FIND THE RIGHT ANSWERFrequently Asked Questions

The type of attestation required depends on the country where the document was issued. If the document is from a Hague Convention member country, it can be used in Saudi Arabia with an apostille. If it is from a non-Hague country, the document usually requires traditional embassy attestation, including verification by the Saudi Embassy and MOFA attestation in Saudi Arabia.

Yes, in most cases you need original documents for attestation, especially for educational and personal certificates. Authorities usually require the original document to verify authenticity before applying stamps or seals. However, for some commercial or supporting documents, notarised copies may be accepted depending on the destination country and purpose. Requirements can vary, so it’s important to confirm before starting the attestation process.

Saudi visa stamping usually takes 3 to 10 working days, depending on the visa type and application location. Employment and work visas may take longer due to medical tests, document verification, and embassy workload, while visit or business visas are often processed faster. Processing time can vary based on the Saudi embassy or consulate and whether normal or express service is used.

The new rules for Saudi Arabia visa stamping focus on stricter document verification and digital processing to improve compliance and security. Applicants must ensure accurate personal details, completed biometric requirements, approved medical reports from authorized centers, and properly attested documents where required. Many visa types now require pre-approval through Saudi platforms before embassy stamping. Processing timelines and requirements may vary based on visa category and nationality, so following the latest Saudi embassy guidelines is essential.

To get a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from Saudi Arabia, you must apply through the Absher platform if you are currently in the Kingdom. Log in to Absher, select Public Services → Security Clearance, submit the request, and download the PCC once approved. If you are outside Saudi Arabia, you need a fingerprint certificate, attestation from relevant authorities, and submission through the Saudi embassy or consulate. The PCC is commonly required for employment, immigration, or visa purposes.

To get a Saudi Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) after exit, you must apply from outside Saudi Arabia through the Saudi embassy or consulate in your current country. The process usually requires obtaining a fingerprint certificate from local authorities, followed by attestation from the foreign ministry of the issuing country and legalisation by the Saudi embassy. Once verified, the request is forwarded to Saudi authorities for PCC issuance. This method is commonly used by former residents for immigration or employment purposes.

Since Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2022, documents issued in member countries can be legalized with an apostille for use in the Kingdom. For documents issued in countries not part of the Hague Convention, the traditional embassy attestation process is required instead.

You can get an apostille in Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), as Saudi Arabia is now a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostille services are available for Saudi-issued documents only.

The process involves submitting the document through the MOFA portal or MOFA offices, verifying that it was issued by a recognized Saudi authority, and completing the required digital authentication. Once approved, the document receives an apostille certificate, making it legally valid for use in other Hague Convention countries.

No, MOFA attestation and apostille are not the same, though both are forms of document legalization.

MOFA attestation is a traditional legalization stamp issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm a document’s authenticity, usually followed by embassy attestation for use in non-Hague countries.
An apostille is a single international certification issued under the Hague Apostille Convention, which replaces embassy attestation and is accepted only by Hague member countries.

In short, apostille is used between Hague countries, while MOFA attestation applies when apostille is not accepted or for additional local validation.

Apostille can be applied to documents that are officially issued or certified by a recognized authority in a Hague Convention country. Common types of documents that can be apostilled include educational documents (degree certificates, diplomas), personal documents (birth, marriage, death certificates, PCC), and commercial documents (powers of attorney, company incorporation papers, contracts). The document must be original or properly notarised before apostille.

To authenticate documents at the Saudi Embassy, you must follow the Saudi attestation procedure. First, ensure the document is notarised (if required) and attested by the issuing country’s authorities, such as the Home Department or Ministry of External Affairs. After that, submit the document to the Saudi Embassy or Consulate for attestation. Once stamped, the document may also require MOFA attestation in Saudi Arabia to be fully valid for official use.