How to Check Travel Ban in Kuwait? (2024 Updated Guide)

To check for a travel ban in Kuwait, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the Kuwait MOI e-Services platform.
2. Log in to your account using your username and password. If you don’t have an account, sign up to create a new one.
3. On the main menu, choose the ‘Individuals’ category and click on ‘Electronic Inquiries.’
4. Look for the tab labeled ‘Electronic Inquiries’ and click on it.
5. Select the ‘Travel Ban’ service to check if there’s a travel ban on your Kuwait travel.
6. Enter your ‘Passport Number’ or ‘Civil ID Number,’ then click the ‘Query’ button.
7. The MOI Travel Ban Inquiry will tell you if there’s a travel ban in place or not.
8. If there’s no travel ban, you’ll see a message saying ‘You don’t have a travel ban.

Here’s why these restrictions are in place:

• Safety Measure for Unrest: The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait (Circular No. 186/2023) has imposed a travel ban for its members of Police to countries experiencing ongoing unrest and instability. This is done as a precautionary measure to ensure their safety.
• Affected Countries: The list of countries under this travel ban include Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Sudan.
• Approval for Police Officers: Police officers planning to travel to these nations must seek prior approval from their superiors, like the head of the sector, assistant undersecretary, or director general.
• Protecting Kuwaiti Police Personnel: The main aim of the travel ban is to safeguard Kuwaiti police personnel and maintain law and order within the country.
• Legal Consequences for Violations: Breaking these travel restrictions comes with legal consequences, following the guidelines set by administrative order No. 3/1994, which governs police conduct.
• Consistent Enforcement: The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait emphasizes the importance of all its agencies consistently enforcing Circular No. 186/2023, ensuring a unified approach for safety and community security.
• Civil Travel Ban: This type of ban is typically imposed by the court or by a government authority for various reasons, such as unpaid debts, legal or criminal disputes, or criminal charges.
• Suspected Crimes: If the Public Prosecutors Office thinks you’re involved in a crime during their investigation, they may issue a travel ban to stop you from leaving until the investigation is finished.
• Breaking Immigration Rules: If you overstay your visa, work without permission, or violate other immigration rules, the Ministry of Interior can impose a travel ban. These bans often involve deportation proceedings and usually last until the immigration issue is resolved.
• Other Reasons: Child custody disputes and having unpaid debts or fines, such as traffic fines or utility bills, and application of law are also the reasons travel bans. It’s important to know that this is not a complete list, and different government agencies in Kuwait can impose travel bans.

Here’s a simple guide:

1. Check the Kuwait travel ban list to see if you have a travel ban.
2. Go online to pay the travel ban fine to the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
3. Click on the “Pay Travel Ban Fee” button.
4. Enter your Cell Phone Number, Kuwait Civil ID, Passport Number, and Email Address.
5. Solve the Captcha code and click “Submit”.
6. Choose your preferred travel ban online payment method (like bank transfer or KNET credit card).
7. After payment, you’ll get a confirmation SMS and email.
8. Print the proof of payment for future airport requirements.
9. Within 24 hours of payment, the travel ban lift will be completed.