Kuwait Ends Border Fingerprinting: Pre-Travel Biometric Registration Now Required

Kuwait is changing how it manages biometric fingerprinting of international travellers. The Ministry of Interior announced that instead collect fingerprints at airports and border points. All citizens and residents are now required to complete the fingerprinting process at designated biometric centres across the country before travelling.

Why Kuwait Changed the Rule

The decision to shift the biometric process to dedicated centres comes after months of congestion at Kuwait International Airport and other entry points, where travellers who hadn’t registered for biometrics caused long queues and flight delays.

By moving fingerprinting to pre-travel registration centres, Kuwait wants to make international departures easier, reduce long waiting times, and simplify border control.

Who Needs to Register

As per the new rules, Kuwaiti citizens must complete their fingerprinting at either:

• Personal Identification Centres under the General Department of Criminal Evidence, or
• National Identity Centres are located in each governorate.

On the other hand, expatriates can only register at the Personal Identification Centres of the General Department of Criminal Evidence in their respective governorates.

The Ministry has made it clear: those who don’t register in advance risk being delayed or denied departure.

Where to Register

For both citizens and expats, here’s where you can enrol:

General Department of Criminal Evidence (for citizens and expatriates)

Governorate	Location	Timing
Capital & Hawalli	Hawalli Security Directorate	08:00 – 14:30
Mubarak Al-Kabeer	Mubarak Al-Kabeer Security Directorate	08:00 – 14:30
Ahmadi	Ahmadi Governorate Security Directorate	08:00 – 14:30
Farwaniya	Farwaniya Governorate Security Directorate	08:00 – 14:30
Jahra	Jahra Governorate Security Directorate	08:00 – 14:30
Umm Al-Hayman Area	Ali Sabah Al-Salem Companies	08:00 – 14:30
Jahra Companies	Old Jahra Traffic Building	08:00 – 14:30

National Identity Centres (for Kuwaiti citizens only)

Governorate	Location	Timing
Capital	Al-Shamiya Area	08:00 – 13:30 / 15:00 – 19:30
Hawalli	Mubarak Al-Abdullah Area	08:00 – 13:30 / 15:00 – 19:30
Ahmadi	Jaber Al-Ali Area	08:00 – 13:30 / 15:00 – 19:30
Farwaniya	Ishbiliya Area	08:00 – 13:30 / 15:00 – 19:30
Mubarak Al-Kabeer	Al-Masayel Area	08:00 – 13:30 / 15:00 – 19:30

How to Check if You’re Registered

The Ministry of Interior is urging all travellers aged 18 and over to verify their biometric enrollment before heading to the airport.

Travellers can confirm their biometric status through the Sahel App:

1. Log in and select Services.
2. Tap Ministry of Interior → Security Services.
3. Choose Verifying the necessity of performing a biometric enrollment.
4. Enter your civil ID number and press Next.
5. The app will display your registration status instantly.

Who’s Required to Register

All Kuwaiti residents aged 18 and older must complete biometric enrollment. Those who have already done this do not need to repeat the process.

Why It Matters

This policy change is a practical solution for a system under pressure. By managing biometric checks before travellers arrive at the airport, Kuwait aims to reduce chaos at departure gates and make travel more predictable.

For frequent flyers and expatriates, completing this step early could mean the difference between a smooth exit and a last-minute rush.

In short, don’t wait until the last minute to handle biometric registration. It’s now a pre-travel necessity in Kuwait.