Location: Kuwait International Airport, and all Kuwaiti land and sea borders
Event: The Government of Kuwait has announced changes to the quarantine requirements for passengers arriving in Kuwait.
Continuing requirements:
All arriving passengers must still follow prior guidance regarding pre-arrival testing. Arriving passengers need to obtain and travel with a negative PCR test result, in English, administered by a health clinic within 72 hours of beginning their travel to Kuwait. No translation into Arabic language is required. Children under the age of six (6) do not require a PCR test prior to arrival.
All arriving passengers must still download the Shlonik application prior to beginning their travel to Kuwait and register on the Kuwait Traveler Platform (Kuwait Mosafer).
All arriving passengers will still receive a PCR test administered by Kuwait health officials upon arrival. Children under the age of six (6) are exempt from this PCR test.
New requirements:
Starting Sunday, February 21, all passengers arriving from countries not on the below restricted country list, including the United States, will undergo seven (7) days of institutional quarantine upon arrival at a hotel in Kuwait, at their own expense. A second PCR test, also at the traveler’s expense, will be performed on the sixth day of quarantine. If negative, the remaining seven (7) days of quarantine may be completed at home. Hotel booking and registration is done in advance of travel through Kuwait Mosafer (or the Belsalamah app for domestic employees who have registered).
Please note: The Embassy is aware of press reports that the Ministry of Health has recommended that additional countries, including the United States, be added to the below list of countries requiring fourteen (14) days of institutional quarantine. There has been no official announcement from the Kuwaiti government on this decision. If there are any changes to the restricted country list, we will update the Embassy’s COVID-19 information page.
Starting Sunday, February 21, all passengers arriving from the following countries will undergo fourteen (14) days of institutional quarantine, at their own expense. A second PCR test, also at the traveler’s expense, will be performed on the seventh day of quarantine. Hotel booking and registration is done in advance of travel through Kuwait Mosafer (or the Belsalamah app for domestic employees who have registered). Applicable countries: 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, the United Kingdom, and Yemen.
Kuwaiti patients seeking treatment abroad, Kuwaiti students studying abroad, minors under 18 and unaccompanied travelers, medical staff, and members of diplomatic corps are excluded from the institutional quarantine requirement and are instead subject to a 14-day home quarantine.
Actions to Take:
- Stay abreast of local news and information concerning travel restrictions.
- Check with your airlines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up-to-date information.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
- U.S. citizens should continue to check the Embassy website and follow our social media platforms for announcements.
- If you have not done so already, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and messages from the Embassy.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Kuwait
P.O. Box 77
Safat 13001
Kuwait
Telephone: (+965) 2259-1001
Emergency Telephone: (+965) 2259-1001
Fax: (+965) 2538-0282
KuwaitACS@state.gov