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How to apply for driving License in Kuwait?

05 December 2019

How to obtain a driving license in Kuwait?

To obtain a fresh Driving License: To obtain a driving license in Kuwait, you should first obtain a learner's license and pass the driving test.

What are the basic requirements to apply for a driving license?

Expatriates applying for driving license should meet the following terms:

  • Possess a university degree certificate (attested by the ministries)
  • Should draw a minimum salary of KD600 per month
  • Should possess a valid residence, having resided for at least two years in Kuwait, prior to applying for the license.

How to obtain a learner's license (for Kuwaitis)?

To obtain a learner’s private driving license, the applicant has to be a Kuwaiti national of at least 18 years of age.

driving license rules kuwait

Required documents:

  • Blood type certificate
  • Civil ID and a copy
  • Copy of passport
  • Two personal photos with blue background.

Steps to follow:

  • Visit the traffic department in the governorate and submit the said documents.
  • Fill in the service application form
  • Get the medical check-up done.
  • Pay the fees due

How to obtain a learner's license (for non-Kuwaitis)?

To obtain a learner’s private driving license, the applicant has to be at least 18 years of age.

Required documents:

  • Blood type certificate
  • Sponsor’s original civil ID and a copy
  • Written letter from the resident sponsor
  • Copy of the passport
  • Two personal photographs (4x6cm) with blue background.

Steps to follow:

1.  Visit the traffic department in the governorate and submit the said documents.
2.   Fill in the service application form
3.   Get the medical check-up done.
4.   Pay the fees due

How to obtain a learner's license (for GCC nationals)?

To obtain a learner’s private driving license, the applicant has to be a GCC national of at least 18 years of age.

Required documents:

  • Blood type certificate
  • Original civil ID and a copy
  • Copy of the passport
  • Two personal photographs (4x6cm) with blue background.

Steps to follow:

1.  Visit the traffic department in the governorate and submit the said documents.
2.   Fill in the service application form
3.   Get the medical check-up done.
4.   Pay the fees of KD10 due

How to obtain a private driving license?

To obtain a private driving license, the applicant should pass the theoretical and practical tests, and must have a valid private learner’s driving license.

Documents required (in general):

  • Application form duly filled in
  • Birth Certificate or Civil Id for age proof. Pls. Note that the applicant should be at least 17 years of age for motorbike license, 18 years for private license and 21 years for a public license.
  • Blood type and Medical check-up details
  • The Enlistment Permit (in case of Kuwaitis)
  • Certificate for having passed the driving test
  • Valid Residence Permit for residents.

Procedure for a private driving license:

  • Pass the theoretical and practical tests on the date scheduled by the driving test sections located in the governorates or by any Kuwait Motoring Company Schools.
  • Pay the fees due
  • On passing the test successfully, visit the General Traffic Department in your governorate and submit the results to obtain the driving license.

How to renew driving license in Kuwait?

Your driving license should be expired in order to be renewed.

Documents required:

  • Original civil ID and a copy
  • One Personal photo
  • Expired license

Procedures:

Visit the general traffic department concerned and submit the required documents
Fill up the service application form
Pay the requisite fee (1KD annual fee for private license, 5KD motorbike fee, public license fee is 20KD)
Note: Applicants for private driving license who are older than 70 years and who are older than 60 years should undergo medical check-up again.

Replacing Non-Kuwaiti driving licenses

If you wish to replace your non-Kuwaiti driving license with Kuwaiti license, the license should be valid in your home country. Foreign applicants are required to translate their license information into Arabic, get it attested at their embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the details therein.

Documents required:

  • The valid license including a copy
  • Translation of the non-Arabic foreign license into Arabic
  • Attestation of the non-Arabic license
  • Two personal photos (4x6cm) with blue background
  • Copy of the Civil ID
  • Blood type and a medical checkup
  • Work permit (in case of private sector) or a document from government department (in case of public sector)

Steps to follow:

Validity of the driving license

  • The license is valid for 15 years in case of Kuwaitis.
  • The license is valid for 10 years in case of residents.
  • For domestic workers, it is valid as per the residence period.
  • Motorbike driving licenses are valid for 5 years and are applicable to drive all types of motorbikes.
  • The private driving license is valid for driving upto 10 passengers, and is also valid to drive vehicles carrying up to two tonnes.
  • The public license has a validity of 3 years, but, is valid to drive all types of vehicles and trucks.

What has to be done in case of a damaged or lost driving license?

In case of a lost or damaged license, you should apply for a replacement within 10 days to the General Transport Department.

Documents required:

In case of damaged or lost license, submit the following along with replacement application:

  • Passport or Civil ID, include a photocopy.
  • Pay the requisite fee
  • Blood type certificate
  • Sponsor's approval signature for residences

 On confirming the validity of this, and on paying the fees, a replacement will be issued to you. In case the lost license is found, it should be delivered to the department.

E-driving license system

Recently the Ministry of Interior (MoI ) in Kuwait has adopted the e-driving license system and installed 100 traffic cameras and 20 digital direction boards, based on the state-of-the-art technology, so as to serve surveillance and follow-up on roads and intersections. This new system is likely to help users log in to the egate, open an account and pay traffic fines and renew driving license online by filling in an electronic form. Furthermore, the new system will include information in several languages too.

Driving without a license

Driving without a license is indeed an offence. The latest announcement by the Interior Ministry in July 2019 affirmed that there is no leniency in applying the administrative deportation order for any expatriate who drives a car without a license. Therefore, to maintain the safety of road users in Kuwait, any expatriate caught driving a vehicle without a license will be deported from the country.

Driving license rule for housewives

The latest announcement that came in March 2019 from the traffic department, said that the driving licenses will be issued only to housewives with children if they are on a dependent visa, and their husbands earn a salary of minimum KD600 and above, with designations such as Advisors, General Managers, Doctors, Pharamacist, and member of universities and institutions. The latest ministerial decision also says that engineers are not exempted profession, and hence, wives of engineers are not eligible for a license based on designation.

Office Locations & ContactPhone Numbers

From Kuwait: (+965) 1800164 - 164
Out Side Kuwait:(+965) 1800164
Fax:(+965) 22929789

Address:

The Central Agency for Information Technology
Audit Bureau Building - Next to Sharq Police Station
Ahmed Al Jabir Street
P.O Box 900 Safat - ZIPCODE 13009
State of Kuwait
Tel :(+965) 22426077 - 22423039
Fax :(+965) 22400222

Robin Vinod

Writer/blogger who writes on topics such as travel, real estate, employment and everyday life on GCC countries.

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