Australian healthcare professionals seeking employment in Saudi Arabia’s hospitals often need to provide an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Certificate as part of the security clearance process.
Since Saudi Arabia is a member of The Hague Apostille Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention), the document must first be Apostilled in Australia before it can be accepted by Saudi authorities.
Keep reading for a clear guide to managing this requirement.
Step 1: Apply for an AFP National Police Certificate
The process begins with obtaining your National Police Certificate from the Australian Federal Police. Applications are lodged online through the AFP website and require identification documents to be uploaded. In some cases, fingerprint checks may also be necessary.
The AFP issues most certificates digitally by email within a short period, although delays can occur if further checks are required. Applicants may also request a hard-copy version of the certificate if needed.
Step 2: Understand the Apostille Requirement
For the National Police Certificate to be accepted in Saudi Arabia, it must be Apostilled by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). An Apostille is an official certificate confirming the authenticity of the signature or seal on the document so that it is legally valid in other countries that are party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Without this Apostille, the certificate will not meet the compliance requirements for Saudi hospitals.
Step 3: Submitting Your Certificate for Apostille
There are two ways to proceed depending on whether you hold a digital or hard-copy certificate.
For digital certificates, forward the original AFP email that contains your police check and the verification link to a trusted Apostille service provider. They will print the certificate and submit it to DFAT to obtain the Apostille. This ensures the process is handled correctly without risking invalidation.
For hard-copy certificates, book the Apostille service online, then send the original certificate by post. Most providers supply a prepaid express label so you can lodge the document securely and quickly. Once received, the provider will submit the hard copy to DFAT for Apostille.
Step 4: Apostilled Certificate for Saudi Hospital Employment
Once DFAT attaches the Apostille, the National Police Certificate becomes a legally recognised document for use in Saudi Arabia. You can then submit it directly to your Saudi employer or the relevant authority as part of your hospital security clearance. The Apostille provides assurance that the certificate is genuine, removing the need for further embassy legalisation.
Why Use Authentifier for Apostille Services
At Authentifier, we specialise in managing Apostille requirements for Australian documents, including the AFP National Police Certificate, ensuring they are processed quickly and correctly for Saudi Arabia.
Our team works with both digital and hard-copy certificates, provides free express postage within Australia, and delivers progress updates so you always know where your document is in the process.
By using our service, you avoid DFAT wait times, reduce the risk of rejection, and save both time and money. For healthcare professionals preparing to work in Saudi hospitals, we make Apostille services straightforward and reliable.
