What is the Kuwait IBAN format?

Kuwait IBANs start with KW, followed by 2 check digits, then a 26-character BBAN encoding the bank code, branch code, and account number.

Kuwait is not a SEPA member. International transfer fees and timelines apply.

Kuwait IBAN Format

Q: How long is a Kuwait IBAN?

A Kuwait IBAN is 30 characters long.

30-character IBAN · KWD Kuwaiti Dinar

A Kuwait IBAN is 30 characters long and always begins with the country code KW, followed by two check digits. The next 4 characters are the Bank Code. The remaining 22 characters identify the individual account number. The Kuwait IBAN uses the KWD (Kuwaiti Dinar) and is not part of the SEPA zone, so international transfer fees and timelines apply.

Length

characters

Country Code

ISO 3166-1

Currency

KWD

Kuwaiti Dinar

SEPA

Non-SEPA

Example IBAN

KW81 CBKU 0000 0000 0000 1234 5601 01

KW Country

81 Check Digits

CBKU Bank Code

0000000000001234560101 Account Number

IBAN Structure

Position	Length	Field	Type	Example Value
1–2	2	Country Code	a	KW
3–4	2	Check Digits	n	81
5–8	4	Bank Code	a	CBKU
9–30	22	Account Number	c	0000000000001234560101

n = numeric only (0–9) a = alphabetic only (A–Z) c = alphanumeric (0–9, A–Z)

Validate a Kuwait IBAN

Paste a Kuwait IBAN below to check it.

Kuwait IBAN Regex Pattern

^KW\d{2}[A-Z]{4}[A-Z0-9]{22}$

Pattern validates length, country code, check digit positions, and field character types. Does not verify the MOD-97 checksum (use the validator above for full validation).

PHP

$iban = strtoupper(str_replace(' ', '', $input));
if (!preg_match('/^KW\\d{2}[A-Z]{4}[A-Z0-9]{22}$/', $iban)) {
    // Invalid Kuwait IBAN format
}

JavaScript

const iban = input.replace(/\s+/g, '').toUpperCase();
const pattern = /^KW\d{2}[A-Z]{4}[A-Z0-9]{22}$/;
if (!pattern.test(iban)) {
  // Invalid Kuwait IBAN format
}

Python

import re
iban = input_str.replace(' ', '').upper()
pattern = r'^KW\d{2}[A-Z]{4}[A-Z0-9]{22}$'
if not re.fullmatch(pattern, iban):
    # Invalid Kuwait IBAN format

These snippets check format only. For full IBAN validation including MOD-97 checksum, use a dedicated IBAN library or the validator on this page.

How to Find Your Kuwait IBAN

Kuwait accounts are traditionally identified using: Bank Code (4a) + Account Number (22c). Your IBAN encodes these same components in the standardised international format.

1
Mobile banking app — Open your bank's app, navigate to account details or "Account Info." Your IBAN is usually displayed alongside your account number. Look for a field labelled "IBAN" or "International Account Number."
2
Bank statement — Your Kuwait IBAN appears in the account header of your printed or PDF bank statement, typically near the top of the first page.
3
Online banking — Log in to your bank's website and go to "Account Details," "Account Summary," or "Profile." Most Kuwait banks display the IBAN prominently in account settings.
4
Bank branch or helpline — Call your bank's customer service or visit a branch with your ID. They can provide your full IBAN instantly.

Once you have your IBAN, use the validator above to confirm it is correctly formatted before sharing it.

Sending Money to Kuwait

Kuwait is not a SEPA member. Transfers require both an IBAN and a BIC/SWIFT code. Expect 2–5 business days and a SWIFT correspondent fee (typically $10–$40 USD via a traditional bank). Using a specialist service like Wise or Revolut can significantly reduce these fees.

What to provide

Recipient's full name
IBAN (30 characters, starts with KW)
BIC / SWIFT code
Recipient's bank address (some banks)

Typical transfer time

2–5 days

Via SWIFT network. Specialist services (Wise, Revolut) are often faster and cheaper than traditional bank wires.

Kuwait adopted IBAN in 2011. Not SEPA. Always include BIC. Kuwait uses KWD (Kuwaiti Dinar). Kuwaiti IBANs are long at 30 characters.

Compare transfer services for Kuwait

Specialist services typically charge significantly less than high-street banks for international transfers.

Wise — Low fees, real exchange rate ↗ Revolut — Fast transfers ↗

Central Bank

Central Bank of Kuwait

https://www.cbk.gov.kw ↗

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Quick Facts

IBAN Length: 30 chars
Country Code: KW
Currency: KWD
SEPA: No
BBAN Format: 4a22c
IBAN Required: mandatory
Adopted: 2011