Legalisation and Help Guides for Saudi Arabia

Relocating to Saudi Arabia can require a lot of paperwork and some processes can be particularly complex. With the country’s vision being realised more over the previous few years and its development unrelenting, we are seeing an increase in people choosing to make the Sultanate their new home.

We have created a series of articles relating to both document legalisation processes, as well as other useful information guides which you will find of use if you are moving to Saudi Arabia. We always include as much information as possible about document processes, but as the world of legalisation has so many nuances, you may still feel like speaking to a real person.

Our friendly team of specialists are here to answer any questions you have or just to clarify some information, so just get in touch via live chat or one of the methods on out Contact Us page.

Saudi Arabia FAQs

  • The SACB stands for the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. They validate education awards before they can be legalised and used to apply for work permits in Saudi Arabia.

  • Yes, in the majority of cases, you will be asked to provide a police clearance certificate from your country of residence as part of your work permit application. This must have been issued very recently, so make sure you have your paperwork ready. Read our blog on this topic for more information.

  • In Saudi Arabia, you apply for a work permit first. You must have a secured position and an employer who can sponsor you for your work visa. Once you have that completed, you can then apply for an Iqama, or residency visa.

  • No, your documents must first be legalised in their country of issue. this is because the government in the issuing country must validate the documents and apply a stamp of authenticity to them before they will be accepted in Saudi Arabia. These steps will vary from country to country, so make sure you have the correct procedure for your circumstances.

  • No this is not necessary. Some procedures you must complete personally, such as the SACB, but this is an online service. Any physical legalisation stamps can be obtained on your behalf and returned to you wherever you are in the world, so you don’t need ot make any unnecessary trips.

  • There are strict guidelines on expat workers in Saudi, and only certain sectors are allowed to hire non-Saudi nationals. These changes have made certain jobs out of reach for some expats, but there are many well-paid roles in specialist areas intended to support Saudi in it’s future development.