The Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) has recently introduced a new regulation mandating biometric fingerprinting for other Gulf nationals upon arrival in the country. According to a report by Al-Anba Daily, which cited sources with knowledge of the matter, this requirement applies to those who had not undergone fingerprinting before travelling to Kuwait.
The implementation of this new measure is dependent on the number of flights arriving at the airport. Officials will assess the influx of arrival flights to determine whether they can efficiently complete the fingerprinting process of passengers within a certain time frame.
If there is a significant number of arrivals, the passengers will be allowed to proceed without being fingerprinted. The source further revealed that certain airlines already require both expats and Gulf nationals to undergo fingerprinting as part of their entry procedure.
To facilitate this process, all entry points in the country are equipped with fingerprint devices, ensuring the completion of the procedure within a minute for each individual.
Kuwaitis returning from abroad are currently exempt from mandatory fingerprinting. However, the source urged all travellers to book an appointment at biometric centres located in different governorates and several malls.
The source also clarified those travelling outside the country are not required to undergo fingerprinting. However, it is now mandatory for them to complete this procedure upon their return to the country.
