UK ETA for Kuwaiti Citizens

A UK electronic travel authorization (ETA) for Kuwaiti citizens is a digital travel document that is required to enter the UK for short stays. The ETA for the UK application was first launched for Qatari nationals on October 25, 2023, for travel to the UK from November 15, 2023. It was subsequently opened to the nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on February 1, 2024, for travel from February 22. However, Jordanian nationals were removed from the eligible list of nationalities in September 2024. 

The ETA was then rolled out for all non-European nationals who previously traveled to the UK without a visa in November 2024. Now in its final phase, the ETA for the UK application was opened for European citizens in March 2025 for travel from April 2. 

The UK ETA system was introduced to improve the pre-screening process and prevent individuals who pose a threat to public security from entering the UK. It has also simplified the entry process for nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). GCC citizens, including Kuwaiti nationals, previously had to apply for a UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) to visit the UK. The UK ETA is more cost-effective, requires fewer documents, and has a shorter processing time than the UK EVW. 

The UK ETA is similar to other ETA systems in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States of America. ETAs are usually required for short-term visits for tourism or business purposes, and the applications can be easily and quickly completed online at a minimal fee. 

These are the specific purposes for which you can obtain a UK ETA: 

• Traveling to the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting friends and family, business, or short-term study. 
• Coming to the UK on the Creative Worker Visa concession for up to three months
• You will require a valid Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship
• You can work in the creative industry as an actor, dancer, singer, videographer, etc.
• Coming to the UK for a permitted paid engagement for up to six months.
• Transiting through a UK airport (only if you pass through border control).

There are several differences between an ETA and a visa. Note that there isn’t a UK electronic visa or a UK ETA visa. A UK visa application may be done online partially, but applicants often have to go to the embassy or application center in person to submit extensive documentation. It typically includes proof of financial ability, evidence of strong ties to one’s home country, and financial and residential information of the sponsor. 

The UK tourist visa (officially known as the UK Standard Visitor Visa) is also more costly than an ETA, and the processing time is significantly longer, typically spanning several weeks. The UK tourist visa from Kuwait would be valid for short-term stays like an ETA, but there are other visa categories that permit work, study, marriage, and long-term residence in the UK. An ETA would not be valid for these purposes. The UK ETA is not a visa.

The UK ETA has mostly been introduced to nationals of countries that previously didn’t require a visa. Kuwaiti citizens who want to travel to the UK for tourism can apply for a UK ETA from Kuwait. The application process for an ETA to the UK is simple, quick, cost-effective, and can be completed online.

Check that you are eligible for the UK ETA by reading the following suitability criteria: 

• You are traveling to the UK for permitted purposes. 

• • You should only intend to stay in the UK for no more than six months for the permitted purposes outlined previously. 
  • You should not aim to gain permanent employment or live in the UK. 

• You do not have a criminal record. 

• • If you have been convicted of a criminal offense and received a sentence of 12 months or more, you will not be eligible for an ETA. Your ETA will also be refused if it has not been 12 months since the date of your conviction. 
  • Convictions in the UK and any other country will be considered relevant. 

• You do not have a deportation or exclusion order. 

• • If you are subject to an exclusion or deportation order, you will not be eligible for an ETA. 

• You have not breached immigration laws previously. 

• • If you overstayed in a country or were deceitful in your immigration application, you will be deemed ineligible for an ETA.  

• You have not been refused a UK visa previously. 

• • If your UK visa has been refused in the past, you may not be eligible for an ETA. You will need to apply for a visa instead.

All Kuwaiti citizens require an ETA to travel to the UK, except those who already have a UK visa. For example, if you already have a UK visa to work, study, or live in the UK, you do not need an ETA to travel to the UK. 

You are also exempt from obtaining a UK ETA if you have legal residence in Ireland and are traveling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man. 

You will also not require a UK ETA from Kuwait if you are transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control.

Explore the following tips to succeed in your ETA application: 

• Check your passport number.
  Entering an incorrect passport number is a common mistake that many individuals make. This can cause rejection and delays to your travel plans, so double-check that you have entered the correct passport number in the application. 

• Check your passport validity.
  Ensure that your passport has not expired or has less than six months of validity from the intended date of departure to the UK. Renew your passport before applying for the ETA if it is expiring soon. 

• Apply well in advance.
  Even though the ETA has a short processing time, it is advisable to apply well ahead of your intended travel to avoid any delays.

After you get your ETA, you will need to present it to the airline staff before you depart for the UK. You may be refused boarding if you do not have a valid ETA. 

When you arrive in the UK, immigration officers may ask you a couple of questions. They may ask you questions regarding the purpose of your visit, your financial ability to stay in the UK, your travel itinerary, and your accommodation. They may also ask you to present details of your return ticket. Ensure that you have the necessary documents to supplement your answers and ensure smooth entry into the UK. 

There are eGates that facilitate automated clearance, but these are currently only available for British citizens and nationals of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the USA. It is also available for members of the Registered Traveller Service. 

It is important to know that a UK ETA does not permit you to work, undertake long-term study, get married, or reside in the UK. If you wish to do any of these, you will need a relevant UK visa instead. You are free to travel anywhere within the United Kingdom with an ETA, including Northern Ireland.