Is Apostille Accepted in Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE)?
No, the Saudi Council of Engineers does not accept apostille. SCE only accepts documents attested by the Saudi Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Saudi Arabia.
Why is apostille not accepted by the SCE?
Saudi Arabia is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, apostille-stamped documents are not legally valid for official use inside Saudi Arabia, including for SCE verification.
What type of attestation is required for SCE?
SCE requires full embassy legalization in this order:
- University or issuing authority attestation
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing country
- Saudi Embassy attestation
- MOFA attestation in Saudi Arabia
đź“Ž All non-Arabic documents also need certified Arabic translation.
What happens if you submit an apostilled document to SCE?
SCE will reject the document with a note such as:
- “Apostille not accepted”
- “Document must be attested by Saudi Embassy”
⚠️ This will delay your membership approval until proper attestation is provided.
Which documents require embassy attestation for SCE?
| Document Type | Attestation Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Degree | âś… Yes | Must be attested and translated |
| Experience Certificate | âś… Yes (if from abroad) | Required if issued outside Saudi Arabia |
| Professional License | âś… Yes (if foreign) | Must be legalized and translated |
| Passport/Iqama | ❌ No | Only clear copy needed |
Can you use apostille for any other purpose in Saudi Arabia?
No. Apostille is not recognized for:
- Visa processing
- Employment contracts
- Government licensing
- SCE registration
Saudi Arabia follows traditional consular legalization, not the apostille model.