Like other COVID-19 affected nations, Kuwait has laid out entry and travel restrictions for passengers from other nationalities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Kuwait due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.
Kuwait Travel Restrictions COVID-19
- All passengers, except children under 6 years old, must carry an original negative COVID‑19 PCR test result certificate in English from any accredited laboratories. The certificate must not be older than 72 hours from the date the test was taken.
This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 6 years;
- passengers returning to Kuwait with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued before departure from Kuwait.
They must have been a maximum of 4 days abroad.
- Passengers who have taken a COVID‑19 PCR test in Kuwait and are eligible to return without restrictions can present the same COVID‑19 PCR test certificate provided they return within 72 hours of their test date.
- All passengers must register on the Kuwait Mosafer platform and pay for two COVID‑19 PCR tests prior to the departure of the flight with the exemption of non‑Kuwaiti Diplomats and diplomatic mission staff, their first‑degree relatives and accompanying domestic workers provided they present proof of their identity.
The first test will be conducted on arrival in Kuwait and the second on the 6th day of the institutional quarantine.
Kuwait Banned Countries List Today
All non‑Kuwaiti passengers are not allowed to enter Kuwait with the exception of:
- First‑degree relatives of Kuwaitis, provided they have proof of relationship and a valid entry/residence visa
- Domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti nationals, provided they have a valid residence visa and are accompanied by the sponsor
- Diplomats and staff of diplomatic missions and their first‑degree relatives, provided they have a valid residence permit or entry visa
- Employees of the Kuwait Ministry of Health and their first‑degree relatives (husband/wife/children), provided they have a valid residence permit or entry visa. First‑degree relatives must also provide proof of their relationship to MOH staff.
Only medical staff working for the Kuwait Ministry of Health are allowed to enter Kuwait along with their first‑degree relatives. Non‑medical staff working for the Kuwait Ministry of Health do not fall under this exemption category.
- Employees of the private medical sector in the State of Kuwait and their first‑degree relatives who are listed in the MOH approved list, provided they have a valid residence or entry visa
- Transit and transfer passengers are not allowed at Kuwait International Airport unless they have stayed outside of India within the last 14 days before their arrival in Kuwait.
- Kuwait has extended its entry ban on foreign nationals indefinitely.
The list of countries banned from entering Kuwait includes:
China, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen, the UK, Angola, Armenia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Cape Verde, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Ireland, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Panama, Portugal, Peru, Serbia, Seychelles, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Can I Travel To Kuwait Now
Entry to Kuwait is currently restricted and only specific categories of passengers are permitted to enter the country.
Kuwait Visa Ban Updates 2021
Kuwait authorities are not issuing visitor visas upon arrival at the airport. Visas are also not available electronically in advance. All entry visas must first be approved by Kuwait’s Corona Emergency Ministerial Committee. The visa on arrival facility is suspended until further notice.
List Of Countries Banned From Entering Kuwait
All non‑Kuwaiti passengers are not allowed to enter Kuwait with the exception of:
- First‑degree relatives of Kuwaitis, provided they have proof of relationship and a valid entry/residence visa
- Domestic workers sponsored by Kuwaiti nationals, provided they have a valid residence visa and are accompanied by the sponsor
- Diplomats and staff of diplomatic missions and their first‑degree relatives, provided they have a valid residence permit or entry visa
- Employees of the Kuwait Ministry of Health and their first‑degree relatives (husband/wife/children), provided they have a valid residence permit or entry visa. First‑degree relatives must also provide proof of their relationship to MOH staff.
Only medical staff working for the Kuwait Ministry of Health are allowed to enter Kuwait along with their first‑degree relatives. Non‑medical staff working for the Kuwait Ministry of Health do not fall under this exemption category.
- Employees of the private medical sector in the State of Kuwait and their first‑degree relatives who are listed in the MOH approved list, provided they have a valid residence or entry visa
- Transit and transfer passengers are not allowed at Kuwait International Airport unless they have stayed outside of India within the last 14 days before their arrival in Kuwait.
- Kuwait has extended its entry ban on foreign nationals indefinitely.
The list of countries banned from entering Kuwait includes:
China, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen, the UK, Angola, Armenia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Cape Verde, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eswatini, French Guiana, Guyana, Ireland, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Panama, Portugal, Peru, Serbia, Seychelles, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Quarantine Rules In Kuwait
- All passengers must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine, 7 days at a locally approved hotel (list can be found on the Kuwait Mosafer platform) at their own cost and the final 7 days at home. The 7‑day institutional quarantine must be booked before departure.
The following categories of passengers are exempt from institutional quarantine:
- Passengers who have received a vaccine which is accredited by the State of Kuwait: Pfizer, Oxford AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
- Those who received two doses of the vaccine and more than two weeks have passed since the second dose.
- Those who received one dose of the vaccine and more than five weeks have passed since the first dose.
- Those who have recovered from COVID 19 and more than two weeks have passed since they received one dose of the vaccine.
- Diplomats and diplomatic mission staff, their first‑degree relatives and accompanying domestic workers provided they present proof of their identity
- MOH employees, first‑degree family members and accompanying domestic workers provided they present proof of their identity
- Private medical sector employees, first‑degree family members and accompanying domestic workers provided they present proof of their identity
- Kuwaiti students abroad completing their university examinations provided they have a certificate issued by the Kuwait cultural office proving they are enrolled in a university abroad along with a certificate from the university confirming the date of examinations.
All Kuwaiti students and children of Kuwaiti women (married to other nationals) who are studying abroad will be exempted from institutional quarantine provided submission of a certificate issued from the Kuwait cultural office to prove that the student is enrolled from one of the abroad universities or provide proof of their continuity of enrolment in the universities, institutes, or schools abroad.
- Kuwaiti patients who were sent abroad for medical treatment and their companions provided they have a certificate issued by the Kuwait health office in the country of treatment
- Unaccompanied minors below 18 years old
Exemptions to institutional quarantine apply to the following passengers who have received vaccines accredited by the State of Kuwait (i.e. from designated hospitals in Kuwait only):
- Those who received two doses of the vaccine and more than two weeks have passed since the second dose.
- Those who received one dose of the vaccine and more than five weeks have passed since the first dose.
- Those who have recovered from COVID‑19 and more than two weeks have passed since they received one dose of the vaccine.
The above-mentioned categories will be home quarantined for 7 days and the COVID‑19 PCR test must be performed on the 7th day from the arrival date.
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