G/LIC/N/3/KWT/3  
 
21 March 2013  
(13-1574)  Page: 1/5  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
  REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON  IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
STATE OF KUWAIT  
The following communication, dated 19 March 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the State of Kuwait. 
 
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Outline of system 
1.  The Kuwait maintains non-automatic licensing system. 
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing 
2.   General licence:  it applies to all firms and institutions, but there are certain licenses that are 
not eligible for import license due the type of business and handicraft practiced see annex A 
  
Temporary licence: it applies to all person, firms and institutions that not granted for 
General license   
 
3.  The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries. 
 4.  The purpose of licensing is to ensure that g oods that do not meet the requirements of different 
laws, regulations or decisions are not imported. 
 
5.  Licensing is maintained under Decision No . 43 of the PRESEDENT OF KUWAIT (1964). The 
legislation does not leave designation of products subject to administrative discretion. The 
government (or the executive branch) does not ab olish the system without legislative approval. 
 Procedures 
6. I-XI.  There is no restrictions on the quantity or value of imports. 
 7.  
a. 3 days. 
b. Yes. 
c. No. 
d. Yes, by a single administrative body  (MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY). 
                                               
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/KWT/3 
 
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  8.  Yes. 
 Eligibility of importers to apply for a licence 
9.  Yes. 
 
Documentation and other requirements for application for license 
10.  See Annex B
*. 
 
11.  Documents required are: the import license, copy of invoice and certificate of origin.  12.  There are no licensing fees or administrative charges. 
 
13.  There are no deposit or advance payment requirements associated with the issue of a license.  
Conditions of licensing 
14.   The period of validity of a license is one year from the date of issue. Extension may be 
granted.    
 
15.   There is no penalty for non-utilization of a license or portion of a license.  16.   Licenses are not transferable between importers. 
 
17.   No other conditions are attached.  
Other procedural requirement 
18.   No other administrative procedures. 
 
19.   Foreign exchange is automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be 
imported. 
                                               
* Available for consultation (Market Access Division) in original language only. G/LIC/N/3/KWT/3 
 
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  ANNEX A 
LICENSES NOT TO BE GRANTED IMPORT LICENSE 
Based on statement of commercial activities issu ed by ministry of commerce, there are certain 
licenses that are not eligible for import license due the type of business and handicraft practiced 
these license are the follows:  
 
First: food meal segment :  
 
1- preparation of fast food meals  
2- restaurants and coffee shops of all types  
3- bread oven and bakeries  
4- sweets and pastries  
5- beverages  
 
Second: media &entertainment segment: 
 
1- audio recordings  
2- video recordings  
3- art production  
 Third: commercial services segment: 
 
1- land and real estates (lease and rent)  
2- car lease  
3- taxi  
4- passengers transport abroad  
5- goods transport  
6- sea cargo  
7- ships loading and unloading  
8- vessels purveyance  
9- vessel companies agents  
10- travel and tourism  
11- wedding parties  equipment lease  
12- publishing and distribution  
13- issuance of land travel permits  
14- precious materials and facilities guard  
15- repairs of motorcycles and bicycles  
16- vehicles scale  
17- central air-conditioning and elevators maintenance 
18- electrical appliances repair  
19- fine appliances and devices repair  
20- golden and silver jewelry repair  
21- gas stoves repair  
22- gas cylinders replacement  
23- clothes receipt and delivery  
24- typing on typewriter  
25- photographer  
26- women garments tailoring  
27- women beauty salon  
28- curtains tailoring  
29- gardens landscaping and maintenance   
30- clothes cleaning and ironing  
31- calligrapher and painting  
32- men clothes tailoring  
33- men barbershop 
34- vehicle seat upholstery  
35- furniture and furnishings upholstery  G/LIC/N/3/KWT/3 
 
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  36- butchery  
37- fishery  
 
Fourth: miscellaneous business segment: 
     
1- exchange  
2- grocery  
3- refreshment  
4- scrap  
 
Fifth: provisions segment: 
 
1- administrative consulting  
1- economic consulting  
2- industrial consulting  
3- financial consulting  
4- psychological and social consulting  
5- computer consulting  
6- customer consulting  
7- translation  
 
Sixth: service and handicraft segments:  
 
1- health club  
2- transactions processing  
3- washing and lubricating station  
4- vehicles electricity repair  
5- vehicles exhaust repair  
6- load weighing  
7- boats repair and maintenance  
8- heavy and light equipment repair and maintenance  
9- electrical and electronic appliances  repair sanitary ware repair and maintenance  
10- shoes and bags repair  
11- car driving learning  
 
Licenses not to be granted import licenses 
 
1- grocery  
2- exchange  
3- garage 
4- survey  
5- sign-writer and painter 
6- travel agencies  
7- tyre puncture repair   
8- cleaning  
9- real estates  
10- vehicles electricity  
11- insurers  
12- scrap  
13- consulting offices  
14- vessels purveyance office  
15- vehicles lease offices  
16- vehicles washing and lubricating  
17- tourism cheques  offices  
18- shares and documentation offices  
19- transport and customer offices  
20- recording shops ( cassette )  
21- maintenance and repair shops  
22- wedding parties equipments leasing office  
23- golden jewelry fabrication  
24- restaurants off all types with foodstuff catering  
25- curtains tailoring and furniture upholstery  G/LIC/N/3/KWT/3 
 
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  26- All handicrafts (carpentry, ironing,  photography and plants etc.)   
 
Remarks:   
GCC citizens shall not be granted general import licenses but this will be as per the license 
business, for example: 
 1- Ready made clothes only  
2- Gift and accessories only  
3- Foodstuffs only  
 
Retail shall not be granted import license for all.  
 
 
 
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