Kuwait – Covid-19 – Immigration update

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Update: June 29th, 2020

Lockdown, travel restrictions updated

What is the change?

The government has issued new guidelines for travel abroad, and has updated the lockdown regulations for some areas of the country, as it works toward entering phase 2 of the five-phase reopening plan.

Key Points:

  • Curfew time is now from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • As of June 21, complete isolation has been lifted in some areas including Hawally, Al Nuqrah, Maidan Hawalli and some blocks of Khaitan.
  • The following individuals are now permitted to travel abroad:
    • Those seeking treatment for a critical health condition.
    • Students studying abroad who must travel to enter university or take an exam.
    • Citizens whose husband or wife lives abroad.
    • Citizens who reside abroad.
    • Those with permission from the Ministry of Interior to travel for other reasons.
    • In all the above cases the period of travel must not be for less than 30 days.
  • Those wishing to travel for any of the above reasons must submit a request to the Ministry of Interior at least 10 days before departure. Requests must include travel documents and the entry visa for the destination country.
  • They must also sign a pledge undertaking that they will be responsible for all COVID-19 and travel-related expenses including medical treatment and quarantine.
  • Airlines must ensure all passengers traveling to Kuwait have a negative PCR test not more than four days old at the time of departure. The PCR test result must be in Arabic, and passengers must submit it to the health authorities after arriving in Kuwait.

Kuwait implemented a five-phase plan to reopen the country, which originally included a curfew from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travel to Kuwait continues to be restricted to Kuwaiti citizens, their immediate family members and domestic workers accompanying them. Government entities closed temporarily in April, and new work permit applications continue to be suspended.

Update: April 24th, 2020

Government institutions to close temporarily

What is the change?

Kuwait recently announced government closures and other measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Key points

  • From April 26 to May 28, all Ministries, government entities/organizations and public institutions will be closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Official work days will start again on May 31.
  • New curfew hours will be implemented from the beginning of Ramadan. They will be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Those who violate the curfew or home quarantine measures will have their names published in media such as daily newspapers and social media.      
  • Kuwait International Airport remains closed and foreign nationals are banned from entering Kuwait via the airport. Entry is limited to Kuwaiti citizens, their immediate family members and domestic workers who are travelling with them. All other travelers are not allowed entry into the country until further notice.
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Sophie Carlei

Sophie est Managing Director au sein de l’équipe Mobilité Internationale de Lyon et dirige l’équipe immigration. Elle conseille les groupes français et internationaux et intervient tant pour des clients travaillant dans […]

Fatia Bouteiller

Fatia Bouteiller a rejoint Deloitte Société d’Avocats en 2017 pour renforcer l’équipe Immigration. Fatia dispose d’une expérience de 15 ans en mobilité internationale dans les domaines du droit de l’immigration, […]