Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia

If you are searching for a Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia, you may come across several English terms for the same type of document, including police clearance certificate, criminal record report, certificate of good conduct, and criminal background certificate.

The important point is not to be confused by these different expressions. On the current Absher platform, the official English service is presented as a Criminal Record Certificate, while the Arabic digital service is commonly known as Shahadat Khuluw Sawabiq (Certificate of No Criminal Record).

This guide explains the correct request route, the main requirements, the stated fees, certificate verification, what criminal record certificate validity means in practice, and when a legal assessment may be useful before submitting another request.

How to Request a Criminal Record Certificate: Quick Answer

Before going into detail, these are the main points to know when requesting a Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia:

• The current digital service is available through Absher.
• The request is made through: Absher > My Services > General Services > Absher Reports > Request a Report > Criminal Record Certificate.
• The stated service fee is SAR 57.50, including VAT.
• The service is described as immediate.
• Absher also provides a separate service for verifying a valid Criminal Record Certificate.

What Is a Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia?

A Criminal Record Certificate is, in practical terms, an official document that may be requested by an employer, government authority, professional body, or another organization to verify a person’s current criminal record status.

If you need a broader understanding of the legal matters that may fall within criminal jurisdiction, see types of criminal cases in Saudi Arabia.

When accessing the official digital service, you will find that Absher uses the term Criminal Record Certificate. Searchers, however, may still use expressions such as Saudi police clearance certificate, criminal background certificate, police record, or certificate of good conduct.

These terms should not automatically be treated as separate Saudi digital services. The current Absher route provides the certificate used for this purpose.

If you are trying to distinguish between a Criminal Record Certificate and other records relating to previous convictions or criminal history, the safer approach is to rely on the terminology and scope shown by the competent Saudi authorities.

Absher currently provides a digital Criminal Record Certificate service, while official government sources also refer to a traditional procedure for obtaining a criminal record document through the police in certain circumstances.

When Do You Need a Criminal Record Certificate?

Most people do not request a Criminal Record Certificate simply for information. Usually, another organization has asked them to provide it for a particular purpose.

The certificate may commonly be required for:

• Employment.
• Requests submitted by organizations participating in relevant government services.
• Providing official documentation to an authority outside Saudi Arabia.
• Administrative or professional procedures requiring a verifiable criminal record document.

Before starting the request, determine why the certificate is required.

Ask the following questions:

• Is it required for employment?
• Is it requested by a government or professional authority?
• Will it be used outside Saudi Arabia?
• Does the receiving authority require electronic verification or document authentication?

Identifying the purpose from the beginning can help you select the correct route and reduce the risk of submitting the wrong document or having to repeat the process.

Where the request is connected to an existing criminal matter or legal file, understanding the stages of a criminal case in Saudi Arabia may also help clarify the procedural position.

How to Get a Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia

The clearest current route for individuals begins through Absher.

To request the certificate electronically, sign in to Absher using your digital identity and follow this path:

• Select My Services.
• Go to General Services.
• Open Absher Reports.
• Select Request a Report.
• Choose Criminal Record Certificate.

Once the report has been issued, you can:

• View the certificate.
• Print the certificate.
• Access previously issued reports.

This is useful because the digital service is not limited to issuing the document. It also allows users to access the report again when needed, subject to the availability period shown by the platform.

Digital Absher Route vs. Traditional Police Route

The appropriate route may depend on why the document is required and the instructions provided by the requesting authority.

For many applicants, the Absher route will be sufficient. However, the traditional route may remain relevant where a requesting authority requires a formal letter, physical documents, fingerprints, or a specific in-person procedure.

Requirements for a Criminal Record Certificate in Saudi Arabia

The requirements depend on the route used.

For the electronic route, the main requirements include:

• An active Absher account.
• Fingerprints registered with the Ministry of Interior.
• Accessing the correct service within the platform.

Where the traditional police procedure applies, additional requirements may include:

• A letter from the authority requesting the criminal record document.
• Saudi national ID for Saudi citizens, or passport/Iqama for non-Saudis.
• A 4 × 6 cm personal photograph.
• Personal attendance for collection.

An important distinction should be made here.

Do not assume that a letter from the requesting authority is required for every Criminal Record Certificate application. The letter is specifically associated with the traditional procedure, while the digital Absher service follows its own electronic requirements.

Criminal Record Certificate Fees, Immediate Issuance and Verification

After identifying the appropriate route and requirements, three practical questions usually follow: How much does it cost? How long does it take? And how can another organization verify that the certificate is genuine?

The stated fee for the Absher service is SAR 57.50 including VAT.

The service is also described as immediate, and users may view and print the report after issuance.

Absher provides a separate verification service for valid certificates. The requesting organization will generally need information such as:

• The certificate reference number.
• The ID number of the certificate holder.
• Date of birth.

Electronic verification is important because some organizations may not rely solely on a printed copy. They may also require confirmation that the certificate remains valid and can be verified through the official system.

How Long Is a Criminal Record Certificate Valid in Saudi Arabia?

When people ask about Criminal Record Certificate validity, they usually want to know whether a certificate issued today will still be accepted when submitted at a later date.

Two different issues should therefore be separated:

• How quickly the certificate is issued.
• How long the receiving organization will accept it for its intended purpose.

Issuance through the digital service is described as immediate, and Absher provides a service for verifying valid certificates.

However, the official service information does not establish one universal validity period that every employer, authority, or organization must accept in every situation.

The more practical approach is therefore:

• Confirm that the certificate remains electronically verifiable when it is submitted.
• Check whether the receiving organization requires a recently issued certificate.
• Confirm any specific validity requirement directly with the organization requesting the document.

If your concern relates not simply to the certificate’s validity but to the continuing effect of a previous conviction or record, you may also need to understand when a criminal record may be cleared in Saudi Arabia, including the distinction between completion of a sentence, rehabilitation, and the subsequent criminal record position.

In practice, the period accepted by the requesting authority may therefore vary according to the purpose for which the certificate is being submitted.

If the certificate will be used outside Saudi Arabia, an additional issue may arise. Depending on the foreign authority and destination country, the document may require authentication or other formalities before it can be accepted.

When Is the Traditional Police Route Used?

Do not assume that every criminal record request is handled exclusively online.

Saudi government sources continue to provide information about a traditional procedure through the police for certain situations.

This route may become relevant where the process requires:

• A formal letter from the requesting authority.
• Specific paper documents.
• Fingerprinting as part of the procedure.
• Personal collection at a specified time or location.

If your situation does not fit the electronic Absher route, or the requesting authority specifically asks for a formal letter or police procedure, being directed to a different process is not necessarily unusual.

One particularly important requirement under the traditional route is that the criminal record document is collected personally rather than being delivered to another person on the applicant’s behalf.

What Should You Do If the Request Fails or Is Rejected?

If you cannot obtain your Criminal Record Certificate or the request stops before completion, begin with a practical review:

• Confirm that you are using the correct service within Absher.
• Check whether your fingerprints are registered with the Ministry of Interior.
• Determine whether your circumstances qualify for the electronic route.
• Ask whether the requesting organization requires additional documents.
• Confirm whether you actually need the digital certificate or a different traditional procedure.

Do not automatically assume that every problem is technical.

In some situations, advice from a criminal lawyer in Jeddah may help determine whether the difficulty is connected to an existing criminal record, the nature of the underlying file, or the procedural route that should be followed.

When Should You Seek Legal Advice?

In ordinary cases, obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate does not normally require a lawyer.

Some situations, however, may require a closer legal assessment, particularly where:

• The request has been rejected without a clear explanation.
• The document is required for use outside Saudi Arabia.
• The application repeatedly fails despite following the stated steps.
• You need to understand the legal position of an existing record before applying again.
• You need to identify the appropriate procedure before taking another formal step.

At that point, the question is no longer simply where to obtain the certificate. The more important question becomes which route applies to your particular circumstances.

For a clearer understanding of when legal assistance may be appropriate, see the role of a lawyer in criminal cases and when legal assistance may be needed.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Criminal Record Certificate

Saudi Arabia provides a relatively straightforward digital process for requesting a Criminal Record Certificate, with clear steps covering issuance, fees, verification, and the alternative traditional route.

The best starting point, however, is not simply the name of the service. First determine why the certificate is required. Is it for employment? A government authority? A professional organization? Or an authority outside Saudi Arabia?

Knowing the intended purpose makes it easier to select the appropriate route and reduces the risk of delay or having to submit a new request.

If your request has been rejected, remains unclear, or relates to a document that must be used outside Saudi Arabia, you can contact our legal team for an assessment of the circumstances and the appropriate next step before submitting another application.

You can also visit BMS Legal for Law and Legal Consulting to review our other legal services and related areas of practice.

Official References:

• Absher – Criminal Record Certificate.
• Saudi Ministry of Interior – Criminal Record Document Request.
• Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Document Authentication Service.