Saudi Arabia: Police Clearance Certificate Waived for Select Indian Nationals Applying for Work Entry Visas
November 29, 2022
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At a Glance
- Effective immediately, Indian nationals applying for a Saudi work entry visa are no longer required to submit a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) if they apply through the Saudi Consulate in Mumbai or New Delhi.
- The waiver is expected to significantly decrease processing times for the work entry visa, as obtaining a PCC normally takes up to a few months.
The situation
Effective immediately, Indian nationals applying for a Saudi entry visa for work are no longer required to submit a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) if they apply through the Saudi Consulate in Mumbai or New Delhi.
Impact
The waiver is expected to significantly decrease processing times for foreign nationals applying for work entry visa, assuming they have all other required visa documents in place.
Background
PCCs were originally implemented as part of the entry visa for work application to ensure that the applicant did not have a criminal history, a requirement for obtaining this type of visa. However, the government has decided that, due to the strong relations and strategic partnerships between the two countries and to further strengthen these ties, it would lift the requirement.
Looking ahead
It is expected that other Saudi consular posts in India will exempt applicants from the PCC requirement in the future. 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].
