador called the initiative a gesture of goodwill aligned with India’s broader effort to modernize consular services and deepen engagement with the Gulf region.

He highlighted the special significance of this launch in Kuwait, a country with which India shares deep diplomatic and cultural connections.