# What is an apostille?

An apostille is a certificate that confirms the signature and stamp on a public document are real, so the document can be used in other Apostille Convention countries.

Published by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations · Last updated 2026-10-19. General information about Saudi law — not advice on your situation.

## At a glance

- **In Arabic:** أبوستيل
- **Said as:** abūstīl (a-boos-TEEL)
- **Official channel:** In your country: the office it names for apostilles, listed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). For Saudi documents: the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- **Can you use it from abroad?:** Yes. You get the apostille in the country where the document was issued.


## Why does an apostille matter if you are a foreigner?

It matters because a document you send to Saudi Arabia from abroad often needs one. The Apostille Convention, an international treaty, has applied to Saudi Arabia since 7 December 2022. So a public document from another member country usually needs an apostille, not embassy stamps. A public document is one issued by an official body, such as a court or a notary.

An apostille shows where a document comes from. It confirms that the signature and stamp are real, and that the signer acted in an official role. It does not confirm what the document says. For example, it shows that a notary's signature is real, not that the contract is valid.

Saudi offices do not all treat it the same way. Saudi Arabia's central bank has told banks that apostilled documents need no further embassy stamps. Some other offices still mention embassy stamps in their own guides. So before you pay for any stamp, we check what the office receiving your document accepts.

If your country has not joined the convention, your documents go through [legalisation](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/) instead. This is a chain of official stamps that usually ends with the Saudi embassy or consulate.

## Where will you meet an apostille?

You will meet it whenever a document from abroad is part of a Saudi matter, such as a power of attorney or company papers:

- [Apostille or legalisation? Documents for Saudi Arabia by country](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/) — which route your country uses.
- [Documents from apostille countries for use in Saudi Arabia](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/apostille-countries/) — the countries and the steps.
- [Documents from countries that need legalisation](https://saudilaw.co/documents-from-abroad/legalisation-countries/) — the route if your country has not joined.
- [Power of attorney for Saudi Arabia, signed abroad](https://saudilaw.co/from-abroad/power-of-attorney/) — signed and stamped in your own country.
- [Setting up a Saudi company from abroad](https://saudilaw.co/company-formation/setting-up-from-abroad/) — company documents certified where they were issued.

## Can you get an apostille from outside Saudi Arabia?

Yes. You get it in the country where the document was issued, so you do not travel to Saudi Arabia for it. Each member country names its own apostille office, and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) lists them.

A private document, such as a [power of attorney](https://saudilaw.co/glossary/power-of-attorney/), is usually signed in front of a notary first. A notary is an official who checks your identity and confirms your signature. The apostille then confirms the notary's signature and stamp.

A Saudi document going to another member country gets its apostille from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The other country decides what it accepts, so ask its embassy.


## Frequently asked questions

### Is an apostille the same as embassy attestation?

No. According to the Hague Conference, the Apostille Convention replaces the traditional legalisation process with a single apostille certificate, issued by a competent authority in the place where the document comes from. Embassy attestation belongs to that older chain of stamps. Check [the route for your country](/documents-from-abroad/#countries-at-a-glance) before you pay for either.

### Does an apostille replace an Arabic translation?

No. An apostille is a certificate that confirms the signature and seal on a public document; it does not translate it. Courts and many Saudi authorities usually need a [certified translation](/glossary/#certified-translation) too, made by an accredited translation office. Ask us where it should be done before you pay for one.

### How can I check that an apostille is real?

Use the details on the certificate. According to the Saudi Central Bank's notice to banks, an apostille can be checked through the QR code or the contact details on it, or through the Hague Conference's website. An apostille issued in Saudi Arabia can also be checked on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' verification page (in Arabic), using its date and number.

## Official sources

- HCCH: [Apostille Convention status table](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41) (checked 2026-10-19)
- HCCH: [The ABCs of Apostilles](https://www.hcch.net/en/publications-and-studies/details4/?pid=4967) (checked 2026-10-19)
- HCCH: [Apostille Section](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/specialised-sections/apostille) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: [Apostille e-register (verify an apostille)](https://ratification.mofa.gov.sa/ApostilleRatification/Search) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Saudi Central Bank (SAMA): [Approval of "Apostille" Authentication for Foreign Public Documents](https://rulebook.sama.gov.sa/en/approval-apostille-authentication-foreign-public-documents) (checked 2026-10-19)

General information about Saudi law, not legal advice on your situation. For your own case, speak to a licensed lawyer. Contacting us does not create a lawyer–client relationship until an engagement letter is signed.

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Saudi Law is operated by RAED ALI ALJOHANI COMPANY FOR Lawyership and Legal Consultations, licensed in Saudi Arabia. https://saudilaw.co/glossary/apostille/