Kuwait sets conditions to allow entry of people from banned countries

Muscat: Kuwait's civil aviation body on Saturday announced that non-Kuwaiti passengers from 31 countries would be denied entry via direct flights or transit. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clarified that such passengers would be allowed entry if they stayed in a third country for atleast 14 days.

"After 14 days, they must conduct a PCR test for (COVID-19) virus and provide an approval certificate proving a negative result," the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. The validity of such a certificate should not exceed 72 hours between the test date and arrival date into Kuwait.

The move to ban was taken based on instructions by the Kuwaiti health authorities due to the situation and repercussions caused by the spread of the coronavirus regarding high-risk" countries. The list of those countries, citizens of which are banned from entering Kuwait includes India, Iran, China, Brazil, Columbia, Armenia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Syria, Spain, Singapore Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sri Lanka Nepal Iraq, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon Hong Kong, Italy, North Macedonia, Moldova Panama, Peru, Serbia, Montenegro, Dominican Republic and Kosovo.