Kuwait Driving License- Application and Renewal in 2024

A valid Kuwait driving license is one of the basic requirements for expats, tourists, and local and foreign residents. Driving a vehicle in Kuwait without a driving license may cause hefty fines, confiscation of the vehicle, and even deportation in certain cases. A driver’s license provides you with the flexibility of moving around in the State without any issue. Moreover, it enables you to own a car or rent a car because you fulfill all the legal requirements.

Obtaining a Kuwait driving license is a straightforward process if you are aware of the requirements for it. The launch of electronic driving licenses for expatriates in Kuwait has further streamlined the process. All Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates can now apply for new driving licenses and renew their old ones through the Sahel app. Being a foreign citizen in the State, you can also check your driver’s license validity through this governmental app.

However, before delving deep into the application and renewal process, we will discuss various categories of driving licenses in this Gulf State. You will also learn about driving license requirements, its fees, and the validity period.

Various Categories of Kuwait Driving License

Depending on the type of vehicle a driver intends to drive, there are various categories of Kuwait driving licenses. Some of those categories relevant to tourists, expats, and foreign residents are:

New Driving License: For Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti individuals first time driving in Kuwait.
Motorcycle Driving License: For riding a motorcycle on Kuwait roads for Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti individuals.
License for Operating Construction/Industrial/Agricultural/Machinery: It is valid for Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti people operating heavy machinery in the fields of construction, agriculture, and industries.
Renewal/Replacement of Kuwait Driving License: This category applies to those Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti residents who want to replace or renew their expired or damaged licenses.
Issuance/Renewal of Learner License: It covers the issuance of a learner license for all. Individuals who want to renew their learner license before taking the final Test also come under this category.
Direct Replacement of GCC License: Those who already have a GCC driving permit fall under this category. Kuwaiti traffic sector allows the drivers having a GCC driving license to convert that into a Kuwait driving license.

Here, it is pertinent to mention that tourists, foreigners, and expats arriving in Kuwait mostly use the two categories- The new driving license in Kuwait and the replacement/renewal of their old licenses.

Requirements for Kuwait Driving License

Remember that the requirements for a Kuwait driving license may vary with the age and nationality of the applicants. However, some general requirements for both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti individuals are:

Driving License Requirements for Kuwaiti

Copy of Kuwait Civil Status ID
Passport Copy
Two recent passport-sized photographs (4X6 size) with a blue background
Your Learner form
Fee payment receipt for the relevant category you apply. Remember that fees for different categories of Kuwait driving licenses are different.

Driving License Requirements for non-Kuwaiti

Work Permit in original and copy
For employees of companies or institutions, there is also a need for authorization signatures.
Security ID or Criminal Record Request
Original Civil ID of employers (in some cases)
Embassy Ratification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Two recent passport-sized photographs with a blue background.
Fee payment receipt for the category of license applied for.
Legal validity of their residency for 2 years.

Note that the validity of a Kuwait driving license is always the same as the validity of their legal residence.

General Requirements

There are some general requirements to qualify for applying for a Kuwait driving license. These are:

You must be 18 years or above age before applying
A Valid Visa and Passport
Medical Certificate duly verified by a certified doctor
A Copy of the Pay Slip

Apart from these requirements, there may be some additional requirements from time to time. Therefore, it is mandatory to check the latest driving license requirements from the Kuwait Ministry of Interior. You can also check these requirements from the Embassy/Consulate of Kuwait in your home country.

Kuwait Driving License Fee

The fee for a Kuwait driving license varies with the category of the license you want to apply for. It also increases with the increase in the validity. Apart from test fees, other expenses are:

Application Fee = 10 KD
Medical Examination Fee = 5 KD
Practical Test Fee = 5 KD
Total: 20 KD

The fee for written tests varies for different vehicles. The table below illustrates the fee structure:

Vehicle Category	Driving License Test Fee
New Driving License	10 KD
Motor Cycle Driving License Test Fee	5 KD
M/Cycle Driving Test Repetition Fee	5 KD
Construction/Industrial/Commercial Vehicle Driving Test Fee	10 KD
Driving License Renewal Fee	5 KD

Kuwait Driving License Fees

Note that these fees may change from time to time. Thus, always check with the Kuwait Ministry of Interior for the latest updates.

Kuwait Driving License Procedure for First-Time Applicants

If you are planning to relocate to Kuwait, you must be knowledgeable about how to apply for a new driving license. The step-by-step process is as under:

1-Download Application Form

The first step in the process of applying for a Kuwait driving license is to download the license application form from the Ministry of Interior website: https://www.moi.gov.kw/main?culture=en and gather the required documents mentioned in the form. Usually, the following documents are required:

Passport
Visa
Medical Certificate
Recent Photographs with blue background
Filled application form.

2-Written Examination

After the submission of your documents, the traffic department will scrutinize those documents and call you for a written test after the approval of the documents. Remember that the written Test for a Kuwait driving license is available both in English and Arabic. It covers the topics of traffic signs, road signals, traffic laws, and safe driving practices. You will have to score at least 60% marks to be eligible for the practical Examination.

You can take the written Examination at any of the traffic department offices located across the State. Ahmadi, Hawalli, Jahra, Mubarak Al-Kabir, Farwaniya, and Capital Governorate are the main offices in Kuwait City for taking written examinations.

3-Driving Test

You are eligible for the practical Test if you score 60% marks in the written Test. It involves driving a car on Kuwait roads and demonstrating your driving skills by your ability to follow traffic laws and safely driving. Passing this Test is mandatory to be eligible for a Kuwait driving license. All the traffic governorates mentioned above are responsible for taking this Examination.

4-Fee Payment

After passing both written and practical tests, you are eligible for a Kuwait driving license. Now, you are asked to pay your driving license fee at any of the Traffic Governorates in Kuwait.

5-Receive Your Kuwait Driving License

When you have passed both tests and paid the requisite fee, you will receive your driver’s license, which is valid for five years. Do not forget to renew it before the expiry date to avoid hefty Kuwait traffic violation fines. You can get your license from any of the traffic department offices.

It is mandatory to join any best driving school in Kuwait to pass the written and practical examinations in the first attempt.

How to Convert Your Foreign Driving License to a Kuwait Driving License?

If you are an expat and have a valid driving license in your home country, you can apply for conversion of your home country driving license to a Kuwait driving license. Below are the steps for this conversion:

Gather the required documents. You have to gather all the documents required for a new driving license in addition to your home country’s driving license.
Visit any traffic governorate and submit those documents.
Fill out the service applicable form available in the office.
Pay service fees. You will have to pay 5 KD as an application fee and KD 10 for conversion.
After a few weeks, you will receive your Kuwait driving license.

MOI Kuwait Driving License Renewal

Kuwait Ministry of Interior has made the driving license renewal process hassle-free by launching an online renewal facility. Our step-by-step guide will make MOI Kuwait license renewal easy for you.

Visit MOI Portal

In order to complete the MOI Kuwait license renewal process online, you have to visit the MOI website: https://www.moi.gov.kw and log in to your account. Navigate to e-services and select the traffic tab.

Navigate to Renewal Service

Clicking the “Traffic” tab, you will land on another page with different services. You have to click “Renew Driving License” services. It will lead you to another page containing a form.

Fill Out the Form

Now, you will fill out the requisite fields on the form appearing on your screen. Usually, it requires your Civil ID number and birthdate. Remember to fill out the details carefully to save your time. Therefore, it is better to keep the requisite documents with you while driving license renewal online.

Pay Driving License Renewal Fee

Clicking the next tab will take you to the next page, where you will see driving license renewal fee details. Remember to review fee details before clicking the “Pay Now” tab. You can pay the Kuwait driving license renewal fee online through K-Net, VISA card, or Master card.

Kuwait driving license renewal fee details are as follows:

Vehicle Type	1 Year Fee	2&3 Years Fee
Motorcycles	KD 5	KD 15
Light Traffic Vehicles	KD 10	KD 30
Heavy Traffic Vehicles	KD 20	KD 60

Kuwait Driving License Renewal Fees

Wait for Approval

After your Payment is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email. Now, wait for the approval of your renewal application. If your application is approved, an SMS alert will arrive on your mobile device with the details of when and where to receive your driving license.

Remember to bring your original Civil ID and old driving license to collect your renewed Kuwait driving license.