Main driving licence rule modifications in Kuwait: What expats and residents ought to know | World Information

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Major driving licence rule changes in Kuwait: What expats and citizens should know

Kuwait has up to date its driving licence validity guidelines, granting 15-year licences to residents and 5-year licences to expatriates/Consultant Picture

TL;DR:

Kuwait has up to date visitors legislation, granting 15‑12 months driving licence validity to Kuwaiti and GCC residents, whereas non-Kuwaiti expatriates now obtain licenses legitimate for five years.

Decision No. 425/2025 updates Article 85 of Ministerial Decision 76/81, affecting personal, basic, bike, and vocational licence classes.

Carried out through Inside Minister Resolution No. 425 of 2025, in impact instantly upon publication within the Official Gazette.

Stateless residents (Bedouns) will maintain licences solely in the course of their authorized standing assessment card. License sorts and new validity durations apply uniformly throughout personal automobiles, taxis, bikes, and sector-specific autos.

Kuwait issued Inside Minister Resolution No. 425 of 2025, amending key provisions of visitors laws, particularly Article 85 of Ministerial Decision No. 76/81. The replace extends personal and basic driving licence validity to fifteen years for Kuwaiti residents and GCC nationals, whereas setting a 5-year validity for non-Kuwaiti residents. The rule takes fast impact upon its publication within the Official Gazette, reshaping the licensing framework throughout automobile classes.

What the Rule Adjustments

Licence Classes Affected The amended laws apply to a number of licence sorts:

Personal Licence: For autos with as much as seven passengers, gentle transport autos underneath 2 tons, taxis, and ambulances.
Normal Licence:
- Class A: Heavy passenger autos (over 25-seat capability), public transport, trailers, hazardous materials carriers.
- Class B: Transport autos carrying 7–25 passengers or weighing 2–8 tons.
Bike Licence:
- Category A: All bike sorts together with coaching autos.
- Class B: Three-wheel bikes and related autos.
Sector-Particular Licences: Building, industrial, agricultural, tractor, and particular exercise licences, every now following up to date validity guidelines.

Renewals & Exceptions

Pre-2025 licences stay legitimate till their expiry date; renewals should adjust to new durations.
Bedoun people (stateless residents) proceed to obtain licences legitimate just for the size of their authorized standing assessment card.

Why It Issues

Much less Frequent Renewals: Expats now renew licences each 5 years as an alternative of yearly, streamlining paperwork.
Regulatory Readability: The replace modernises automobile classification and ensures consistency throughout licence sorts.
Compliance Overview Triggered: As a part of implementation, over 66,000 expat licences have been cancelled earlier this 12 months for noncompliance or revoked residency standing.
Regional Alignment: The change brings Kuwait’s system nearer to GCC norms, supporting long-term residency planning.

Kuwait’s modification to visitors licensing legal guidelines marks a milestone in streamlining driving allow durations. Kuwaiti and GCC nationals now take pleasure in 15-year licences, whereas expatriates get 5-year validity, lowering administrative burdens and selling continuity. By categorizing totally different automobile sorts underneath unified guidelines, the reform advances regulatory readability and helps long-term compliance. The cancellation of 1000’s of noncompliant licences underscores a transfer towards tighter enforcement and modernised visitors governance.