Regional security concerns reached consular level on 3 March 2026 when VFS Global announced the immediate closure of all its Kuwait visa-application centres for the Schengen area. The external service provider said the suspension came “at the request of concerned embassies”. A few hours later the Embassy of France in Kuwait City posted on X that its chancery building was closed to the public “until further notice” and urged French nationals to avoid non-essential travel. While the decision primarily affects Kuwaiti residents planning trips to Europe, it also disrupts global-mobility programmes of French and multinational firms that use Kuwait as a rotation hub for oil-and-gas personnel. Recruitment agencies estimate that up to 1,500 Schengen visa files for business travellers were in the pipeline at the time of suspension—nearly a fifth of France’s normal monthly intake in Kuwait. Corporate mobility managers should expect delays of at least two weeks once processing resumes, given the backlog and the need for fresh security vetting. Alternative routing via the French consulate in Dubai is not an option as UAE visa centres are also closed. Companies with urgent travel needs must now consider applying in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, where French consular services remain open, but should allow extra lead-time for inter-post file transfers. The incident underlines the importance of maintaining multiple "visa-ready" passports for frequent travellers and negotiating flexible mobilisation clauses in project contracts. Employers should revisit their crisis-management plans to include consular-access scenarios and ensure travellers register on the MEAE’s Ariane system before departure.
Source: Arab Times (Kuwait)
