Passengers arriving from 35 previously banned countries can now enter Kuwait starting February 21 provided that they remain in mandatory institutional quarantine at a hotel in Kuwait at their own expense, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.

Those travelers would not be required to spend a quarantine period in a third country prior to arriving to Kuwait as previously stipulated, effectively ending the entry ban. Meanwhile, the announcement means that a 14-day total ban on the entry of all expats into the country will also be lifted.

In a circular published on its social media accounts, DGCA said that in relation to previous circulars pertaining with restricted countries, “all passengers arriving form these countries will be subject to 14 days institutional quarantine at their own expense at any of the locally approved hotels.” All Arrangements must be done through the ‘Kuwait Mosafer’ or ‘Belsalamah’ online platform, it explained.

Passengers arriving from other countries will be subject to seven days institutional quarantine at their own expense at any of the locally approved hotels, and all arrangements must be done through the ‘Kuwait Mosafer’ or ‘Belsalamah’ platforms, it added. A PCR test will be performed on day 6, and if the result is negative, the period of quarantine will be completed for another seven days at home, it explained.

All passengers arriving in Kuwait will be subject to two PCR tests at their own cost, and payment can be made either on the ‘Kuwait Mosafer’ app or ground handling agents at Kuwait International Airport. Passengers will not be allowed to board a plane bound for Kuwait without registering in the ‘Kuwait Mosafer’ platform, either through the dedicated smartphone app or through the website www.kuwaitmosafer.gov.kw.