Indian Document Attestation for Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 23 January 2023. This simplifies the process of authenticating and legalizing Indian documents for use in Saudi Arabia. Previously, Saudi Embassy attestation was required, which involved a more complex procedure. Now, as a member of the Hague Convention, Saudi Arabia accepts apostille attestation as the sole requirement for recognizing the legality of documents from other member countries, such as India. This change streamlines various processes, including recruitment and immigration, for both Saudi Arabian nationals and foreign nationals.
What is Saudi Embassy Attestation?
Saudi Embassy attestation is the official process by which Indian-issued certificates and documents are authenticated for use in Saudi Arabia. This involves multi-stage verification by Indian authorities, the Saudi Cultural Attaché (for educational documents), and the Saudi diplomatic missions in India either the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai.
This process is required for employment, family, student, and business visas, as well as for academic and professional recognition in KSA.
MEA Apostille for Saudi Arabia
An Apostille is an official sticker and certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. With Saudi Arabia’s recent accession to the Hague Apostille Convention, Indian documents only need this MEA Apostille to be legally accepted in Saudi Arabia no need for separate Saudi Embassy or Consulate attestation.
This change simplifies the document legalization process for students, professionals, families, and businesses. Whether it’s a degree certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, or commercial invoice, a single Apostille by the MEA is now sufficient for use in Saudi Arabia.
Key Benefits of the Apostille System:
- Globally Recognized: The Apostille is valid in all 120+ member countries of the Hague Convention, including Saudi Arabia.
- No Embassy Attestation Needed: Once apostilled, your document is fully accepted in KSA no need for Saudi Embassy or Cultural Attaché stamps.
- Streamlined Process: Eliminates the multiple steps previously needed for embassy legalization, saving time and effort.
- Secure and Verifiable: Apostilles include unique QR codes or tracking numbers, enabling Saudi authorities to verify authenticity online.
✅ We assist with MEA Apostille services across India for all types of personal, educational, and commercial documents ensuring your paperwork is 100% compliant and ready for Saudi use.
What is Musadaqa Verification for Saudi Arabia?
Musadaqa Verification (مصادقة الشهادات) is the official Saudi certificate authenticity verification process required for Indian-origin (and other foreign) documents before they are accepted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). “Musadaqa” translates to “attestation” or “verification” in Arabic and is a mandatory part of document legalization, especially for professionals, students, and families relocating to Saudi Arabia.
This verification confirms that your certificate has been attested by the required Indian and Saudi authorities and is valid for use within KSA. It is typically carried out after MEA and Cultural Attaché attestation, and just before or along with the final Saudi Embassy stamp.
Where is Musadaqa Verification Needed?
- Educational Documents: Degrees, diplomas, and mark sheets required for Saudi employment visas (teaching, technical, engineering, and healthcare jobs).
- Professional Certificates: Required for licensing in regulated sectors like medical, engineering, and academic professions in Saudi Arabia.
- Academic Transcripts: Necessary for university admissions or for obtaining MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) equivalency in KSA.
- Personal Documents: In some cases, personal documents (e.g., marriage or birth certificates) may also need Musadaqa verification for family visa purposes, depending on Saudi Embassy or employer requirements.
Our experts provide full support for Musadaqa verification, including document tracking, Cultural Attaché coordination, and final submission to the Saudi Embassy. This ensures your certificates are fully compliant for use in Saudi Arabia.
What is the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) verification?
The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) is the professional licensing authority for engineers. All expatriate engineers in KSA must register with SCE. A key requirement is that your engineering degree be attested by the Saudi Cultural Attaché (Mosadaqa) in your home country. After obtaining that attestation, you can apply online at the SCE portal. GloboPrime can prepare and apostille your degree so it meets SCE criteria.
We offer a number of other services, such as translation and document legalization.
Step-by-Step Saudi Document Legalization Process
The exact attestation/apostille procedure varies slightly by document type. Below we outline the current process step by step:
For Personal & Commercial Documents
Examples: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Police Clearance, Power of Attorney, Company Invoices, etc.
- State-Level Authentication:
• Personal documents are authenticated by the State Home Department or SDM.
• Commercial documents must be authenticated by the Chamber of Commerce. - MEA Apostille: After state authentication, documents are sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for Apostille. No Saudi Embassy stamp is needed after this; the Apostille is accepted as final.
For Educational Documents (for Saudi Work Visas)
Examples: Degree Certificates, Diplomas, Engineering/Medical degrees, Transcripts
- State HRD Attestation: Authenticated by the respective State Education Department/HRD (e.g., Tamil Nadu HRD for Chennai degrees).
- MEA Attestation (Pre-Verification): MEA verifies the HRD-attested document before Mosadaqa submission.
- Mosadaqa Verification (Saudi Cultural Attaché):
• Submission of MEA-attested degree
• Academic transcripts
• Passport copy and required forms
• Verification is done with your Indian university - Final MEA Apostille: After Mosadaqa approval, the document is submitted again to MEA for Apostille. No Saudi Embassy attestation is needed after this step.
Important: Skipping any step could lead to rejection. We manage the entire process, including Mosadaqa follow-ups with universities.
Documents We Process for Saudi Attestation/Apostille
Educational Certificates (Mosadaqa Route)
- Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Certificates
- Diploma and PhD Certificates
- Professional Degrees (Engineering, Medical, etc.)
- Transcripts or mark sheets (usually required as supporting documents)
Personal (Non-Educational) Certificates
- Birth Certificates
- Marriage Certificates
- Death and Divorce Certificates
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
- Medical Fitness Reports
- Experience Certificates (if required)
Commercial Documents
- Certificate of Origin and Invoices
- Power of Attorney
- Company Incorporation Docs (MOA/AOA)
- Board Resolutions, Distributor/Agency Agreements
Each document has its unique authentication path. We ensure accurate routing for seamless MEA Apostille and Saudi compliance.
Nationwide Service – Serving All Major Cities in India
As a leading Apostille and attestation service provider, GloboPrime offers secure document collection and delivery across India. No matter where you are located, our network covers you for Saudi document legalization:
South India (Tamil Nadu & Neighbors)
We provide full support in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Erode, Tirunelveli, and Vellore. Our services also extend to: Karnataka: Bangalore, Mysore Telangana: Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Clients across Tamil Nadu and all South Indian states benefit from our dedicated processing teams.
West & Central India
Our attestation services are popular in: Maharashtra: Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik Gujarat: Ahmedabad, Surat We have fast-track coordination teams in Mumbai and Gujarat to process business, academic, and personal documents from Western India.
North India
All documents from Delhi NCR and neighboring northern cities are routed through our New Delhi office for quicker Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) processing and Saudi Embassy submission. This ensures faster turnaround for clients in North India.
Pan-India Doorstep Service
Whether you’re based in a metro city or a smaller town, our secure courier and logistics partners ensure: • Safe document collection from your location • Timely processing for state attestation, MEA stamping, Mosadaqa verification • Door delivery of your fully legalized documents ready for use in Saudi Arabia No need to travel or wait in lines we make Saudi attestation fast, legal, and effortless from anywhere in India.
Saudi Qiwa & Engineering Council (SCE)
Saudi Arabia’s Qiwa portal is a digital HR platform allowing online verification of work-related certificates (e.g. salary or employment certificates). Employers and expats can use Qiwa to validate official documents and manage labor approvals. The Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) requires all professional engineers/technicians to register for employment. One SCE requirement is that your engineering degree be attested by the Saudi Cultural Attaché in your home country.
GloboPrime can ensure your degree has the needed Saudi CA stamp (via Mosadaqa) before you apply for SCE membership.
Saudi Embassy & Consulate Contacts
For any queries or in-person assistance regarding Saudi attestation, visas, or citizen services, you can contact the following Saudi diplomatic missions in India:
-
Embassy – New Delhi:
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, EP 30 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: +91-11-26111007
Email: inemb@mofa.gov.sa
Working Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Monday to Friday) -
Consulate – Mumbai:
Saudi Consulate, Maker Tower, F-Wing, 4th Floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005
Tel: +91-22-22156001 / 22156002
Email: incon@mofa.gov.sa
Working Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Note: Saudi Arabia no longer requires embassy attestation for Indian-issued documents that are apostilled. These missions now primarily assist with visa processing and citizen-related services.
Required Documents & Details
When submitting for Saudi apostille/attestation, prepare:
- Original Certificate: Government-issued or university-issued original document (final degree, original birth/marriage certificate, etc.). Apostille cannot be done on photocopies.
- Copies: One clear photocopy of each document (for the service agency).
- Passport Copy: Photocopy of applicant’s valid passport bio page. (Required by MEA service providers.)
- Application Forms: Any forms required by the attesting authority or by GloboPrime (we provide these).
- Supporting Letters:
- For degrees, a university letter verifying authenticity.
- For commercial documents, a company cover letter on letterhead.
- Additional IDs:
- For minors, parents’ passport copies.
- For marriage certificates, spouse passport copies.
- For experience certificates, authorization letters.
- Fees & Receipts: Payment proof if already paid (we can handle payments as needed).
- Translation (if needed): If required by Saudi, you may need certified Arabic translations. GloboPrime can arrange translations with notarized affidavits if necessary.
All documents should be in good condition with clear text and official stamps. Incomplete or illegible documents can be rejected by the MEA. Our experts pre-check every document to avoid delays.
Processing Times & Fees
Processing times for Saudi Apostille and Attestation services can vary depending on the type of document and the issuing state. Below is an estimated timeline for each stage:
- Notary/SDM Attestation: 3–5 business days per document (may vary by local authority).
- State Attestation (HRD/GAD): 7–10 business days. Expedited options may be available in some states.
- MEA Apostille: 5–7 working days from submission. Express processing is available upon request.
- PCC Apostille: 1–2 working days. Often completed within the next business day.
Total Turnaround: Typically 2–3 weeks for complete apostille and attestation, depending on document type and issuing location.
For urgent cases, we offer rush processing with priority handling and real-time tracking support.
How to Get Saudi Cultural Attaché Attestation for Degree Certificates?
For jobs in Saudi Arabia, degree certificates often require Saudi Cultural Attaché attestation, which involves:
- ✅ Online Mosadaqa verification (Saudi Cultural Attaché contacts the university)
- ✅ A valid job offer letter from a Saudi employer
- ✅ Mark sheets and transcripts
🔹 Processing Time: Can take 60+ working days, so apply early.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is Saudi Arabia an Apostille country now? Do they accept the Apostille?
A: Yes. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention effective December 7, 2022. This means Saudi authorities now accept an MEA Apostille on Indian documents as sufficient proof of authenticity. In most cases, Saudi Embassy attestation is no longer required if an Apostille is present.
Q: Do I still need Saudi Embassy attestation after getting an Apostille on my document?
A: No. As per the rules following Saudi’s entry into the Apostille Convention, the Saudi Embassy or Consulate attestation is no longer needed for documents that have been apostilled by MEA. The Apostille alone is valid and legally accepted in Saudi Arabia. Only in rare cases, specific authorities may ask for additional verification.
Q: What exactly is Mosadaqa and is it mandatory for Saudi attestation?
A: Mosadaqa is the official certificate verification system managed by the Saudi Cultural Attaché. It is mandatory for all educational documents intended for Saudi employment or study. The platform verifies your credentials directly with your university. Without Mosadaqa verification, Saudi authorities will not recognize your degree. Our team manages this verification step for you.
Q: How long does the Saudi Apostille attestation process take in 2024?
A:
- Personal and Commercial Documents: Typically 8–12 working days (includes state authentication + MEA Apostille).
- Educational Documents: Around 20–30 working days due to the Mosadaqa university verification step. The timing depends on how quickly the issuing university responds.
We offer expedited services upon request for urgent deadlines.
Q: Can I get my documents apostilled without being present in person?
A: Yes, you do not need to be physically present. GloboPrime provides complete end-to-end attestation and Apostille services. We pick up your documents from your location, process all stages including MEA Apostille and Mosadaqa, and return the legalized documents to you. Our service is designed to be 100% remote, secure, and hassle-free for clients across India.
Why should I choose GloboPrime India to attest my Indian documents for Saudi Arabia?
experts in attestation
We have a team of experienced attestation experts who can guide you through the entire process.
fast and efficient
We will get your documents attested as quickly as possible.
reliable
We have a proven track record of success in getting our clients' documents attested.
located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
We are conveniently located to serve our clients in Chennai and throughout India.
