22 November 2023
Immigration
Impact Medium
Electronic degree attestation process implemented for select foreign nationals
Summary
The Saudi Arabia Cultural Attache (SACA) has introduced a new online platform called Mosadaqa, allowing select foreign nationals to electronically attest their non-Saudi degree certificates on August 29. Previously, applicants had to visit SACA in person for attestation.
The Detail
The Saudi Arabia Cultural Attache (SACA) has implemented a new process for attesting non-Saudi degree certificates for select foreign nationals. As of August 29, 2023, applicants can utilise the government’s online platform, Mosadaqa, to complete the initial step of attestation electronically. This marks a departure from the previous requirement of in-person attestation at SACA.
Initially, Mosadaqa accepted degree certificates from educational institutions in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine, and in a recent update on the 14th November, this list has extended to include Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The platform covers a range of educational qualifications, including college diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, higher diplomas, master’s degrees, and PhD degrees.
To initiate the attestation process through Mosadaqa, applicants must create an account on the platform and provide detailed information about themselves and their educational background. The required documents for submission include scanned copies of the applicant’s passport, national identification card, official certificate (authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the degree-issuing country), and transcripts.
Applicants are also required to pay a fee for the attestation service using either a Visa or Mastercard credit card through the online platform.
It is important to note that despite the introduction of electronic attestation, eligible foreign nationals must complete a second step in the process. Once the electronic attestation is completed by SACA, applicants must physically visit the Saudi Embassy in the country where their degree was issued to manually verify their degree.
How we can help
We are closely monitoring these changes in Saudi Arabia, and can advise you with respect to the impact of those changes as well as conduct any assessments your business might need to comply with the new requirements.
For additional alerts, please visit www.vialtopartners.com/regional-alerts.
Contact us
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner
anir.chatterji@vialto.com
Ali Ibrahim
Director, KSA and Bahrain Lead
ali.a.ibrahim@vialto.com
Ahmed Amer
Manager
ahmed.amer@vialto.com
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
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