Flying to Kuwait? Prohibited Items, Medicines and Cash Rules You Need to Know

31/10/2026

Flying to Kuwait? Prohibited Items, Medicines and Cash Rules You Need to Know

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 31: Expats/Foreigners travelling to Kuwait are advised to check their luggage carefully for prohibited food products, controlled medicines, and other restricted goods, as Kuwait enforces strict customs regulations that can result in confiscation and legal action against violators.

Items that are legally available or commonly sold in their countries may be prohibited or subject to special import controls in Kuwait. Travellers should therefore verify the applicable regulations before packing their belongings.

The rules apply to passengers entering Kuwait, including residents returning from overseas and visitors arriving for business or tourism.

Which food items and products are prohibited in Kuwait?

Kuwait Customs maintains an official list of prohibited imports. Products specifically identified include:

Poppy seeds (khus-khus)
Cannabis and cannabis-related products
Opium and certain narcotic preparations
Pork and pork products
Alcoholic beverages

Travellers should not assume that food products legally purchased in their countries can automatically be brought into Kuwait. Kuwait also prohibits the import of certain other goods, and passengers should consult the official customs list before travelling.

Carrying medicines to Kuwait: What travellers need to know

Kuwait has introduced strict regulations governing medicines containing narcotic and psychotropic substances.

Under Ministerial Resolution No. 302/2025, patients arriving from abroad may carry specified narcotic medicines for treatment lasting up to 15 days and approved psychotropic medicines for up to one month, subject to the applicable conditions.

Travellers carrying such medicines must:

Obtain the required approval from the relevant Kuwaiti authorities abroad before arrival.
Carry certified medical reports or prescriptions.
Present the documents to Customs upon arrival.
Ensure the quantity does not exceed the permitted treatment period.
Keep medicines in their original packaging.

The regulations provide for certification in writing or through approved online procedures. Travellers should check whether their particular medication falls under the controlled categories before departure.

Other prohibited items travellers must avoid

Kuwait's customs regulations prohibit or restrict several categories of goods.

These include:

Narcotic drugs and prohibited psychotropic substances.
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Pork and pork products.
Gambling machines and devices.
Pornographic material.
Black Magic tools
Other goods specifically listed as prohibited or restricted imports.

Carrying prohibited substances or accepting packages from strangers can expose passengers to serious legal consequences.

Carrying more than KD 3,000? Declare it at Kuwait Customs

Passengers entering or leaving Kuwait with cash or other covered financial instruments exceeding the prescribed threshold must make a declaration to Customs.

Kuwait's General Administration of Customs requires travellers to declare amounts equivalent to KD 3,000 or more, or the equivalent in foreign currencies.

The declaration requirement is based on Law No. 106 of 2013 concerning combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Travellers can complete the declaration through the General Administration of Customs' electronic services or the Sahel application.

Failure to declare the required amounts can expose passengers to legal accountability.

Important advice for travellers

Expats or Visitors travelling to Kuwait should take the following precautions:

Check your baggage: Do not carry prohibited or restricted products without the necessary authorization.
Avoid carrying strangers' luggage: Never accept bags, parcels or packages from people unless you know exactly what they contain.
Check medication requirements: Obtain the required approvals and carry certified prescriptions and medical reports for controlled medicines.
Declare financial assets: Declare cash and other covered financial instruments when their value reaches the KD 3,000 threshold.
Consult official sources: Check Kuwait Customs and Ministry of Health regulations before departure.

What travellers should remember

Kuwait maintains strict customs and anti-narcotics regulations, and ignorance of the law is not a defence against violations.

Expats or Visitors should pay particular attention to food products, traditional preparations, prescription medicines and financial assets carried in their luggage.

Checking the regulations before departure, obtaining necessary approvals and avoiding unknown packages can help passengers prevent unnecessary complications at Kuwait International Airport.