FCDO and Saudi Arabia
On 8 April 2022, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of Hague Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention). The ceremony was held at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Depositary for the HCCH Conventions, where the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) is based. This marked a significant milestone, as it was the first HCCH Convention that Saudi Arabia joined since becoming a member in 2016.
This move is significant in international law and could affect cross-border business activities.
To obtain a UN apostille stamp for documents destined for Saudi Arabia, the process typically involves these steps:
Ensure Document Eligibility: Confirm that the document is eligible for apostille, as not all papers may qualify.
Notarization: Get the document notarized by a public notary in the jurisdiction where the document was issued.
Authentication: The notarized document should be authenticated by the relevant state or federal authority, such as the Secretary of State's office.
Department of State Certification: Obtain certification from the U.S. Department of State for U.S. documents.
UN Apostille: To obtain the UN apostille, submit the document to the Permanent Mission or Consulate of the country where it originated.
Legalization by Saudi Authorities: The document may need further legalization by the Saudi Embassy or Consulate after obtaining the UN apostille.
Translation: Provide a certified translation if the document is in a language other than Arabic.
Verify the specific requirements with the authorities involved and consider seeking professional assistance for a smoother process.
