By B Izzak, Agencies
KUWAIT: A ministerial decision was published in the official gazette on Sunday increasing the validity of the driver’s licenses for expatriates to five years instead of three. The decision also increased the validity of the driving licenses for Kuwaitis and Gulf citizens to 15 years instead of 10. As for bedoons or stateless people, the validity is linked to the validity of their IDs, according to the decision. The validity of the driver’s licenses for Kuwaitis used to be for 10 years. It was then reduced to just one year for expats and remained 10 years for Kuwaitis.
Several months ago, the validity for expats was increased to three years, according to a decision issued by Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. However, the duration was raised to five years on Sunday. The decision is effective immediately, the decision said. Kuwait applies strict conditions for expatriates to obtain a driver’s license including a university degree. Newcomers must apply for a driver’s license after staying legally for two years.
In another development, the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) announced Sunday that the upcoming KD 20 increase in retirement pensions will be disbursed starting August 1. In a statement posted on its official account on X (formerly Twitter), the institution confirmed that the increment applies to all Kuwaiti retirees, including those treated as Kuwaitis, as well as individuals entitled to pensions based on their respective eligibility percentages. PIFSS clarified that the increase will be processed automatically, and beneficiaries are not required to visit the institution or submit any requests to receive the additional amount.
