Kuwait has officially lifted its 19-year visa ban on Pakistani citizens, according to Mustafa Malik, the focal person for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.
In a statement on Monday, Malik confirmed that the Kuwaiti government has resumed issuing various visa categories for Pakistanis—including work, family, visit, tourist, and commercial visas. He noted that this move will create significant opportunities for employment, business, and tourism. “All these visas can now be applied for through the online platform,” Malik said, adding that global markets are increasingly opening up to skilled Pakistani workers.
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He also mentioned that Italy will soon allocate an annual job quota for Pakistanis, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. “Arab nations are also expressing interest in hiring skilled professionals from Pakistan,” he added.
Separately, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Zaffar Iqbal, announced that 1,200 Pakistani nurses are set to be deployed to Kuwait to strengthen its healthcare workforce. While an initial group of 125 nurses was expected to arrive last week, their arrival was delayed due to housing-related challenges. He assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue, and the nurses are now anticipated to arrive in the coming days.
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Dr. Iqbal also confirmed the resumption of visa issuance, stating, “I’m pleased to announce that starting this May, Kuwaiti authorities have begun issuing a full range of visas to Pakistani nationals, including work, family visit, dependent, tourist, and commercial visas.”