Saudi Arabia
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Saudi Arabia,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Saudi Arabia Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Saudi Arabia police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior / Police (processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa does not handle this service directly) currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Saudi Arabia PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Saudi Arabia for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Saudi Arabia as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Saudi Arabia.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Saudi Arabia.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Saudi Arabia may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Saudi Arabia, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior / Police (processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa does not handle this service directly) accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Saudi Arabia’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior / Police (processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa does not handle this service directly) — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Saudi Arabia PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Saudi Arabia
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior / Police (processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa does not handle this service directly). Use a tracked courier for original documents.
This certificate is not issued directly by Saudi authorities to applicants in Canada — it starts with an original ten-print fingerprint card. The requirement explicitly names two acceptable sources: a card issued by the RCMP, or one from a Canadian fingerprint services company accredited by the RCMP (such as Surrey Fingerprint Company), stamped by a notary public or commissioner of oaths. You will also need copies of documents proving your prior legal residency in Saudi Arabia (iqama, visa, employment documents, release letters, passport), an official letter from a Canadian agency requesting the certificate, and proof of your current status in Canada. The completed fingerprint card is then authenticated by Global Affairs Canada, legalized at the Saudi Embassy, and forwarded to a representative in Saudi Arabia to process with the police. Note: Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in December 2022, so a single MOFA apostille may now replace some of the older multi-step attestation chain — confirm current requirements since practice may lag the policy change.
Mailing address:
Saudi Arabia Embassy (Cultural Bureau), Ottawa, ON (certificate processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia, not directly by the Embassy)
Receive your Saudi Arabia PCC
Processing time is Multi-step process — confirm current timelines with your document legalization service or Saudi representative. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Saudi Arabia. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior / Police (processed via a representative in Saudi Arabia; the Saudi Embassy in Ottawa does not handle this service directly) before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Saudi Arabia PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Saudi Arabia applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Saudi Arabia while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Multi-step process — confirm current timelines with your document legalization service or Saudi representative. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Saudi Arabia's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Saudi Arabia for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Saudi Arabia PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Saudi Arabia.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com