Import/Export

There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to Kuwait. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.

Chemicals

Chemicals require approval from the Public Authority of Environment. The consignee must obtain the approval and provide it to Customs. Clearance may be delayed 4 to 5 days.

Diaries

Diaries that contain any pictures, advertising, or other content considered offensive will be destroyed. Shipments of over 1,500 diaries require a Certificate of Origin. Clearance may be delayed 3 to 4 days for censorship purposes. Ministry of Information censors (inspects) the diaries.

Drugs (also see Medicine)

Any kind of medication which are directly categorized as health items are subject to a special treatment. That might include nutritional supplements, herbs,capsules and cosmetics.

Shipments of medicine require approval from the Ministry of Health. The consignee must obtain the approval and provide it to customs. If the consignee fails to provide the approval within five days or if the Ministry of Health requests the shipment for physical inspection, the shipments will be transferred to the Ministry of Health by the customs authorities. In both cases it is the consignees obligation to collect the shipment at the Ministry if it is finally released for importation. Delays may occur.

Electrical Items

Shipments of electrical items require permission from the Ministry of Electricity. UPS will obtain approval from the Ministry and provide it to Customs. Only in certain cases will the consignee be asked to obtain the approval. A charge of US$50.00 can apply. UPS will disburse the fee and charge it later to the consignee. Clearance may be delayed 3 to 4 days. A Certificate of Origin is required for all shipments exceeding US$1,000.00.

Electronics

Electronics branded by the following companies can only be imported by the Agent and no one else:

Samsung

Sony

Philips

Toyota

National Panasonic

Toshiba

Ericsson

Food

Approval from Municipality is required. The consignee must provide the approval and get the shipment cleared from Customs themselves.

Please see additional information on food supplements.

Food Supplements

Shipments of food supplements require an approval from the Ministry of Health. The importer must obtain the approvals and provide them to customs. Clearance may be delayed.

Shipments of food supplements and nutritional supplements with physiological effects, typically used by body builders and athletes cannot be imported by private individuals or companies. The only authorized importer is the company Genoa General Trading Company. Shipments of these types of food supplements or nutritional supplements destined to importers other than Genoa must be returned or abandoned.

Nutritional supplements can be classified as medicine. Please see 'medicine' for more information.

Intercompany Data on CD-Rom/Disk

Data shipments to Kuwait require an invoice with the value of the CD-ROM or disk only.

Medical Items

Shipments of any kind of medical equipment require approval from the Ministry of Health. The consignee must obtain the approvals and provide them to Customs. Clearance may be delayed.

Medical Instruments

Shipments of any kind of medical equipment require an approval from the Ministry of Health. The consignee must obtain the approvals and provide them to customs. Clearance may be delayed.

Parts

Shipments of parts require an invoice with a complete description of each part, the part's components, and the machine that will use the part.

Software

Shipments of software require approval from the Ministry of Communication. The consignee must obtain the approval and provide it to Customs. Clearance may be delayed 3 to 4 days. An accessorial charge of US$65.00 is applied.

Tapes (Audio, Video, Magnetic)

Approval from the Ministry of Information is required. UPS will obtain and provide the approval. The tapes are delivered to the Ministry of Information for inspection (for censorship purposes). After inspection, the ministry provides approval, if appropriate. Tapes that contain pictures, advertising, or other content considered offensive will be destroyed. Clearance may be delayed 3 to 4 days.
For certain tapes, such as registered software or pirated movies, the consignee will be asked to obtain and provide the approval.

Telephone Equipment

All telephones, telephone equipment, and cellular telephones require approval from the Ministry of Communication and may take an additional 3 to 4 days for clearance. The consignee must obtain approval from the Ministry that all their telephone bills are settled (no objection certificate).

Televisions

Shipments of televisions require approval from the Ministry of Commerce. UPS will obtain and provide the approval. Clearance may be delayed 3 to 4 days.

USB Sticks

Data shipments require an invoice with the character of the USB stick (storing intercompany data) and the value of the USB Stick.

Weapons

Empty cartridges, bulletproof vests, and guns require approval from the Ministry of Interior. The consignee must obtain the approval and provide it to Customs. Clearance may be delayed 4 to 5 working days.

In addition to the commodities which UPS prohibits to all countries or territories served (listed here), it is prohibited to ship the following commodities to Kuwait.

Alcoholic Beverages

The import of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Bodybuilding Supplements

Bodybuilding supplements need to be imported by a licensed person. The importing company should have an import license and have the required documents from the Ministry of Health.

Bodybuilding supplements comes directly under the control of customs, if any approvals or testing is required it is given to the Ministry Of Health for further investigation.

Private individuals cannot apply for such licenses therefore, only licensed companies are allowed to import bodybuilding supplements.

Electronic Cigarette

KW is not an International Special Community (ISC) destination country or territory. Electronic cigarettes cant be shipped to KW.

Original documentation,Approvals From the Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment and Import license is required to import into Kuwait.

Electronic Equipment

Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) - Kuwait under the Ministry of Communication (MOC) has issued a statement to prohibit the import of any of listed goods per attached into Kuwait as it considered a critical threat to national security.

GSM Repeater Dual Band 900 1800

Dual Band Repeater Amplifier

Signal Repeater Booster Amplifier

LCD screen Dual Band Cell Phone Signal Booster 900mhz/1800Mhz

Israeli Origin Goods

Goods originating in Israel are prohibited.

Jewelry

Shipments of jewelry require Ministry of Commerce approval. UPS presents the jewelry to the Ministry, the Ministry inspects the jewelry, and then the Ministry issues a stamp of approval. This process applies to all gold, silver, and diamond jewelry. Clearance may be delayed 4 to 5 working days.

Jewelry that is below 14 karats is prohibited and will be seized by the Ministry

Lithium Metal Batteries

Shipments of Lithium Metal Batteries are prohibited on Emirates Airlines flights which UPS uses to this destination country or territory.

Alternative arrangements are in place, but expect transit delays if the normal planned flow of the package is via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Time in Transit may be extended due to solution found.

Medicine (also see Drugs)

Any kind of medication which are directly categorized as health items are subject to special treatment, which may include nutritional supplements, herbs, capsules and cosmetics.

Shipments of medicine require approval from the Ministry of Health. The consignee must obtain the approval and provide it to customs. If the consignee fails to provide the approval within five days or if the Ministry of Health requests the shipment for physical inspection, the shipment will be transferred to the Ministry of Health by the customs authorities. In both cases, it is the consignees obligation to collect the shipment at the Ministry if its finally released for importation. Delays may occur.

Shipments of medicine addressed to private individuals require a temporary import license, a prescription from doctor (med.) and an approval from the Ministry of Health. The documents must be available prior to shipping. Copies of these documents should be part of the shipping documents.

Kuwait does not have a temperature controlled facility, therefore medicine that requires a temperature controlled storage should not be accepted for shipping to Kuwait.

When arriving in Kuwait, the shipments are transferred to the Ministry of Health where the consignee must have customs clear the shipments based on the above mentioned documents. After clearance the consignee can pick up the commodities. The clearance of these types of commodities takes up to 8 days. Nutritional supplements can be classified as medicine. Please see additional information under 'food supplements'.

Military Equipment

Shipments of military equipment can be addressed to the Ministries of the Interior or Defense, Camp Doha, U.S. Military, or Air Force. Military items shipped to private individuals are prohibited. Military items are exempt from all duties and taxes.

Negotiable Bonds, Drafts

Negotiable bonds and drafts are prohibited.

Personal Effects

Customers must use an authorized UPS / MBE (Mail Boxes Etc) Store or UPS Customer Center to ship personal effects.

The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc. or UPS Customer Center will be required to identify personal effect shipments on the shipping label by placing "Personal Effects" in the Reference Field of a UPS "smart" label or in the Special Instructions Field of a UPS waybill. They must also clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' shipment on the Commercial Invoice.

Personal Effects are classified as used items (owned for a minimum of 6 months) intended for the consignee's personal use. Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis. "Personal Effects" must be clearly stated on the invoice and goods description.

All of the following documents must be scanned into DIS/SIR and originals on the package:

• An inventory list with estimated values with the reason for importation (holidays, move, relocation)
• A confirmation that the goods are older than 6 months and that they are intended for personal use only
• A photocopy of passport or ID card

Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis.

Excisable goods (for example, perfume, alcoholic drinks, tobacco), medicine and perishable food can not be cleared as personal effects.

Personal effects shipments are not allowed in combination with Return Services.

Products Made in Iran

Products made in Iran are prohibited in our service due to a current embargo.

Snus

The import of Snus are prohibited for Kuwait.

Vitamins

Shipments of vitamins cannot be imported by private individuals or companies. Only the company Genoa General Trading Company is the authorized importer for any kind of nutritional supplements, vitamins and food supplements with physiological effects, typically used by body builders and athletes.

Shipments destined to importers other than Genoa must be returned or abandoned.