Document legalisation for Saudi Arabia — Documents, steps & acceptance checks
Document legalisation for Saudi Arabia: The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Jeddah explains the route for Thai government documents used in Saudi Arabia: translate the Thai document into English or Arabic (by yourself or a translator, with the translator’s certification), have the translation certified with the original at the Legalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chaeng Watthana), then have it certified by the Thai mission in Saudi Arabia, and finally certified by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs before use. Saudi Arabia is an Apostille Convention party, but Thailand’s Apostille takes effect only on 28 February 2027 (B.E. 2570); after that date, confirm with the Saudi recipient whether an Apostille is accepted instead of the consular route. Confirm the named receiving authority’s checklist before arranging certification. The document type, country of issue and intended use determine which steps are needed.
- Service fee
- quoted per case (phone · LINE · email)
- Timing
- Confirmed after file review
Documents to prepare
Prepare the accepted original or issuer-certified copy, passport spelling and the recipient’s country-specific checklist.
Service-specific checks
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Jeddah explains the route for Thai government documents used in Saudi Arabia: translate the Thai document into English or Arabic (by yourself or a translator, with the translator’s certification), have the translation certified with the original at the Legalisation Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chaeng Watthana), then have it certified by the Thai mission in Saudi Arabia, and finally certified by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs before use. Saudi Arabia is an Apostille Convention party, but Thailand’s Apostille takes effect only on 28 February 2027 (B.E. 2570); after that date, confirm with the Saudi recipient whether an Apostille is accepted instead of the consular route.
Which authentication route applies?
Before 28 February 2027, Thai documents use the existing legalisation route: issuing authority or Notarial Services Attorney when needed → Thai MFA → destination embassy only where required. Not every public document needs notarisation. From 28 February 2027, an Apostille may replace consular legalisation for eligible public documents where the Convention applies between Thailand and the destination. Check objections, exclusions and the recipient’s current rules before filing.
Before sending originals
Check passport spelling, all pages and seals, the recipient’s document-age rule and whether the issuer must send the record directly. Keep a copy of the recipient’s instructions. Avoid sending unrelated sensitive records in the first enquiry.
Fees and authority queues
Service fees depend on document type, translation language, volume and the confirmed route. Government, embassy and courier charges are separate items in the written quote. Authority queues and requests for corrections affect timing; confirm an estimate for the actual file.
Limits of certification
Acceptance and any exemptions are decided by the receiving authority. Authentication does not guarantee a visa, admission, registration or business approval.
Preparation and filing
- 1. Prepare the recipient’s checklist and documents.
- 2. Verify originals, signing requirements and the appropriate certification.
- 3. Confirm the applicable authority steps before submission.
- 4. Review the returned documents against the agreed checklist before delivery.
Questions before filing
Does certification guarantee acceptance?
Acceptance and any exemptions are decided by the receiving authority. Authentication does not guarantee a visa, admission, registration or business approval. No. Authentication verifies a relevant signature or seal, not document contents or eligibility. The receiving authority decides acceptance and may request further evidence.
Can I complete everything by courier?
Not always. Sending scans can help with preliminary review, but signature witnessing requires the signatory’s appearance as required. Original comparison and recipient rules may require original documents. Confirm before posting.