Minimum Salary For Driving License in Kuwait 2025
If you’re planning to get a driving license in Kuwait It’s important to understand the minimum salary requirements set by the authorities. While Kuwaiti citizens face no income restrictions, residents must meet specific salary thresholds to qualify. This guide covers the latest rules, exemptions, and eligibility criteria for obtaining a driving license in Kuwait.
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Minimum Salary For Driving License in Kuwait for Citizens
For Kuwaiti citizens, there is no minimum salary requirement to obtain a driving license. Kuwaiti nationals can apply for a private, general, or motorcycle driving license as long as they meet the legal age and pass the required medical, theoretical, and practical tests. Their salary level does not affect their eligibility.
Minimum Salary For Driving License in Kuwait for Residents
For expatriate residents in Kuwait, the law requires a minimum salary to be eligible for a driving license:
| License Type | Minimum Salary Requirement |
|---|---|
| Private Driving License | 600 Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD) |
| General Driving License | 600 Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD) |
| Motorcycle License | 120 Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD) |
Without meeting these salary thresholds, residents cannot obtain a license unless they fall under one of the exempted categories.
Exemptions from Minimum Salary Requirement
Certain categories are exempted from the minimum salary requirement for obtaining a driving license in Kuwait. These exemptions apply to both private and general licenses and cover a range of professions and special cases:
| Category | Salary Requirement Exception | Category | Salary Requirement Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants (all designations) | Not required to meet minimum salary | Judges and Public Prosecution members | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Kuwaiti nationals (all categories) | Not required to meet minimum salary | Managers (all titles) | Must meet minimum salary |
| Consultants and specialists | Not required to meet minimum salary | Diplomats | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Mortuary staff | Not required to meet minimum salary | Physicists, Chemists, Geologists | Must meet minimum salary |
| Delegates (all titles) | Must meet minimum salary | Physiotherapists and all healthcare professionals | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Doctors and Pharmacists | Not required to meet minimum salary | Pilots, co-pilots, captains, maritime leaders | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Domestic workers (after 2+ years with same sponsor and job title changed to driver) | Not required to meet minimum salary | Professional athletes in government sports entities | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Government drivers and delegates, and licensed general delegates from other countries | Not required to meet minimum salary | Researchers, lawyers, translators, teachers, social workers, librarians, mosque imams, and muezzins in government | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Engineers | Not required to meet minimum salary | Illegal residents with valid Central Agency ID and health insurance | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Executive directors, general managers, deputy managers (all titles) | Must meet minimum salary | Government sports coaches and trainers | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| University and applied institute faculty | Not required to meet minimum salary | Oil field technicians in oil companies | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Foreign spouses and children of Kuwaiti women | Not required to meet minimum salary | Kuwaiti’s wife, widow, or divorcee with children from him | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Housewives with children (if husband is among exempted categories) | Not required to meet minimum salary | Veterinarians | Not required to meet minimum salary |
| Journalists and media workers | Not required to meet minimum salary | —– | —– |
Conclusion
Obtaining a driving license in Kuwait requires meeting specific eligibility criteria, especially for expatriate residents who must adhere to the minimum salary requirements unless they fall under exempted categories. Kuwaiti citizens enjoy more flexibility with no income restrictions, while both citizens and residents must comply with age and testing regulations.
Questions & Answers
The minimum salary required for expatriate residents is 600 Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD) for a private or general driving license and 120 KWD for a motorcycle license.
No, Kuwaiti citizens are exempt from any salary requirement when applying for a driving license.