All notary services in Embassy Kuwait are by appointment only.  Due to the high volume and demand for services, we cannot offer expedited appointments except in cases of true emergencies.  Please read the requirements and review the types of notarial services offered below before booking your appointment.

Special Notice Regarding the Use of U.S. Issued Documents in Kuwait

The Government of Kuwait has established strict guidelines for the submission of foreign-issued vital records used in the residency process.  The guidelines require embassies to verify the information contained in the documents.  The U.S. Embassy does not have the legal authority to certify the informational content of such documents.  In the United States, many of the records affected are not maintained centrally and can only be certified by the custodian of record.  This includes the documentation of eligibility for marriage, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and driver’s licenses.  Authentication of U.S. public documents for use overseas should therefore be undertaken in the U.S. The documents are certified by the custodian of record and first authenticated at the state level.  Following that process, they must be sent to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. and finally, authenticated by the Kuwait Embassy in Washington, D.C.   Please visit the Department of State website for more information on the Authentication of documents. 

Service Basics

Appointments must be made via the online appointment system; customers without an appointment will not be accommodated.  Individuals needing notary services must appear in person at their scheduled appointment time, present proper photo identification (a valid passport or valid government issued identification) and pay the appropriate fees.  Due to space limitations, people not needed to sign documents during the notary service will not be able accompany the applicant to the ACS section and should not come to the Embassy.  Fiancées of U.S. citizens completing the free-to-marry affidavits do not need to appear. 

Do not sign the document until requested to do so by the notarizing officer.  Depending on the nature of the document, the notarizing officer will either take an acknowledgement that your signature was done freely and with an understanding of the document’s contents, or administer an oath whereby you swear or affirm the contents of a document are true. (Note: Notarizing officers do not certify that the contents of submitted documents are true.  A notarizing officer only certifies that you have signed and sworn or affirmed under oath that the contents are true.) Notarizing officers are prohibited from offering legal advice regarding the form or content of documents to be notarized.  The embassy staff cannot complete the form or statement for you.  You should clearly understand the document and the requirements set by your financial institution, government agency, or attorney.  We reserve the right to ask you to return at a later date/time if you have multiple documents, if the document requires more than two seals, or is more than five pages in length.

How to Book an Appointment:

Step 1:

Review the information below to ensure that the U.S. Embassy offers the service that you are requesting.

Step 2:

Book an appointment by clicking here.  Please select “Request notarial and other services not listed above.” Print the confirmation of your appointment.  As there are many people seeking appointments, we ask you to please cancel your appointment if you will be unable to come to the Embassy.  You may cancel your appointment by clicking here.

Step 3:

On the day of your appointment, you must bring the appointment confirmation printout, the documents to be notarized, and two forms of photo identification, one of which should be a valid passport.  The fee for each notary seal is $50 or the equivalent in Kuwait Dinars, payable by cash or credit card (we do not accept K-net). 

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Services Offered

Affidavits

An “affidavit” is a written declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before an officer having authority to administer such oath or affirmation.  Affidavits require the personal presence of the individual signing the document in order for the consular officer to administer the oath. The affidavit should be typed and prepared prior to the appointment. Consular staff cannot prepare the document or provide advice as to what information should be included.

Free-to-Marry Affidavit

Any foreigner who wishes to marry in Kuwait is required by the Government of Kuwait to demonstrate his/her eligibility to marry.  The U.S. Government does not maintain a central marriage registry.  Therefore, the embassy is unable to provide verification of a U.S. citizen’s eligibility to marry.  U.S. citizens seeking to marry in Kuwait may choose to complete an affidavit declaring he/she is eligible to marry.  However, the Government of Kuwait may not find the document acceptable and may refuse to accept the document.  Please note the embassy cannot make changes to the document.  U.S. citizens seeking to marry in Kuwait may need to contact the custodian of records or the respective state agency to identify vital records in the U.S. that may meet the criteria for the Government of Kuwait.  U.S. citizens obtaining certified vital records from the custodian of such records will need to follow the process for the authentication of documents in the U.S.  Please visit the Department of State website for more information on the Authentication of documents. For information regarding marriage in Kuwait, please see Marriage requirements in Kuwait.

Acknowledgements

Consular officers may take an acknowledgement of a signature on a document for use in the U.S.  An “acknowledgement” is to “acknowledge”, to admit, affirm, or declare; to recognize one’s acts, assuming obligation or incurring responsibility.  Acknowledgements require the personal appearance by the person who signed the document in order to confirm that the individual signed the document. 

Authentications

The primary purpose of an authentication, which is a governmental act by a U.S. consular officer, is to certify the official seal, signature and/ or authority of foreign officials who perform an official act with regard to a document that is to be used in the United States.  For Kuwait documents to be used in the United States, consular officers may only authenticate the stamp and seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait on such documents.  The documents should be taken to the Ministry’s Consular Department (Ph: +965 2484-2099) located in the Shuwaikh area of Kuwait City, adjacent to the Kuwait News Agency.  Documents may be authenticated at the U.S. Embassy once they have received this seal.  A consular authentication of a document to be used in the U.S. in no way attests to the authenticity of the contents of a document but merely to the seal and signature of the issuing Kuwait government official.  Only authentication requests for originally signed documents from key Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials will be authenticated. 

Driver’s Licenses

The U.S. Embassy DOES NOT issue Kuwaiti driver licenses, however, we can offer certifications of true copies of U.S. issued driver’s licenses for U.S. citizens.  We cannot provide this service for non-U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.  Please click here for information from the Government of Kuwait on applying for a driver’s license.

Services That Cannot Be Provided:

Consular staff cannot draft legal documents or provide legal advice.  U.S. citizens seeking legal documents, such as a power of attorney, should consult with an attorney or review available on-line resources before their appointment.

Authentications of Documents Issued in the United States

Consular officers are not empowered to authenticate public documents issued in the United States or abroad.  Consular officers do not have access to the records of the issuing office or the seal of the custodian of records. When a certification or authentication of a true copy is requested, please contact the embassy or consulate of the country where the document was issued.

Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad

U.S. embassies and consulates cannot authenticate diplomas or other documents from universities and other schools in the United States or provide notary services related to such credentials.  U.S. academic credentials, certificates, or degrees for use in Kuwait must be authenticated by the Department of State and  then by the Embassy of Kuwait in Washington, D.C.

Fingerprints/Police Clearances

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait does not provide fingerprinting services.  The Kuwait authorities will not routinely provide fingerprint services for U.S. citizens.  Please contact your local sponsor for more information on fingerprint services or obtain the necessary documents prior to your arrival in Kuwait.

The U.S. Embassy cannot issue or certify police clearances.  Any police clearance obtained from U.S. law enforcement authorities must be certified in the U.S.  

Certifications of True Copies

Some states provide that notaries may execute certifications of true copies of documents. However, many public documents, such as a birth, death, marriage or divorce record, and police clearances must be certified by the custodian of record in that state.  Individuals seeking such a service may choose to make a sworn statement declaring that a copy is an exact reproduction of an original document he or she possesses.  However, this document does not meet the requirements set by the Government of Kuwait for the acceptance of vital records.  The best source of information about the requirements of the individual U.S. states and other U.S. jurisdictions regarding certification of true copies of documents by notaries public is the state notary public administrator. 

Marriages

U.S. embassies cannot perform marriage ceremonies. 

Translations

U.S. Consular Officers are NOT permitted to translate documents, certify to the correctness of translations, or authenticate translators’ signatures.  A list of Translators is available here.

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Refusal of Notary Services

Notarial services may be refused under the following conditions; it is prohibited by treaty or foreign Law; it is prohibited by U.S. law; the notarizing officer believes the document will be used for a purpose patently unlawful, improper or inimical to the best interests of the United States; the document is blank; the individual does not appear to be capable of understanding the nature or language of the instrument; the individual is unable to comprehend the significance of the act and/or is acting under duress;  the document is incorrect; the individual has invalid, inadequate or insufficient proof of identification; the proof of a corporate title or position is lacking or inadequate; and/or the service is a medallion signature guarantee.  (Only financial institutions can provide a signature guarantee/medallion guarantee service.)