VFS Global cut the ribbon on a fully-refurbished visa application centre for the Czech Republic (and Germany) in Kuwait City on Sunday, 25 January 2026. Located on the 25th floor of Arraya Tower, the hub now boasts a greater number of biometric-enrolment counters, a redesigned customer area and upgraded security systems. Czech ambassador Juraj Chmiel told local media that the centre “reflects our commitment to efficient, transparent and user-friendly services,” adding that easier access to Schengen travel should stimulate two-way investment, medical-tourism flows and university exchanges between Prague and the Gulf.
The new facility replaces a smaller site opened in 2018 and more than doubles daily processing capacity. GCC residents bound for the Czech Republic will submit fingerprints and documents at the centre before their files are couriered to the embassy for a decision. Standard Schengen short-stay visas remain the most popular product, but demand for long-stay employee cards and student permits has grown by almost 30 % year-on-year, according to VFS regional head Monaz Bilimoria. Same-day Prime Time appointments, an optional premium lounge and doorstep pick-up for biometrics are now on offer, services the outsourcing firm says can shave “at least 24–48 hours” off a typical application cycle.
For applicants who want to minimise paperwork headaches before even setting foot in the new centre, VisaHQ can help. Its dedicated Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) pre-screens forms, provides real-time document checklists and pushes status alerts, allowing both corporate mobility teams and individual travellers to arrive at VFS with complete, error-free files and avoid unnecessary repeat visits.
![VFS Global launches upgraded Czech visa centre in Kuwait to meet surging Gulf demand]()
For Czech employers recruiting in the energy and healthcare sectors of Kuwait and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the expansion could be a game-changer. Until now, staff often endured week-long waits for an appointment slot; HR managers had to build those delays into mobilisation timelines. A larger facility should shorten lead-times, reduce project-start bottlenecks and lower the risk of costly rescheduling of assignees’ flights and temporary accommodation.
The opening also dovetails with Prague’s broader Middle East outreach. Tourism board CzechTourism has budgeted a 15 % increase in marketing spend across the GCC for 2026, while Kuwait Airways is evaluating a third weekly rotation on its Kuwait–Prague seasonal route. Mobility advisers note that streamlined visa logistics will be essential if those traffic projections materialise.
Practical tip: corporate travellers should continue to book appointments online via the VFS Global portal and arrive with completed forms; walk-ins are not accepted. Applications are typically adjudicated in 15 calendar days, but high season can extend that to 30 days, so assignment managers are advised to factor the new, faster front-end process into—but not replace—overall lead-time planning.
The new facility replaces a smaller site opened in 2018 and more than doubles daily processing capacity. GCC residents bound for the Czech Republic will submit fingerprints and documents at the centre before their files are couriered to the embassy for a decision. Standard Schengen short-stay visas remain the most popular product, but demand for long-stay employee cards and student permits has grown by almost 30 % year-on-year, according to VFS regional head Monaz Bilimoria. Same-day Prime Time appointments, an optional premium lounge and doorstep pick-up for biometrics are now on offer, services the outsourcing firm says can shave “at least 24–48 hours” off a typical application cycle.
For applicants who want to minimise paperwork headaches before even setting foot in the new centre, VisaHQ can help. Its dedicated Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) pre-screens forms, provides real-time document checklists and pushes status alerts, allowing both corporate mobility teams and individual travellers to arrive at VFS with complete, error-free files and avoid unnecessary repeat visits.
For Czech employers recruiting in the energy and healthcare sectors of Kuwait and neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the expansion could be a game-changer. Until now, staff often endured week-long waits for an appointment slot; HR managers had to build those delays into mobilisation timelines. A larger facility should shorten lead-times, reduce project-start bottlenecks and lower the risk of costly rescheduling of assignees’ flights and temporary accommodation.
The opening also dovetails with Prague’s broader Middle East outreach. Tourism board CzechTourism has budgeted a 15 % increase in marketing spend across the GCC for 2026, while Kuwait Airways is evaluating a third weekly rotation on its Kuwait–Prague seasonal route. Mobility advisers note that streamlined visa logistics will be essential if those traffic projections materialise.
Practical tip: corporate travellers should continue to book appointments online via the VFS Global portal and arrive with completed forms; walk-ins are not accepted. Applications are typically adjudicated in 15 calendar days, but high season can extend that to 30 days, so assignment managers are advised to factor the new, faster front-end process into—but not replace—overall lead-time planning.
