Saudi Apostille Procedure: Authenticate Your Saudi Documents

In this post, I have detailed the Saudi Apostille Procedure — how to get your Saudi documents Apostilled/Attested easily.

This guide is specifically for people currently residing in Saudi Arabia who need to authenticate their Saudi-issued documents (like police clearance certificates, Saudi Birth Certificates) for use abroad.

For Indian nationals: If you need to authenticate Indian documents for use in Saudi Arabia, that follows a different process.

Check this article for detailed information about Indian document authentication.

Table of Contents

• What Is Apostille?
• Step-by-Step Saudi Apostille Process
• Key Things to Remember
• Benefits of Saudi Apostille
• Saudi Documents Appostile Process Summary
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts

What Is Apostille?

• An apostille is a single certificate, issued by the competent authority of the country that issued the document. Between countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention (India is one), it replaces embassy or consulate legalization, saving you time and travel to Riyadh or Jeddah. Once your document is apostilled, it is accepted in other Apostille Convention countries without further legalization.
• Saudi Arabia acceded to the Apostille Convention on 8 April 2022, and it took effect for the Kingdom on 7 December 2022, making document authentication much easier for residents. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the authority that issues Saudi apostilles. If you’re living in Saudi Arabia and need to authenticate your Saudi documents for use abroad, this guide will walk you through the entire process.

Step-by-Step Saudi Apostille Process

Step 1: Get Your Saudi Police Clearance

• Obtain your Saudi police clearance certificate through the Absher platform
• Download the soft copy (PDF format)
• Note: This only works if you’re currently residing in Saudi Arabia

Step 2: Book MOFA Ratification Appointment

• You’ll need the Nafath app installed on your mobile device
• Visit MOFA Website Appointment Page or Alternatively, Checkout our detailed guide on MOFA Appointment Procedure
• Book your MOFA ratification appointment

Step 3: Book Apostille Appointment

• Go to the MOFA website’s Apostille request page
• Fill in required details:
  • Organization name and address (usually your employer’s information)
  • Personal details and current region
  • Document type: Select “Original”
• Upload your Saudi police clearance (PDF only)
• Complete captcha and submit

Step 4: Make Payment

• Pay 30 SAR through SADAD for apostille service (SAR 30 is the fee listed for Saudi apostilles by the Hague Conference, HCCH)
• You’ll receive SMS confirmation once payment is processed

Step 5: Visit MOFA Office

What to bring:

• Hard copy of your police clearance certificate
• Printed MOFA ratification appointment
• Printed apostille appointment

At the office:

1. Get a queue number at reception
2. Submit all three documents at the designated window
3. Officer will process MOFA ratification (green sticker)
4. You’ll receive the electronic apostille copy via email

Key Things to Remember

• Print your appointments - you won’t be allowed inside without hard copies
• Fees: the apostille costs SAR 30 (HCCH listing). In our experience the MOFA ratification also cost SAR 30, about SAR 60 in total
• Apostille is accepted in Apostille Convention countries - no embassy authentication needed afterward for those countries

Benefits of Saudi Apostille

1. Convenience: No need to travel to embassies in major cities
2. Cost-effective: Lower fees compared to embassy authentication
3. Faster processing: Streamlined online booking system
4. Wide recognition: Accepted in all Apostille Convention countries

Saudi Documents Appostile Process Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I get apostille if I’m outside Saudi Arabia?

A: No, you must be a current resident to use Absher and complete this process.

Q: Do I need both MOFA ratification and apostille?

A: While apostille should be sufficient, some agencies may still require MOFA ratification. Getting both ensures no complications.

Q: Which countries accept Saudi apostilled documents?

A: Countries that are party to the Apostille Convention, including India, the USA, Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic and many others. For a country that is not party to the Convention, embassy legalization is still needed. You can verify a Saudi apostille on the MOFA verification page.

Final Thoughts

The Saudi Apostille system has significantly simplified document authentication for residents. While there’s still some confusion among local agencies about the process, following this step-by-step guide ensures your documents are properly authenticated for international use.

Need help with Indian document authentication for Saudi Arabia? The process for Indian documents is completely different and involves Indian authorities. Read our comprehensive guide on Indian document apostille procedures here.