SAUDI ARABIA
Documents required for Saudi Arabia customs clearance as follows:
- Original Commercial Invoice (Legalized)
- Original Certificate of Origin (Legalized)
- Packing List
- A Shipment Certificate through SABER will be required for every shipment ( effective Oct 1st 2025)
Effective Oct 1st all commodities being imported into Saudi Arabia require a Shipment Certificate from SABER. The Saber certificate, or certificate of conformity, is an official document issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies in Saudi Arabia. It serves as proof that a specific product meets the relevant technical regulations and specifications established by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO). Failure to supply the SABER certificate will prevent the the customs entry from being submitted creating a delay which will result in clearance delays and potentially storage fees. The new requirement for the SABER certificate also clearly state that applying for one after arrival will be considered invalid, preventing the customs clearance. The previous acceptable procedure of providing a letter of undertaking will no longer be acceptable.
Your commercial invoice must include the currency of the values listed. It should also include unit value and number of units sold. Identifying the HTS code on the invoice is also helpful in classifying the item properly with the local customs office.
A schedule B # or HTS code is required for every shipment prior to export.
If the value exceeds $2500 value, please also provide a completed SLI to ExFreight or complete the export declaration on the ExFreight website.
If your booking is Full Container (FCL), a VGM form must be completed before documentation cutoff date.
Please provide a scanned copy of the documents to ExFreight prior to freight departure.
Shipments to a military base may require additional fees and paperwork if the base requires an exclusive truck for delivery or bonded delivery.
The following commodities may require additional paperwork and or special import licenses:
- Medicines
- Food
- Cosmetics
- Tobacco products
- Medical devices
- Human drugs or medicines
- Veterinary products or medicines
- Alcohol
- Electronics
- Chemicals
- Products made of wood
- Firearms, weapons or military equipment
- Fireworks
- Vehicles & trailers (including RVs)
- Plants
Prohibited items:
- Counterfeit items, currency etc.
- Pornography
Important: Exercise independent care before relying on information contained herein. Although we strive to ensure all information is correct and current, ExFreight assumes no liability for detrimental reliance on this information. Trade requirements may change with little or no prior notification, de-facto requirements in certain countries vary from official regulations, and particular shipments and/or importers may have special destination customs arrangements. We encourage you to check with the importer or its customs agent in the destination country for specific importation requirements for specific products and circumstances.
Additional resource www.trade.gov
