Kuwait is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Almost every UK document, therefore, needs two UK stages before it will be accepted in Kuwait:
- 1FCDO apostille (paper or e-apostille)
- 2Kuwaiti Consulate attestation in London
For many trade papers, a third stage—certification by the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, followed by certification by the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC)—is required before the Consulate stamps the file.
Which route applies?
Popular legalisation prices:
| Legalisation service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Personal Documents + apostille certificate + Kuwait attestation | £160 |
| Business Documents + apostille certificate + Kuwait attestation | £180 |
| Business Documents + apostille + LCCI & ABCC + Kuwait attestation | £220 |
| Packing List + apostille + LCCI & ABCC + Kuwait attestation | £255 |
E-Apostille:
While the UK offers e-Apostilles for certain documents, Kuwait has not yet adopted this digital format. Therefore, a physical legalisation certificate is required for your documents to be recognised in Kuwait.
Translation:
Arabic translations of UK documents is only required if the receiving authority requested translation.
Document bundles:
The embassy accepts bundled documents.
Important notes:
If attestation through the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is needed, two copies of each document must be submitted to the London Chamber. Please note that express service is not available through the ABCC.
For certain commercial documents (e.g., invoices, Certificates of Origin), the Embassy attestation fee may be calculated as a percentage of the sale price, which can result in higher costs in some cases.
The Embassy accepts multiple documents under one FCDO legalisation (an Apostille), EXCEPT for personal documents intended for visa applications.
For personal documents meant for visa applications:
- Medical certificates must include the specific test results outlined in the visa instruction form.
- UK Criminal Record Certificates must be issued after the Entry Visa is granted by the Kuwaiti authorities. The original Entry Visa document issued by the General Department of Residency Affairs, along with a notarised copy of the applicant’s passport, must be presented.
Each document requires individual certification, FCDO legalisation, and Embassy attestation.
To attest a child’s birth certificate, the Embassy requires copies of both parents’ passports and a copy of their marriage certificate for their records.
Payment terms:
CASH or company cheque only
Submissions:
- Copies required: No
- In-person only
- Days: Monday to Friday
- Times: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Collections:
- In-person only
- Days: Monday to Friday
- Times: 2:00 PM to 04:00 PM
Need assistance?
If you find the legalisation process overwhelming or time-consuming, consider seeking assistance from a professional document legalisation service like us. We can handle the entire process on your behalf, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and peace of mind.
Included in our embassy attestation service:
While we strive to provide accurate estimates, it’s important to remember that embassy procedures, fees, and operating hours can change unexpectedly.
Kuwait’s public holidays differ from the UK’s, impacting the availability of the Kuwaiti Embassy in London. We recommend initiating the attestation process before your deadline to allow for unforeseen delays or adjustments.
