Getting your study-abroad papers ready in Saudi Arabia
In short: 3 offices in Saudi Arabia verify, attest or issue the papers a student visa asks for. For each: what it does, the official portal, the steps, the fee as its official page prints it and its offices, read on 16 October 2026.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) - Ratification and Apostille services
Gives legal validity to Saudi papers for use abroad (educational documents, personal status documents, contracts, commercial papers, letters). Issues the apostille certificate. Saudi Arabia has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 7 December 2022.
Make sure the paper is first issued or certified by the right Saudi body (for example your university or the Ministry of Education for school certificates).
Submit the ratification or apostille request on the MOFA electronic portal.
Pay electronically through SADAD (or Enjaz for Saudi missions abroad).
MOFA headquarters, one of its branches or a mission abroad reviews the request; book an appointment on the portal if asked.
Your apostille can be checked on the portal's 'verify apostille certificate' page.
Appointment: Book on the same MOFA portal ('Book a new appointment').
Ministry of Education (MOE) - View and print school certificates
Lets students view, share and print official school (general education) certificates from all years online, without visiting a school or the Ministry to authenticate them.
In Saudi Arabia: go in person to the Criminal Evidence Division at your nearest police station with your national ID (Saudis) or iqama, passport and a 4 cm x 6 cm photo. Some embassies (for example Canada) give you a request letter first.
Your fingerprints are taken and you get a receipt with a collection date.
Collect the certificate yourself.
The Ministry of Interior suggests the in-person route for use abroad, because only in-person certificates can get MOFA attestation.
Another route: an employer can request it on the Amen portal, and you approve it in Absher.
Saudi citizens abroad can apply through a Saudi Embassy (may take several weeks).
Apply online in ImmiAccount; give biometrics at an Australian Visa Application Centre run by VFS Global · Official booking
Lodge your Student visa application online in ImmiAccount.
Wait for the email asking for your biometrics.
Visit or book an appointment at the VFS centre in Riyadh, Jeddah or Al Khobar.
Bring the email and your passport.
Riyadh: 2nd Floor, No. 87-88, Sulemaniya Comm. Centre, Prince Mamdouh Bin Abdul Aziz Street, Sulemaniya District, Riyadh. 0900-1700, Saturday to Wednesday (page undated; check before you go)
Jeddah: Medina Road - Opposite Consulate General of India, Jeddah. 0900-1700, Saturday to Wednesday (page undated; check before you go)
Al Khobar: Prince Turki Street, Gulf Centre, 3rd Floor, Office No: 8, Al Khobar. 0900-1700, Saturday to Wednesday (page undated; check before you go)
German Embassy Riyadh (national visas). TLScontact handles only Schengen short-stay visas. · Official booking
Collect your papers (admission letter, blocked account or scholarship, school and university certificates with transcripts, motivation letter, CV).
Book a visa appointment through the German missions' website; an appointment is required.
Submit in person at the Embassy in Riyadh.
Pay the visa fee (2022 checklist: 'Visa fee of 75,- €, to be paid in cash in SAR'). Show student health insurance before the visa is issued. Processing can take 3 months or longer.
Riyadh: Embassy of Germany, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh (P.O. Box 94001, Riyadh 11693). Visa section Sunday to Thursday 13:00 to 14:30 (only for collecting passports or giving extra papers); phone +966 112 77 69 64, 14:00 to 16:00