The Hague Convention is a multinational treaty that was created by The Hague Convention on Private International Law, which was first enforced on October 5, 1961, by the initial approving countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. The Conference specifies how certain varieties of documents issued in a signatory country may be certified for legal functions in the other signatory countries.
As a part of the current national campaign to ease market entry and develop the private sector, Saudi Arabia acceded to The Hague Convention for abolishing the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents on December 7, 2022. Apostille for Saudi Arabia is now necessary for every foreign document that needs to get validation in the country.
On April 8, 2022, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia registered its accession to The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 abolishing the legalization requirement for overseas public documents (Apostille Convention). The Apostille Convention is supposed to go into force for Saudi Arabia on December 7, 2022. As a result of this addition, the Apostille Convention has now 122 member countries. An Apostille from one member country is completely valid in the other Hague member countries.
With the accession of Saudi Arabia, an Apostille from the Originating country of documents is enough to certify its validity. Apostille for Saudi Arabia will abolish the requirement of further certification from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Home country of the documents, and then from Saudi Arabia. This will reduce the complexity, timelines, and cost for the private sector in the country.
According to the Government of Saudi Arabia, all foreign documents (from government authorities, notaries, or courts) require legalization before using the documents in the country for any purpose. Legalization is an international procedure that needs to complete by the issuing countries of the documents to use overseas. This legalization helps to prove the genuineness and originality of the documents and their holder in other countries.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now a lively member of The Apostille Convention. Any further legalization is not necessary from the Embassies or Consulates of Saudi Arabia if the documents are from a member country of The Hague Convention. Because Saudi Arabia is a Hague member country now, all the documents of overseas citizens need to attain an Apostille from their Home country first before using their documents in Saudi Arabia.
An Apostille for Saudi Arabia will abolish the legalization requirement for foreign public documents from the Embassy/Consulate of the country. Under the Apostille procedure, specific authorities in the Home country of the documents issue an Apostille stamp following the Convention. This stamp is enough for certification to use those documents in other member countries of the Convention. The procedure of an Apostille is substantially faster than documents an attestation procedure. An Apostille proves the authenticity and legitimacy of documents to use in other Hague countries.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of the Native country of the documents is the main authority that provides the Apostille stamp. Apostille for Saudi Arabia will assist you to legalize your documents and authenticate the seals and signatures of authorities on Commercial, Personal, Professional, or every other legal document from one country that needs to get legalization from the concerned authorities to use them in another Hague member country.