Kuwait Legalization : Certificate of Existence

A Certificate of Existence is an official document issued by a U.S. Secretary of State confirming that a company is legally registered, compliant, and authorized to conduct business in its state of incorporation.

Before this document can be accepted in Kuwait, it must be fully authenticated and legalized through the appropriate U.S. and Kuwaiti authorities.

The Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C., accepts Certificates of Existence that have been properly authenticated at the federal and state levels and certified by the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce (USACC) prior to submission.

Legalization Process

To ensure your Certificate of Existence is valid for official use in Kuwait, it must complete the following steps:

  1. Notarization by a licensed notary public (if required).

  2. Authentication by the issuing Secretary of State.

  3. Authentication by the U.S. Department of State (if required).

  4. Certification by the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce.

  5. Legalization by the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C.

Each step verifies the authenticity of the document and confirms its acceptance under Kuwaiti legal and administrative procedures.

Notarized Company Document Processing Time & Fees.

Service Fees Processing Time
Service fee $90 -
Maryland notary, court and state fees $15 1
U.S. Department of State fee $20 9
Embassy of Kuwait fee $25 6
Total $150 16 business days

Company Documents Certified by a Secretary of State Processing Time & Fees.

Service Fees Processing Time
Service fee $90 -
U.S. Department of State fee $20 9
Embassy of Kuwait fee $25 6
Total $135 15 business days

About the Certificate of Existence

A Certificate of Existence serves as official confirmation that a company is registered, active, and authorized to operate within its state.
This document usually contains:

  • The registered name of the company

  • Type of business entity (LLC, Corporation, etc.)

  • Current legal status (active, in good standing, etc.)

  • State registration date

  • Signature and seal of the Secretary of State

When properly legalized, it verifies the company’s legitimacy for submission to Kuwaiti authorities, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Common Uses in Kuwait

Legalized Certificates of Existence are often required when:

  • Registering a branch or representative office in Kuwait

  • Opening a corporate bank account

  • Participating in public or private tenders

  • Applying for licenses or commercial permits

  • Verifying a company’s legal standing for official transactions

Proper legalization ensures that your document is recognized and accepted without delay in Kuwait.