How Indians Can Get an Apostille for Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of External Affairs, India (MEA) essentially applies an apostille, a specific stamp, to your Indian document to confirm its authenticity for use abroad in accordance with the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961. In place of the previous multi-step embassy attestation process, Saudi Arabia now accepts apostilled documents from India since joining the Hague Convention (approximately late 2022 or early 2023) 2023. For your Indian documents to be legally accepted in Saudi Arabia if you’re going there for a job, education, marriage, or business, this apostille stamp is required. Read on to learn how Indians can get an apostille for Saudi Arabia.

Documents That Need Apostille for Saudi Arabia
The documents you need for apostille services for Saudi Arabia depend on your intended use, such

Family
Business
Education
Employment

Common examples include diplomas and grade reports and business contracts. For instance, an individual working in Saudi Arabia needs an apostilled PCC and experience certificates. On the other hand, a student attending a Saudi institution will apostille their degree along with their personal identification documents. Before receiving an MEA apostille, some of these documents must pass additional verification processes (state HRD and notary).

Step-by-Step Process to Get an Apostille in India
You will learn about the common procedure here when it comes to the Saudi Arabia apostille.

Notarization
A local notary public must first notarize certain documents, particularly affidavits and powers of attorney.

State-Level Authentication
A state authority must authenticate the document after it has been notarized. For educational documents, this is typically the HRD of the issuing state. For personal documents (birth or marriage), it is the SDM or Home Department. For commercial documents, it is the Trade/Commerce Office.

MEA Apostille
Once the state has verified the document, you send it to the MEA (or another authorized agency) for an apostille stamp. According to India’s MEA, the Hague regime’s apostille includes the following documents

Public
Educational
Private

Although in reality it may take longer, the overall time following submission could be one to two working days. This is where apostille services for Saudi Arabia can assist with end to end handling. The fact is that the cost will vary accordingly.

How to Get a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Apostille
Following state authentication, you can request an MEA apostille directly if your PCC was issued by the Regional Passport Office (RPO).

If it was provided by a local police station, you will most likely need to complete the state-level attestation (SDM/Home Department) first. Then submit it to the MEA for apostille. For employment or immigration processes, the apostille attests to the document’s authenticity and approval for use in Saudi Arabia. Many people choose the Saudi apostille in India agencies for faster completion.

Using Online Services and the e-Sanad Portal
The e-Sanad online site was launched in India (via MEA) for apostille processing and document monitoring and verification. In addition to digital tracking and doorstep pickup and delivery, several apostille service providers also provide the MEA QR code/apostille certificate system for further protection.

Even if you are abroad, the Saudi Arabia apostille will make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Maintain originals and copies for your Saudi-bound requirements. Make sure to log your submissions, and confirm that the portal or agent you choose is allowed.

Post-Apostille Steps in Saudi Arabia
For Saudi Arabia, you’re essentially done after your Indian document has been apostilled. Nevertheless, a few more points may still be relevant:

Sometimes Saudi authorities require the final attestation or recognition by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a local Saudi consulate.

There is a unique requirement in terms of apostilled documents. They should adhere to translations into Arabic or English. Also, it should be notarized when needed. As Saudi Arabia has become a member of the Hague, the apostle alone suffices without Saudi embassy attestation. It is wise to confirm with your Saudi end institution or visa agent.

Key Tips for a Smooth Apostille Process
Everyone would love to ensure a smooth apostille process, and these are some of the tips to ensure a smooth apostille process.

Keep Your Documents Clean and Clear
Make sure that documents are original and properly organized before the process of the apostille procedure. Never ever consider using ripped or discolored documents. MEA will reject documents with hard to read seals or ambiguous signatures.

It is wise if you check whether the dates and spellings on the documents and passport are the same. When the document is clear and organized, you are halfway through the process already.

Know Which Office Handles Your Document
Various documents are sent to various departments for validation. The state HRD department is responsible for handling educational certifications. Certificates of birth and marriage are submitted to the SDM office or the Home Department.

In order to verify the business documents, businesses make use of the Chamber of Commerce. You don’t have to constantly visit back and forth when you choose the proper agency, so that time will also be saved.

Use Only Trusted Services
Always make use of trusted agencies or the e-Sanad portal for a Saudi apostille in India. These services are trackable and secure. Stay away from unknown agents that offer cheap deals or shortcuts. Your documents are kept safe, and you receive accurate documentation of their submission and completion through official channels.

Keep Extra Copies Ready
Keep a few scanned and photocopied copies of your apostille documents on hand at all times. Employers or Saudi authorities may occasionally request more copies. You can submit fast without having to go through the entire process again if you have them ready.

Get the Process Started Early
When you start the process early, you do not have to worry at the last minute. As the process is very important, you do not have to push yourself to the situation where double checking is necessary. When things go to the last minute, anxiety is inevitable. Anxiety is eliminated if you begin early.

The apostille procedure will proceed as smoothly as feasible if you follow these suggestions.

The Final Words

This is what you should learn when it comes to apostilling for Saudi Arabia. For the Saudi apostille in India, you can trust Talent Overseas. Even if you are unsure about which documents need authentication or which department handles them, our team will help you with every insight. Let us know your requirements today!

Posted in Apostille Attestation
Tagged Saudi apostille in India, Saudi Arabia apostille