Saudi customs laws stipulate a number of requirements for certificates of origin.
A "certificate of origin" is a document specifying the country from which an item is being shipped. There are many reasons that a certificate of origin may be requested; most laws specifying the need for a certificate of origin when shipping are delineated in treaties and international trade agreements. Saudi Arabia requires certificates of origin in order to accept shipments through customs in any Saudi port.
Basic Requirements
All goods commercially shipped to Saudi Arabia must arrive certified by a certificate of origin. That certificate must show the country from which the shipment comes. Saudi customs also requires two copies of a certificate of origin---which must contain very specific information--before accepting shipments into any Saudi ports.
Required Information
In order to be accepted by Saudi customs, a certificate of origin must contain a number of pieces of information. First, the certificate must be issued by the exporting company. The certificate must state clearly the name of the ship or airline on which the shipment is traveling, along with the shipment's date of departure. The manufacturing company's name and complete address must also be listed.
The place of production of each item being shipped to Saudi Arabia must also be stated on the certificate of origin. In addition, Saudi Arabia requires a signed statement certifying that all the information printed on the certificate of origin is correct. If any product being shipped to Saudi Arabia has not originated in the country of export, then an appendix, called the "Appended Declaration to the Certificate of Origin," must be added, specifying the details of the product's manufacture.
Finally, the name of the Saudi Arabian importing company must be listed, as well as a description of each item in the shipment and the name and address of the shipping company.
Getting Certification
In order for a certificate of origin to be valid once a shipment reaches Saudi Arabia, it must be authenticated in a very specific manner and in a very specific order. The certificate of origin must first be notarized by a notary public and granted certification by the country of origin's chamber of commerce. It must then be certified by the business council in partnership between Saudi Arabia and the country of origin. It is then brought to the country of origin's Saudi embassy or consulate to be legalized by the Saudi authorities.
