Certificate of Incumbency Legalization for Use in Kuwait

A Certificate of Incumbency is an official corporate document that identifies a company’s current directors, officers, and authorized signatories. It verifies who is legally permitted to represent or act on behalf of a company in contractual or financial matters.

When submitting this document to authorities or business partners in Kuwait, it must undergo authentication and legalization to be accepted as valid under Kuwaiti law. The Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. provides legalization services for Certificates of Incumbency that have been properly certified at the state, federal, and chamber levels.

Legalization Process

To ensure your Certificate of Incumbency is legally recognized in Kuwait, it must pass through the following authentication stages:

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

  2. State Authentication by the Secretary of State where the document was issued.

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

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

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

Each stage verifies the authenticity of signatures and seals, confirming that the document was issued and signed by authorized U.S. entities.

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 Incumbency

The Certificate of Incumbency is often issued by a company’s corporate secretary and includes:

  • Names and titles of company officers and directors

  • Specimen signatures of authorized signatories

  • Confirmation of the company’s good standing

  • The company’s official seal or notary acknowledgment

Legalizing this certificate validates the authority of those named individuals when representing the company in Kuwait.

When Is a Legalized Certificate of Incumbency Required in Kuwait?

A legalized Certificate of Incumbency may be required in several corporate or legal transactions, including:

  • Opening or maintaining corporate bank accounts in Kuwait

  • Signing contracts or agreements with Kuwaiti partners

  • Registering or licensing a foreign branch or representative office

  • Participating in government tenders or official filings

  • Verifying authorized signatories during legal or financial audits

Without proper legalization, Kuwaiti entities cannot confirm the authority of the company’s representatives, which may delay or invalidate business processes.

Begin the Legalization Process

Ensure your Certificate of Incumbency is properly authenticated before submission to Kuwaiti institutions.
The Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. processes the legalization of corporate documents issued in the United States, ensuring they meet Kuwaiti standards for authenticity and verification.