COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Kuwait (03 December Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes with exceptions.

• Foreign citizens are allowed to enter. However, any travellers who were present in a country that Kuwait considers high risk for COVID-19 in the past 14 days prior to the date of their scheduled flight to Kuwait are not allowed to enter. The list of high-risk countries can be found on Twitter here: @Kuwait_dgca. This list is regularly updated. At this time, the following countries are on the high-risk list: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China and Hong Kong, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, North Macedonia, Panama, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Spain, Syria, and Yemen.

• Non-Kuwaiti passengers who have a first-degree Kuwaiti national relative (father, mother, husband, wife, children) are allowed to enter if they can prove their relationship.

• Household employees/domestic workers accompanying their sponsor with a valid residency are allowed to enter.

• Foreigners with valid visas and residencies may also enter Kuwait.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Non-Kuwaitis who, in the past 14 days, stayed in the countries designated as high-risk are not allowed to transit through Kuwait. At this time, these countries are Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China and Hong Kong, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nepal, North Macedonia, Panama, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Spain, Syria, and Yemen.

• Passengers in transit through Kuwait do not require a negative PCR test certificate.

Is a test required on arrival?

• Yes

• All travellers are subject to health screening on arrival.

• A random PCR test will be carried out on ten percent of passengers on each flight.

• After the resumption of foreign domestic worker flights from 7 December 2020, the passengers will undergo multiple PCR tests during their tenure of 14 days quarantine period. The protocol is yet to set and is subject to change.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued in other countries are allowed. The test result must be in English.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• All arriving passengers, except children under the age of six, must have a negative PCR test certificate obtained within 96 hours of boarding a flight for Kuwait.

• Travellers departing from Kuwait with a negative PCR test result issued before departure and returning back after spending a maximum of four days abroad do not require a PCR test certificate upon re-entering Kuwait.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• All passengers arriving by any commercial mode must enter a 14-day home quarantine.

• After the gradual returning of domestic foreign workers which will be in effect from 7 December, the travellers will undergo mandatory state quarantine for 14 days.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• An “Ok To Travel” letter issued by the Kuwait embassy is required for boarding flights to Kuwait.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• Arriving travellers must install an app named “SHLONIK” on their mobile phones before arrival.

• For iOS, click here and for android, click here.

• Passengers departing Kuwait must register with the Kuwait Mosafer application before departing.

Airline restrictions

• Significant

• Kuwait International Airport partially reopened. Flights from 34 countries remain suspended at this time including India, Iran, China, Hong Kong, Brazil, Columbia, Armenia, Bangladesh, Syria, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy, North Macedonia, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Montenegro, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Philippines, Argentina, France, Yemen, and Nepal.

• Kuwait has scheduled three phases of the reopening of flight services.

• During the ongoing first phase (1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021), only 30 per cent of the total capacity is allowed on flights.

• During the second phase (1 February 2021 to 31 July 2021), 60 per cent of the total capacity will be allowed.

• The third and final stage will begin from 1 August 2021 and will allow full capacity of passengers.

• All passengers, including minors, are required to wear a mask and gloves upon arrival at the airport and must arrive at least four hours in advance of their scheduled flight.

• Flights to Kuwait for returning foreign domestic workers will begin on 7 December 2020.

• Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways will provide the services for bringing back the workers which will begin with India and Philippines initially.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• Travellers intending to visit Kuwait without a valid visa must obtain visas or other approval in advance from a Kuwaiti embassy or consulate.

• To remain in Kuwait, the legal status of the individuals, whose residencies have expired on or before January 2020, must be updated at Residency Affairs until 31 December 2020.

• Failure of this procedure may lead to ban in entry to Kuwait in future.

• On arrival, travellers may be asked to show proof of return or onward travel, a sponsor’s letter, and hotel confirmation.

• Visa on arrival and E-Visa services are currently not available.

• Kuwaiti residents can remain abroad for one year as the Kuwait government has extended the validity of the visas for one year.

• Residents of Kuwait, who left Kuwait before 1 September 2019 are not allowed to enter.

• The land border with Iraq is closed.

• The land border with Saudi Arabia has reopened.

• Travellers with an Israeli stamp on their passport may be denied entry into Kuwait.

• UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are allowed for transit through and exit from Kuwait and are not allowed for entry purposes. On issuing ETDs, the Kuwait residency permit will get cancelled.

• For nationals of GCC countries, a civil ID card is not accepted for entering Kuwait; however, citizens of Kuwait with a Civil ID card which was used while departing from Kuwait will be accepted on re-entering Kuwait.

• From 1 January 2021, a work permit will not be issued to any foreigner over 60 years of age who does not hold a university degree.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• No nationwide curfew or lockdown is in effect.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Social gatherings are prohibited.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• Masks must be worn.

• There are no restrictions in place for intercity or interstate travel.

• Public bus transport services have resumed, subject to physical distancing requirements.

• Taxi services have resumed with only one passenger allowed per vehicle.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Food retail and grocery stores are open.

• Retail stores, shopping malls, general services, delivery services, company transport vehicles, automobile repair shops, construction sectors, tailors, are open.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels, apartment hotels, and resorts have reopened.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open for both take-away and dine-in services.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Cafes are open with social distancing measures.

• Shisha cafes will remain closed until further notice.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are open for visitors with safety protocols.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Barbershops and beauty salons are open.

Places of worship open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Mosques are open with safety protocols. Friday prayers are also allowed. Individuals who are still in quarantine and children below 15 will not be allowed into the premises, while those with compromised immune systems, chronic disease, or any illness symptoms are advised to stay at home.

Events allowed?

• No

• Receptions, weddings, public and private Diwaniyas are prohibited.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Every individual must wear a face mask in public places. Violators may be subject to a penalty.

Other

• Camping will remain prohibited until further notice.

• Private and government offices are allowed to open with some restrictions on the number of workers in the workplace.

• Banking services have resumed.

• Educational institutions are closed but are allowed to operate virtually through online learning.

• Electricity, oil, health, municipal services, and other essential sectors are open.

• Sports can resume without spectators.

• Sports clubs, gyms, health resorts are open.

Aconselhamento

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.