Saudi Arabia: Accession to Hague’s Apostille Convention
December 13, 2022
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At a Glance
- On December 7, 2022, Saudi Arabia officially became the 122nd member to accede to the Convention Abolishing the Requirements of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, commonly referred to as the “Apostille Convention”.
- The new process allows documents originating in Saudi Arabia, such as education certificates and birth certificates, and those legalized according to the requirements of the treaty, to be accepted in the 121 member countries. It also allows documents similarly processed and originating from other Hague member countries, to be accepted in Saudi Arabia.
- The new process streamlines recruitment and immigration processing for employers and foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia by reducing processing times and avoiding complicated legalization steps at consulates. It also streamlines immigration processes for Saudi nationals in the other 121 Hague member countries. However, individuals should expect temporary delays as the new process is implemented across consulates.
The situation
On December 7, 2022, Saudi Arabia officially became the 122nd member to accede to the Convention Abolishing the Requirements of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, commonly referred to as the “Apostille Convention”. Delays should be expected as consulates implement the new processes.
A closer look
The new process allows documents originating in Saudi Arabia, such as education certificates and birth certificates, and those legalized according to the requirements of the treaty, to be accepted in the 121 member countries. It also allows documents similarly processed and originating from other Hague member countries, to be accepted in Saudi Arabia.
Impact
- Streamlined processing. The new process streamlines recruitment and immigration processing for employers and foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia by reducing processing times and lowering the cost of document legalization by avoiding additional certification or legalization at a consulate. It also streamlines immigration processes for Saudi nationals in the other 121 Hague member countries.
- Possible implementation delays. During the implementation of new apostille processes in accordance with the treaty, individuals should expect that temporary delays may occur in Saudi Arabia when obtaining such documents and with the acceptance of apostilled documents at Saudi consular posts in other Hague member countries.
Background
- Original convention. The Apostille Convention was established in 1961 to facilitate the use of public documents abroad. It abolishes the traditional, often lengthy, requirement of legalization, replacing it with a one-step attestation process through the issuance of a single Apostille certificate by a competent authority.
- Electronic program. In 2006, the Hague Conference on Private International Law launched an electronic Apostille Program (e-App) to support the electronic issuance and verification of Apostilles around the world.
- Saudi Arabia’s goals. Saudi Arabia joining the Hague convention is an example of the government's continuous effort to restructure the immigration framework to align with the country’s Vision 2030, and its plans to increase revenue by attracting more visitors, with a goal of reaching 100 million tourists by 2030.
Looking ahead
It is currently unclear if Saudi Arabia will adopt the e-App Program (the electronic Apostille Program that allows electronic issuance and verification of Apostilles around the world). Fragomen will report on any developments.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
