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Before you travel听

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:听

• 蝉别别听general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• 蝉别别听general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about听safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance听

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.听

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.听

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to鈥�get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥�

Follow FCDO:鈥�舛寞听

This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of Kuwait鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Kuwait set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Kuwaiti Embassy in the UK:听

Telephone: 020 7590 3400听

Passport validity requirements听

To enter Kuwait, your passport must have an 鈥榚xpiry date鈥� at least 6 months after the date you arrive.听

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.听听

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.听

Previous travel to Israel听

If your passport contains an Israeli stamp, you may be refused a visa or entry to Kuwait.听

Visa requirements听

You must have a visa to visit Kuwait.听

Applying for a visa听

You can get a visa on arrival in Kuwait or online. More information is available from the .

Checks at border control听听

You must be able to show:听

• a ticket for return or onward travel听
• proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking听听
• work visas (both public and private sector) require further documents from employer. See 听

Working or living in Kuwait听

For work or residency visas, apply to the Kuwaiti Embassy in London.听

If you鈥檙e applying for a residency visa, your passport must be valid for at least 2 years.听Your employers should not keep your passport.听

For further information, read about living in Kuwait.听

Vaccine requirements听听

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, .听听

Customs rules听

There are strict rules about . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Failure to declare could result in:听

• imprisonment听
• refusal of entry听and possible deportation

It is illegal to import:听听

• narcotics听听
• alcohol 听
• gambling machines听
• pork and pork products听
• pornographic material听听

Taking money into Kuwait听

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 3000 Kuwaiti dinars (拢7,500) or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave.听

Terrorism听听

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.鈥�鈥�鈥�听听听

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.听

Terrorism in Kuwait听

Terrorist attacks in Kuwait cannot be ruled out.

Terrorists have threatened to carry out attacks in the Gulf region, including on:听听

• residential compounds听
• restaurants and hotels听
• beaches听
• shopping centres听
• mosques听
• military, oil, transport and aviation interests听

Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.听

Examples of recent significant incidents include:听

• in 2020, 6 minors were arrested in Kuwait on suspicion of links with ISIS听
• in 2024, 3 individuals were arrested on suspicion of an alleged ISIS plot against a place of worship听
• Red Sea military activity听

Political situation听听

Recent developments in the Middle East have heightened tensions in the region. Planned and pre-approved peaceful protests are legal, however these are for Kuwaiti citizens only. 听

There have also been minor, isolated cases of vandalism aimed at some international companies, or calls for them to be boycotted.听听

Be mindful of local sensitivities on these issues, stay away from demonstrations or developing crowds and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Crime听

Violent crime against foreigners is rare. However, take care if you plan to travel to Jahra or Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, where there have been incidents of robberies, petty theft and road rage.听

Border crossings听听

It is illegal and dangerous to go near Kuwait鈥檚 borders without authorisation. Armed guards regularly patrol these areas.听听

Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border听

It is easy to miss the border posts between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. You must only use an authorised land border crossing and make sure to get an exit or entry stamp before you continue your journey.听

Kuwait-Iraq border听

If you plan to cross the border from Kuwait into Iraq, make sure you have the correct paperwork. See the website for more information.听

Landmines and unexploded weapons听

There are landmines and other unexploded weapons in Kuwait.听听

You should:听

• avoid off-road driving听
• stay on clearly marked identifiable tracks if you travel off-road听
• take great care even if an area has been officially cleared听
• not pick up metal, plastic or other objects听

Laws and cultural differences听听

Kuwait is a Muslim country. Always respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you visit religious areas.听听

Personal ID听

As a visiting foreign national, you must always carry your passport. If you are resident in Kuwait, you must always carry your Kuwaiti civil identification card.听听

Keep copies of your passport photo page and your visa or entry stamp in a separate place.听

Ramadan 听

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not:听听

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car听听
• play loud music or dance听听
• swear in public听听

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.听听

You should also:听听

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants听听
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens听听
• follow local dress codes 鈥� clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time听听
• be aware that driving may be erratic, particularly when people are trying to get home at dusk听听
• be patient and show tolerance听

Dress code听

Dress and behave modestly in public, particularly in downtown or conservative areas. Women should avoid wearing shorts or tight-fitting or revealing clothing.

Do not expose body piercings or tattoos that may be perceived as extreme or offensive 鈥� for example, you could be accused of violating religious sanctity for a tattoo of verse from the holy Quran in Arabic.

Relationships outside of marriage听

It is illegal for an unmarried couple to live together in the same house or stay in the same hotel room. You will 听be asked to provide a marriage certificate if sharing a hotel room. 听

Public behaviour听听

It鈥檚 illegal to insult or humiliate any person verbally or through obscene gestures in a public place, including a police officer, public official or private individual. Police may arrest you and conviction may lead to prosecution, imprisonment, or immediate deportation.听

It is frowned on for men and women to show affection in public.听

Alcohol laws听

Buying, selling or carrying alcohol and drunken behaviour in public is punishable by a fine or imprisonment and can result in deportation.听

Illegal drugs penalties听听

Penalties for drug trafficking include the death sentence. Possession or use of illegal drugs can lead to a prison sentence of between 5 and 10 years, and a heavy fine. Bail is not usually given and even if found not guilty, you can expect to spend several months in detention while the case progresses through the judicial system.听

Using cameras in secure areas听

It is illegal to photograph or take videos of:听

• government buildings听听
• military buildings听
• industrial buildings or oil-related infrastructure 听
• other restricted areas such as borders and oil fields听
• record people without their knowledge or consent听

Unpaid fines and bills听听

All foreign nationals must pay traffic fines, phone bills and utility bills before they leave Kuwait. The Kuwaiti authorities may:听听

• stop you from leaving the country听
• arrest you, or send you to prison听
• fine you听
• deport you, and not allow you to return to Kuwait听
• refuse renewal of your residency card or re-entry visa听听

Financial crimes听

Bouncing cheques is illegal and the law does not provide for offenders to be released from custody on bail. 听

Commercial disputes听

If you鈥檙e involved in a commercial dispute with a Kuwaiti company or individual, the Kuwaiti authorities may prevent you from leaving the country until it is resolved.听听

LGBT+ travellers听

Same-sex activity is illegal.听

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.听

Transport risks听听

Road travel听听

If you are planning to drive in Kuwait, see information on driving abroad. 听

If you have a visit visa, you can drive in Kuwait using a UK photocard driving licence. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.听听

There is also guidance on driving if you live in Kuwait.听

Car insurance听

You must get third-party insurance in Kuwait before you drive.听听

If you hire a car, you can usually get insurance through the hire company. If you drive a relative or friend鈥檚 car, you鈥檙e responsible for getting insurance. You must always keep the insurance document with you while driving.听

Car accidents听听

If you have a major accident, where there are serious injuries or a vehicle is not drivable: 听

• stay with your vehicle if it is safe to do so听
• call the police on 112听
• do not move the vehicle before the police arrive听

If you have a minor accident, where there are no serious injuries:听

• take pictures of vehicle damage if it is safe to do so听
• record licence plate numbers of vehicles involved听
• move your vehicle to avoid blocking traffic if it is drivable - you can get a fine if you do not do this听
• call the police on 112 and follow their instructions听

Drink-driving 听听

Drink-driving is a serious offence in Kuwait. If you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system, you may get a fine, imprisonment, or deportation and the withdrawal of your driving licence.听

Driving conditions听

Driving conditions are hazardous. Many drivers pay little attention to other road users and may:听听

• drive faster than speed limits听
• switch lanes without warning听
• ignore traffic lights听
• use mobile phones while driving听

Sea travel听

Many areas of the Gulf are highly sensitive, including near:听听

• maritime boundaries听
• Bubiyan and Warbah, northern Gulf islands听
• Abu Musa and the Tunbs, southern Gulf islands听

The area of the northern Gulf between Iran, Iraq and Kuwait has not been demarcated, and vessels entering this area have been detained and inspected. There have been occasional arrests. Make careful enquiries before entering these waters or visiting ports.听

Take extra care when sailing in Kuwaiti waters 鈥� regional tensions may affect your planned route. There may be an increased risk of attack on vessels in the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab El Mandeb regions.听

Take care when travelling by dhow, as the safety of these sailing vessels may not be up to UK standards. Make sure life jackets are available.听

Before you travel check that:听

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need听

• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation听听

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.听

Emergency medical number听

Call 112 and ask for an ambulance.听

Contact your insurance company quickly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.听

Vaccine recommendations and health risks听

At least 8 weeks before your trip:听听

• check the latest 听
• see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听听

Medication听

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.听

Read .听

Healthcare in Kuwait听

There is a state medical service with local clinics and several good hospitals. There are also private medical and dental facilities.听听

Private medical fees are high. The Kuwaiti government controls fees and has increased them for foreign residents and visitors. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.听听

If you work in Kuwait, check whether your employer provides appropriate private medical insurance which includes repatriation. If not, you鈥檙e strongly advised to take out personal medical insurance for yourself and any dependants.听

FCDO has a list of medical providers in Kuwait where some staff will speak English.听

There is also guidance on healthcare if you鈥檙e living in Kuwait.听听

Travel and mental health听

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .听

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.听

Emergency services in Kuwait听听

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)听

Contact your travel provider and insurer听

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.听

Refunds and changes to travel听

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.听

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:听

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider听
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim听

Support from FCDO听

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:听

• finding English-speaking鈥� 补苍诲鈥�鈥痠n Kuwait听听
• dealing with a鈥�death in Kuwait听听
• 产别颈苍驳鈥�arrested or imprisoned in Kuwait听
• getting help if you鈥檙e a鈥�victim of crime听听
• what to do if you鈥檙e鈥�in hospital听听
• if you鈥檙e affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack听

Contacting听FCDO听

Help abroad鈥�听

See听听including in an emergency.听

Help in the UK听听

You can call鈥�FCDO鈥痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.鈥�听

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)鈥�听

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates鈥�听

Sign up to鈥�get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥�听

Follow FCDO:听

Risk information for British companies听听

The鈥疧verseas Business Risk service鈥痮ffers information and advice for British companies operating in Kuwait on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.听