Legalisation and Help Guides for Saudi Arabia

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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.

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Saudi Legalisation: How do I legalise my documents for Saudi Arabia?

Declan Ramsden
March 22, 2023

If you're planning on moving to Saudi Arabia, you'll need to know about the Saudi legalisation process. You won't be able to move over without it. Find out the most efficient way to legalise your documents for use in Saudi in this blog.

Neom Saudi Arabia: What’s going on over there?

Declan Ramsden
October 10, 2022

Have you ever wondered what a city from the future would look like? The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has, and he's gone one better - he's started building it. Find out what that could mean for you in this blog.

Saudi Labour Law Changes Gives Expats More Freedom

Melanie Clarke
November 16, 2021

With major changes being implemented in the Saudi Arabian employment market over the last few years, things have got increasingly more difficult for expats living there. New changes however are taking steps towards making life a little simpler for their foreign workforce.

Saudi Tighten Their Guidelines On Work Permit Documents – SAC...

Melanie Clarke
January 9, 2020

At the end of December 2019, the Saudi Arabian Consulate in London made unannounced changes to the types of documents they were willing to attest. They've also made changes to the supporting information required to submit your documents to the SACB.

Driving as an expat – can I use my UK license abroad?

Melanie Clarke
October 24, 2019

If you're moving overseas you may be thinking about how you're going to get around whilst you're there. Some people who live in a city are more than happy to rely on public transport, which you might find is vastly superior to services in your own country! But if you need to drive, can you use your UK license abroad?

Police Clearance Certificates – What Are The Different Types?

Melanie Clarke
March 7, 2019

Some form of police clearance check is now mandatory for employment in most sectors, and for the majority of countries when working overseas. This is especially true for all applications for China and Qatar, and in positions such as teaching and banking across the globe. But which types of checks are available, and how do they differ?

UK-Issued Islamic Marriage Certificates – Where Are They Reco...

Melanie Clarke
January 31, 2019

At present, Islamic marriages are not recognised as legally binding by UK law. This is out of step with many other religious ceremonies which are recognised such as Jewish and Quaker marriages. Unless the married couple go on to seek a civil ceremony, their marriage is not considered legal and will miss out on rights enjoyed by other married couples. Does this apply to other countries and can they be legalised for use overseas?

Saudi Arabia Blocks Expats From 12 Work Sectors

Melanie Clarke
May 7, 2018

In a series of phased changes to employment legislation starting September 2018 and running to January 2019, Saudi Arabia will prevent expats from being employed in 12 sectors. These are mainly retail-based roles, with an aim to boost employment opportunities for the Saudi population.

Education document attestation for Saudi Arabia – the SACB

Melanie Clarke
April 4, 2018

Degrees and college awards for use in Saudi Arabia must be verified by the SACB before the attestation, also known as legalisation, process can begin. Read how to get this initial stage completed, as well as the full attestation procedure.

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.

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