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.