Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Hi guys,
Glad to join you on here!
I've secured a job in a hospital in KSA and as part of the deployment process HR sent me the following email:

'We would like also to remind you of the following authentication requirements as prescribed by the Saudi Embassy and as part of the requirements for securing Saudi Council for Health Specialties License:

a. Professional Qualification (Diploma, Bachelor, MBBS, Master Degree, M.D., PhD Degree, Board Certificates and Transcripts for each qualification, as applicable), (Please note that the embassy may require to attestate/authenticate your documents from the country issuance.)
b. Certificate of Service (Work Experience/Employment Certificates),
c. License to Practice/Professional Registration,
d. Professional Trainings, as applicable.

These authenticated/attested documents will be required in the processing of your Saudi Council for Health Specialties License. The Saudi Council License is a mandatory requirement in securing an IQAMA (residence permit). Please ensure that the authentication requirements are in order to minimize difficulties during your employment.'

I'm slightly at a loss as I'm not exactly sure where and how to start this! Do take my certificates to the Saudi embassy in London and then they will do this for me after I somehow authorise it? Or is there an independent third party body that does this?? I hope I haven't made an ass of myself because it's all there in front of me and I'm missing it:confused:

Thanks, as they say, in advance!

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

If you don't want to do the running around yourself, you need a visa agent who will do it all for you. Are Harley Medic still around?

You'll pay a few hundred quid for this (that'll include the medical you'll need and actually getting the visa in your passport) but I thought it was well worth it. Even though I was planning to suck up this cost myself, it turned out that my company reimbursed it anyway although not all do.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Thank you, Sicklyman. But what does "running around" exactly involve? Because a few hundred pounds sounds a bit extortionate to me! And don't I need to go to the Saudi Embassy at some point, even if a third party takes care of the attestation business??

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Running around = 3 trips
1- local accountants/solicitor for attestation
2&3 - drop off & pickup of documents at embassy

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Don't they have to be attested (after solicitor notarisation) at the FCO in Milton Keynes before being sent to/handed in at the KSA Embassy?

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

You see... now you are getting advice that may or may not be right because even though the advice may have been valid the last time the posters did it, it may not be now. Plus, you need to have a medical done which is all included in the service provided by someone like Harley Medic.

If a third party does it for you, all you need to do is attend a medical... no trip anywhere else required. I went to the Harley Medic office (Harley St London) for about an hour and that was all I had to do. Everything else was done for me and passport arrived in the post about a week later.

If you are taking a job in Saudi and a few hundred quid is causing you angst then you're probably better off not going if the salary isn't going to help you cope with that. In the Gulf, you get used to paying people to do stuff for you because a) you have the cash and b) they have the knowhow. Might as well get used to that now.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

And also, the whole red tape experience you have opened yourself upto by agreeing to move to KSA is something you may have not experienced before, The Middle East loves red tape and getting you to run around. If they can make you do things 3 times and visit somewhere 5 times they will, just for shits and giggles. Processes change often, staff are rarely knowledgeable and generally its not much fun. If you can pay a few hundred quid to get some other smuck to do it foe you I would jump at it. Once you arrive you are going to have many instances where there isn't and it quicky becomes no fun at all.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Definitely get an agency to do it. Just Google Saudi visa agency London and see what comes up. They're all fairly similar. E-mail or call them, I'd suggest call, explain your situation, they will know what to do. Find out how much, the when and where, pay the money, and wait.

The last thing you want to be doing is getting involved in any Saudi red tape.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

I too say - GET AN AGENT.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Thanks guys. I will follow the general consensus and get an agent to do the legwork for me. One more thing, though, HR also asked for certificates of employment to be attested. Now during the interview stage I was asked to provide these, which I managed to get previous employers to email to me. Are PDF copies considered originals? Because that's all I got from them? Or should I request hard copies with wet signatures be sent to me??

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Depends how pedantic your company is. As with anything in the ME the more paper and the more stamps you have the better. So if its easily done then why not as it may save you hassle later. Although on the flip side they may never even ask to see them.

The ME is nonsensical! Sometimes they will make you jump through every hoop they can think of and the day after or with a different person they will let you stroll right through without a blink. Enjoy!

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Guide to ME red tape

Sunday........nothing will get done today as we are still waking up, the rules will change constantly throughout the day to provide us amusement and get rid of you! Can you not see we are all watching video`s from our friends weekend adventures!

Monday......well we are in the zone now so the rules this morning vary from yesterday but with slight changes after lunch! Plus I have to watch the 2 hour video of the camel farting competition!

Tuesday....boredom is setting in so we will maybe do some work and be a little helpful, but do not get excited as it all is not as it seems, this is to lull you into a false sense that you are getting somewhere, but do not worry we will find a piece of paper or stamp you do not have, then recommend that you go to a totally non existent dept to get it!!

Wednesday......Getting tired nearly the weekend is near so expect petulance and people ignoring you, this mornings rules will change this afternoon with several variances on certain things throughout the day! Bukra is the word of the day (tomorrow).

Thursday....Come back Sunday halas!

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

I have used Harley Medical and also Ross Consular who are based in Burnham. Both were very helpful and efficient. I would rather pay an agent than do the running around.

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Thanks, NABman.
I have been told by the company to now wait as they are coordinating issuance of employment visa and required letters by the embassy in London. Sounds like anything but straightforward!

Re: Certificates Attestation KSA
 

Do not even think of doing these things yourself.