Apostille for Saudi Arabia: What Is Online and What Still Needs Paper
Searches for an online apostille for Saudi Arabia usually come from people who cannot travel to Delhi. Much of the work can start online: the check, the quote and tracking all happen on WhatsApp. The MEA apostille itself is still fixed to your paper document, so the original has to reach Delhi by courier or office drop-off.
Apostille for Saudi Arabia: the honest answer on online
Apostille for Saudi Arabia is the MEA apostille on an Indian document, accepted in Saudi Arabia since the Apostille Convention entered into force there on 7 December 2022. It replaced the older chain that ended at the Saudi Embassy. The apostille is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on the paper document, after a notary and the SDM, or a Chamber of Commerce for trade papers, have authenticated it.
So you cannot upload a scan and receive a valid apostille back by email. What you can do online is everything around it: send a photo, get the route and price in writing, and follow progress. The MEA has said it is developing electronic apostilles; until then, the original travels. For personal papers our total is Rs 1,000–1,500 per document.
Which parts of the apostille happen online
Done online
- Checking your document from a photo
- Confirming the route and written quote
- Progress updates on WhatsApp
- Courier tracking both ways
- Arabic translation draft, if you need one
Still needs the paper
- Notary attestation of a true copy
- SDM authentication in Delhi
- Chamber of Commerce stamp on trade papers
- The MEA apostille sticker itself
Need it online? INFINITYGRO also offers the online apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille service), usually ready in 2–3 working days; send the document and a copy of your passport, because the passport number is entered online.
From Saudi Embassy attestation to the apostille
Saudi Arabia deposited its accession to the Apostille Convention on 8 April 2022, and the Convention entered into force for it on 7 December 2022, according to the Hague Conference. Since then, an Indian public document with the MEA apostille does not need legalisation by the Saudi Embassy or a Saudi consulate.
Three routes to an apostille for Saudi Arabia
Educational documents
Degrees, diplomas, marksheets and transcripts: notary and SDM in Delhi, then the MEA apostille. Usually 2–3 working days.
Personal documents
Birth, marriage and police clearance certificates, experience letters: notary and SDM in Delhi, then the MEA apostille.
Commercial documents
Invoices, certificates of origin, MOA, board resolutions: Chamber of Commerce, then the MEA apostille. Quoted in writing.
How to send your documents without visiting Delhi
- 1WhatsApp a photoTell us the document and that it is for Saudi Arabia. We reply with the route, time and total.
- 2Courier the originalSend it with a passport copy to our New Ashok Nagar office, or drop it off in Delhi. There is no home pickup.
- 3We complete the Delhi stagesNotary and SDM, or the chamber for trade papers, then the MEA apostille.
- 4Tracked returnWe return the document by Blue Dart or another secure courier and share the tracking number.
The apostille carries a unique number, and the receiving office in Saudi Arabia can check it against the MEA’s apostille register.
Apostille for Saudi Arabia: fees and time
| MEA apostille, personal or educational document | Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document, all-inclusive: notary, SDM attestation, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service |
|---|---|
| Usual time | 2–3 working days in Delhi after the document reaches us |
| Courier | Extra, both ways |
| Translation | Quoted by language and page |
These rates are for personal and educational documents. Commercial papers are quoted in writing after we see them. No Saudi Embassy fee applies to apostilled documents.
All charges for this country, including any embassy fee, are on its own fee page.
Saudi Arabia attestation and apostille feesOnline apostille (e-Sanad / QR apostille) in 2–3 days
INFINITYGRO also offers the online apostille, the e-Sanad apostille service, whose sticker carries a QR code. Done through us, it is usually ready in 2–3 working days.
What we need from you:
- The document to be apostilled
- A copy of your passport: the passport number is entered online
- The country where you will use the document
FAQs: Apostille for Saudi Arabia: What Is Online and What Still Needs Paper
Can I get an apostille for Saudi Arabia completely online?
Not for a normal paper document. The check, quote and tracking are online, but the MEA fixes the apostille to the paper after the notary and SDM stages. The original has to reach Delhi by courier or drop-off.
Is the Saudi Embassy stamp still needed?
No. Since 7 December 2022 Saudi Arabia has been a party to the Apostille Convention, so an Indian document with the MEA apostille does not need Saudi Embassy legalisation. Some older checklists still mention it; ask the receiving office if in doubt.
Can I send a scan by email and get the apostille back?
No. The MEA apostilles the paper document after it has been authenticated in Delhi, so a scan alone cannot be apostilled. Send a scan or photo for our check and quote, then courier the signed original to our office or drop it off.
How much does an apostille for Saudi Arabia cost?
For personal and educational documents, Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per document in total, covering the notary, the SDM, the Rs 50 MEA fee and our service. Courier is extra. Commercial documents are quoted in writing.
Can commercial documents be apostilled for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia has made no declaration excluding commercial papers, unlike Oman. They need a Chamber of Commerce stamp first, because the MEA asks for chamber pre-authentication on commercial documents, and then the MEA apostille. Each set is quoted in writing.
How does the Saudi side check the apostille?
Each MEA apostille carries a unique number and a date of issue. The office in Saudi Arabia can check these against the MEA’s apostille register. Keep a clear copy of the apostilled document for your own records before you hand it over.
Can someone else send my documents for me?
Yes. A family member can courier your original to us with a copy of your passport and a note of your WhatsApp number. We return the document to the address you give us, by Blue Dart or another secure courier.
Do I need an Arabic translation for Saudi Arabia?
Some Saudi offices accept English, others ask for Arabic. Ask the employer or office handling your case. INFINITYGRO translates into Arabic, priced by page, and the translation can be done while the apostille is in progress.
Official sources
Start your apostille for Saudi Arabia online
WhatsApp a photo of your document and tell us it is for Saudi Arabia. We confirm the route, time and total in writing, then you courier the original.
Office: C – 5 A/2 New Ashok Nagar, Delhi – 110096 · Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM · office drop-off or courier, no home pickup
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Disclaimer: INFINITYGRO is a private document facilitation service, not a government office or embassy. Apostilles and attestations are issued only by the Ministry of External Affairs and the embassies concerned; we do not issue, correct or verify certificates. Rules and fees can change, so check the requirements of the authority that will receive your document.
Last reviewed: October 2026