First of all, congratulations on graduating!

This guide will walk you through all the steps you need to complete from receiving your university degree until starting your internship year with KIMS.

Documents You Will Need

• 20 copies of a personal photo, 4×6, blue background
• 5 copies of your Civil ID
• 5 copies of your birth certificate
• 5 copies of your citizenship
• 5 sets (stapled) of the following
  • Degree
  • Transcript
  • Equivalency (if applicable)
  • Salary transfer letter from the bank (addressed to MOH)
• 1 copy of your BLS certificate
• If married, you also need
  • Spouse’s Civil ID
  • Children’s Civil IDs & birth certificates
  • شهادة من الهيئة العامة للمعلومات المدنية (marriage continuity certificate)

Step 1: University Degree & Equivalency

1. Receive your university degree
2. If you graduated abroad, get your equivalency certificate:
   • Go to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
   • Location: Al-Sanabel Complex – Sharq (opposite Amiri Hospital) – 5th floor, M3
   • Submit your documents online; you will receive the equivalency within about a week

Step 2: Civil Service Commission

• Request the employment nomination letter (كتاب الترشيح) to work at the MOH
• You can visit in person or apply online through the Civil Service Commission website
• Required documents:
  • Copy of your degree and transcript
  • Copy of your Civil ID (they may ask for the original)
• ⏱️ Working hours: until 1:30 pm – try to go before noon

Step 3: Ministry of Justice (Proof of No Property Ownership)

• Go to the Government Complex – 2nd floor
• Ministry of Justice → Real Estate Department
• Request ورقة اثبات عدم وجود عقار (proof of no property ownership)
• Fee: 1 KWD (KNET)
• If married, request one for your spouse as well
• Tip: This may also be done through the Sahel App

Step 4: Ministry of Health (Opening Your File)

• Submit your nomination letter to the HR Department – Kuwaiti Appointments
• Required documents:
  • Copies of degree, Civil ID, birth certificate, nationality, salary transfer letter
  • 7 personal photos
• For married applicants: marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, marriage continuity certificate

You will receive referral letters to:

• General Medical Council (medical exams)
• Criminal Evidence Department (police clearance)

Step 5: Medical Exams & Certifications

• General Medical Council – Sabah Health Area:
  • Book online or through the Sahel App
  • Bring: MOH referral, HBV immunization proof, appointment confirmation, Civil ID, and 3 photos
  • Blood sample (results in 3–5 days)
  • Urine sample (results in 1 day)
  • Chest X-ray (results in 1 day)
• Criminal Evidence Department: police clearance certificate + fingerprinting
• Ministry of Justice – Real Estate Registry: property ownership letter
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate:
  • Must be completed and valid before starting work

Step 6: Medical Licenses & Membership

• After receiving all results
  • Submit your Fit for Work certificate and police clearance to the MOH
  • You will receive a Medical Licensing Letter
• Kuwait Medical Association (KMA) – Jabriya
  • Membership fees: 36 KWD (mandatory) + 20 KWD deducted yearly
  • Submit your licensing letter and get the receipt
  • Required documents: Civil ID, citizenship, equivalency (if applicable), transcript, degree, MOH referral letter, 1 photo
  • Tip: You can make your stamp there as well
    • Provide your full name and Civil ID in Arabic and English (ensure spelling matches your documents)
    • Costs 4.5 KWD
• Medical Licensing Department – Sabah Health Area:
• Create an account
• Request a new license
  • From the sidebar, select: Full Time Service → Request a New Medical License
• Upload the following (PDF/JPEG)
  • Civil ID & citizenship copy
  • KMA membership payment receipt
  • Personal photo (4×6, blue background)
  • Salary transfer letter from your bank
  • Nomination letter (رسالة الترشيح) from the Civil Service Commission
• Confirmation
  • You will receive a text once registered
  • The next day, you’ll be asked to pay a 20 KWD fee (KNET)
• Processing time: about 1 week

Step 7: Appointment Decision

• Submit your papers to the MOH
  • copy of medical council health clearance and any papers with tests, vaccinations, etc.
  • copy of your online medical license
  • copy of your medical license from الجمعیة الطبیة بالجابرية
  • copy of the certificate from وزارة العدل
• They will direct you to قسم العلاوات 
• After your papers are reviewed, you will be told to wait for a call
• The appointment decision is usually issued within 1–2 weeks
• In 2 weeks, visit the ministry to request قرار التعیین
• Visit KIMS to set your start date & hospital (first come, first serve!)

Note: If you plan to apply for the Kuwaiti Board, you must start your internship before October

STEP 8: KIMS registration

• Visit KIMS to
  • Choose your hospital (first-come, first-served)
  • Arrange your internship rotation schedule
  • Submit: Passport copy, Civil ID copy, 7 photos (4×6), appointment decision

You will receive مباشرة العمل – bring this on your first workday to:

• Department Secretary (سكرتارية قسم التخصص)
• Hospital Director (مدير المستشفى)
• Health Region Administration (المنطقة الصحية)

Tips for a Smoother Process

• Expect variations – steps can change month to month
• Keep a folder with all your documents and extra copies (Civil ID, passport, citizenship, birth certificate, transcripts (Arabic & English), diploma, bank letters, and many photos)
• Document everything: take photos of every paper you receive – some are irreplaceable
• Save contact numbers of MOH, KIMS, and the hospital health area staff for follow-ups
• Be patient: this is a long process, and your visits to MOH won’t end here!
• Keep extra copies of your مباشرة in your car, you will need it at the beginning of each rotation.
• Make sure your end of rotation evaluation is signed by Head of Department before taking it back to KIMS.

If you experienced a different process and want us to update this guide, please contact us.

Best of luck!
— Hussa