A security source reported that the discovery followed a tip that led investigators to scrutinize the woman’s submitted academic qualifications during her bid for a Kuwaiti driving license. Verification processes confirmed the university degree had been forged years earlier, prompting her summons for further questioning. The woman confessed to holding only a high school diploma and resorting to the fake certificate to meet eligibility criteria. She admitted paying $1,200 to a Lebanese expatriate based in Lebanon to obtain the document, which she then utilized for both the license and a change in her job status.
According to the same security source, the case has been forwarded to the Administrative Deportation Department while a broader investigation continues into potential additional violations. Authorities expect to pursue further legal actions against the individual and possibly others involved in the forgery scheme. The incident underscores the rigorous checks now applied to expatriate documentation across multiple government agencies, including links with the Public Authority for Manpower.
The Ministry of Interior’s regulations stipulate that expatriates must possess an attested university degree, earn at least KD600 per month and have lived in Kuwait for a minimum of two years to qualify for a private driving license. Exemptions apply to certain categories such as professional drivers, medical practitioners and engineers in specific fields. These requirements aim to ensure only qualified residents operate vehicles on the country’s roads.
The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced in January 2025 that a committee had uncovered 13 new cases of forged university degrees, all referred to the Public Prosecution for individuals seeking government positions. The ministry established the review panel to examine certificates from foreign universities issued after 2000 for both Kuwaiti and expatriate employees. Such measures reflect a sustained campaign to maintain integrity in academic qualifications used for employment and official transactions.
A Semafor report placed the number of expatriate deportations from Kuwait at nearly 40,000 throughout 2025, with document fraud representing a significant portion of residency violation cases leading to such outcomes. Kuwaiti authorities have reaffirmed that forging academic certificates is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison and a KD5,000 fine. The crackdown extends to various forms of forgery, including address and certificate falsification that can result in imprisonment and permanent expulsion.
The security source emphasized that cross-agency cooperation has intensified to detect and deter the use of counterfeit documents by non-nationals. This approach involves electronic verification systems that flag inconsistencies in submitted records. Similar cases have prompted calls for even stricter oversight on expatriate applications for licenses and permits.
