The First Month

At the airport upon arrival, each overseas recruited teacher will receive a relocation allowance (also known as the settling-in allowance). Check your contract for your exact amount, as this varies for singles and teaching couples. You will be paying your extra baggage fees out of pocket when you arrive at the airport. The baggage & shipping allowance will be added to your first paycheck in September for the amount on your official receipts turned in to the ASK Business Office. Any shipping costs above the shipping and baggage allowance specified will not be covered by ASK.

Please be prepared to go through your settling in allowance quickly. You may find that you could easily spend it all at your first big shopping trip for groceries and household items.

You need to come prepared with access to other funds to help you live comfortably until the first payday, September 20. Depending on what you ship and what you buy from teachers in Kuwait before arriving, think through what you will need to pay for before September 20. Consider items like a TV, blankets, maid service, curtains, microwave, water service, etc. What amount would you need to buy all those (when not on sale) AND your food at home? If you are considering buying a car outright, you will want to have access to more. (Please note that buying a car will not happen immediately as it takes several months before the driver‘s license process can begin).

We suggest having access to home accounts through debit or credit cards as this will be the easiest way to access your money. You can exchange US or other currencies into dinar at the airport. Traveler‘s checks, cashier's checks, bank drafts, personal checks or other instruments theoretically can be cashed in Kuwait, but the process can be long and complicated and, in some cases, can take up to three weeks to clear with significant charges. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted throughout Kuwait in most hotels and major businesses, restaurants, car rental agencies, and supermarkets. Small convenience stores (bakalas) and small restaurants only accept cash.