In a significant move aimed at strengthening ties and simplifying travel procedures, the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Adarsh Swaika, has officially announced the launch of the India e-visa service for Kuwaiti citizens, starting Monday. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Sunday, where Swaika described the development as “a qualitative shift in facilitating travel procedures and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.”

The newly launched Indian e-visa service includes five main visa categories:

• Tourism
• Business
• Medical
• Conference
• AYUSH (alternative medicine, such as yoga and Ayurveda)

Swaika highlighted that Kuwaitis can now apply entirely online—eliminating the need to visit Indian visa centers. Applicants can submit forms, upload documents, and pay electronically. Biometric data will be collected upon arrival at any Indian airport.

The tourist visa is valid for up to five years and costs only $80, while other visa types range from $40 to $80. Processing time is typically three to four days, though minor delays may occur during initial rollout.

The e-visa launch is in response to longstanding requests from Kuwaiti nationals and reflects the deep historic and friendly ties between India and Kuwait. The move aims to:

• Promote tourism and cultural exchange
• Boost trade and business relations
• Encourage Kuwaiti investments in India
• Expand Indian company presence in Kuwait

Last year, 8,000 to 9,000 Kuwaitis visited India on tourist visas, a number expected to rise with simplified procedures.

Under a bilateral civil aviation agreement, 12,000 weekly seats are allocated to each country. Flights operate between nine direct destinations through:

• Kuwait Airways
• Jazeera Airways
• IndiGo
• Air India Express
• Akasa Air

Student visas remain outside the scope of the e-visa service and must be processed through traditional visa centers.

Ambassador Swaika hopes that this step will increase travel for tourism, business, and medical reasons, contributing to enhanced people-to-people connections between the two countries.