Canadian documents intended for official use in Saudi Arabia must go through an authentication process before they can be recognized by Saudi authorities. This applies to a wide range of documents, including civil records, educational certificates, legal documents, and commercial papers.
Since both Canada and Saudi Arabia are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is now the standard method of authentication for most documents. Depending on where your document was issued or notarized, the apostille is obtained either through Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa or through a designated provincial authority such as Official Documents Services (ODS) in Ontario.
For educational documents such as degrees and transcripts intended for use in Saudi Arabia, an apostille from a Canadian competent authority is generally sufficient. However, there is an important additional step — educational certificates used for employment visa purposes must first be submitted to the Saudi Arabia Cultural Attaché (SACA) for university verification before the apostille is obtained.
Moreover, some employers or institutions in Saudi Arabia may still request the traditional embassy legalization stamp, so it is always advisable to confirm the specific requirements with your employer or the relevant Saudi authority before proceeding.
Reach out to me today to discuss your specific document needs and get a clear timeline.