PCC Saudi: How to Obtain the Police Clearance Certificate to Enter Saudi Arabia?

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Reviewed May 2024

A PCC or the Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by the police or government agency to travellers looking to enter Saudi Arabia for employment, residential status, or to apply for a long-term visa.

What is a PCC Saudi?

A PCC or the Police Clearance Certificate is an official document issued by the police or government agency to travellers looking to enter Saudi Arabia for employment, residential status, or to apply for a long-term visa.

Furthermore, the Police Clearance Certificate is also required when a person applies for immigration status to other countries. The PCC mainly details whether or not the applicant has a criminal record in Saudi Arabia and is required as part of the visa process by the respective high commission or embassy.

Please note that applicants applying for a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) are required to state their period of stay in Saudi Arabia.

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PCC Saudi requirements & application process

The PCC or the Police Clearance Certificate in Saudi Arabia can be applied in the following ways:

Foreigners who are currently in the Kingdom and have valid Iqamas:

Please note that only applicants with an Absher account can apply for the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) online.

The Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) can be applied online by any company with an active Elm by following the steps given below:

• The Government Relations Officer or the GRO will have to log into the Elm system, and under the AMN section, they can raise a request for an individual’s Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) by providing the individual’s:
  • Iqama number
  • Mobile number registered with Absher
• The applicants will further receive a text message in their Absher registered numbers to approve or reject the PCC application request.
• The applicants must log into their Absher accounts and select ‘Services’ and then ‘General Services.’
• After this, select ‘Qabul’ and click on ‘View Pending Request’.
• Select ‘Accept the Request’ to proceed further.
• The applicants will further receive a confirmation text from AMN.
• Lastly, the company can either print or save the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) online.

As per the recent update from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the procedure to obtain PCC has been altered. The below-mentioned steps must be followed after obtaining the PCC via the Absher platform to validate it.

• After obtaining the PCC via the Absher platform, proceed to the MOFA for authentication of the Police Clearance.
• If the PCC is to be submitted to a country that is part of the Apostille Convention, request the MOFA to issue an Apostille Certificate for the PCC.
• If the PCC is to be submitted to a country that is not part of the Apostille Convention, request the MOFA to authenticate the PCC.
• The final step is to proceed to the respective Embassy of your country in Saudi Arabia for authentication of the MOFA Specimen Signature.

Foreign Nationals who are outside the Kingdom and whose Absher accounts are suspended due to expired Iqamas:

• Designate a representative to apply for an Endorsement Certificate for the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) at your country’s embassy in Saudi Arabia.
• Then, proceed to the MOFA for authentication of the Endorsement Certificate along with the documents:
  • applicant’s fingerprint card
  • copy of Iqama
  • copy of most recent passport
• Then, submit the authenticated Endorsement Certificate to the Saudi Police to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• If the PCC is to be submitted to a country that is part of the Apostille Convention, request the MOFA to issue an Apostille Certificate for it.
• If the PCC is to be submitted to a country that is not part of the Apostille Convention, request the MOFA to authenticate it.
• The final step is to proceed to the respective Embassy of your country in Saudi Arabia for authentication of the MOFA Specimen Signature.

Required Documents to Apply for an Endorsement Certificate issued by the Embassy in Saudi Arabia

To obtain an original letter of endorsement or authority letter for the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the embassy of the applicant’s country of origin in Saudi Arabia, the following documents will be required:

• copy of valid Iqama
• copy of a valid passport
• one (1) coloured photo of the applicant with a white background
• duly filled application form, as provided by the embassy of the particular country

PCC Saudi fee

The fees for the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in Saudi Arabia depend on the country’s embassy from which the applicant is applying. 

Please make sure to consult the embassy of your country of origin in the KSA for details regarding the fees of the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

PCC exemption for Indian travellers

As announced by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi, Indian nationals will no longer need to submit Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) to gain a visa to Saudi Arabia. Thus, applicants will now be able to go through faster processing of applications, easier management by tour firms, and will have to provide less documentation.

The move comes in view of the strong relations and strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of India. Moreover, the decision has also been taken as part of the efforts of the two countries to further strengthen their relations.