Fingerprinting in Riyadh and Jeddah: FBI Checks, Saudi Police Certificates and Next Steps
Asked for fingerprints in Riyadh or Jeddah? The first question is not where to go but which check you need. A U.S. FBI check, a Saudi police certificate and another country's check are different documents with different steps. Here is how each works and what comes after.
If you live or work in Riyadh or Jeddah and have been asked for fingerprints, the first question is not where to go. It is which check you actually need. A U.S. FBI check, a Saudi police certificate, and a check for another country are different documents, issued by different authorities, with different steps. Mixing them up is one of the easiest ways to lose time.
This guide explains the checks people in Riyadh and Jeddah most often need, how fingerprinting fits into each, how to prepare so your prints are accepted, and how apostille and attestation work afterwards.
The Short Answer
- Identify the check first. Ask the organisation requesting it exactly which record, which authority, and which format it wants
- Fingerprints for a U.S. check must be taken correctly. The FBI requires a current fingerprint card and advises taking multiple sets, preferably by a fingerprinting technician. U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, according to the U.S. State Department
- A Saudi police certificate is a separate process. It is issued by Saudi authorities, and fingerprints for it are taken by the authority, not by a private provider
- Saudi Arabia is now part of the Apostille Convention. It entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022, which changed how many documents are legalised for use abroad
- Preparation lowers the risk of a repeat. A rejected card means re-taking, re-shipping, and waiting again
Which Check Do You Need?
| Your situation | Typical check | Who issues it | Fingerprints from a private provider? |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. visa, green card, U.S. job, or U.S. licensing | FBI Identity History Summary | FBI | Often yes, using the card the FBI requires |
| Canada, immigration or work | Saudi police certificate, and sometimes an RCMP check | Saudi police, or RCMP | Saudi certificate: taken at the police station. RCMP: depends on the request |
| Another country, residence or employment | Usually a Saudi police certificate, or that country's own check | Saudi police or the destination authority | Depends on the destination's rules |
| Professional licensing abroad | Varies by licensing body | The licensing body | Depends on the body |
Fingerprinting for an FBI Check From Riyadh or Jeddah
Many people in Saudi Arabia need an FBI Identity History Summary for U.S. immigration, employment, adoption, licensing, or personal records. The request involves a fingerprint card, the correct request, and the right submission route. The FBI's guidance on Identity History Summary requests names the FD-1164 fingerprint card for requests you send yourself, and requires a current card; our FD-258 guide explains how the two common cards differ.
Points that matter in practice:
- Embassies do not fingerprint. The U.S. State Department states that U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services, so you need another source of a properly taken card
- Quality matters more than speed. The FBI says to prepare multiple sets, preferably by a fingerprinting technician, and publishes card guidelines such as using the right ink, rolling nail to nail, and keeping the back of the card blank
- Don't reuse a rejected card. If your prints are rejected, confirm what the authority needs before sending anything again. Our guides to fingerprint rejections and what to do if prints are rejected twice cover this in detail
Saudi Police Certificates and Fingerprints
If a country abroad asks for a certificate from Saudi Arabia, that is a different process from an FBI check. According to Canada's immigration authority, a Saudi Criminal Record Certificate is issued through the Criminal Evidence Division of a police station in Saudi Arabia. Its guidance describes these points for Canadian applications:
- Fingerprints are taken by an identity technician at the police station once your documents are accepted
- You collect the certificate in person
- Employers can request a certificate through the Amen portal for employees, which requires an active Absher account and fingerprints taken by the Ministry of Interior. The same guidance notes that the Ministry recommends the in-person process for international use, because only in-person certificates can receive Foreign Affairs attestation
How to Prepare for Your Fingerprinting Appointment
Many rejections trace back to how the prints were taken, not to anything about the applicant.
Before the appointment
- Confirm the card, the request, and the authority with the organisation that asked for the check
- Moisturise your hands daily for a week or more beforehand, using a light, oil-free lotion rather than heavy cream
- Avoid harsh chemicals and activities that wear down fingertips where you can
At the appointment
- Bring a valid photo ID, such as your passport or iqama, and any reference paperwork from the requesting organisation
- Wash and dry your hands first, and tell the technician if your skin is dry or your fingertips are worn
- Ask for unclear impressions to be retaken on the spot, before you leave
Before the card is sent
- Check that every field is complete and legible, and that all ten fingers are rolled and in the right boxes
- Keep the card flat, unmarked, and in a protective envelope
- Send it with the correct request and payment, using a trackable service. Unsure who can send it? See Can Someone Submit My Fingerprint Card for Me?
Apostille, Attestation and Legalisation After the Check
Once you have the result, the next question is whether it needs to be authenticated for use in another country.
- Saudi Arabia is part of the Apostille Convention. Per the Hague Conference (HCCH), it entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022. Between Convention members, an apostille generally replaces the older chain of embassy legalisation
- Not every destination is a member. If the country where you will use the document is outside the Convention, you may still need attestation and embassy legalisation. Always confirm with the receiving office
- Translation may be needed. Documents in Arabic often need certified translation for use abroad, and documents going the other way may need certified Arabic translation
Our guides to apostille vs attestation vs legalisation and the FBI apostille timeline and cost explain the steps in order, and Dubai or Riyadh? Apostille vs Attestation compares the Saudi and UAE routes.
Riyadh and Jeddah: What to Know About Location
Riyadh and Jeddah are the two cities most people in Saudi Arabia associate with international documentation needs, and appointment availability can differ between them. Printwise Global offers fingerprinting by appointment, and coverage varies by location, so check availability for your address when you book. Travel charges apply for mobile fingerprinting appointments, and the appointment details are confirmed before you go.
Tips for HR and Global Mobility Teams in Saudi Arabia
- Tell candidates which check is needed. State the check, the authority, the card, and the deadline in the offer or onboarding pack
- Separate the Saudi and foreign checks. A U.S. FBI check and a Saudi police certificate are different processes, so plan them as two tasks
- Build in a buffer. Plan start dates with room for one repeat, not just the best case
- Track the whole chain. Fingerprinting, submission, apostille or attestation, and translation should be one timeline
- Offer support. An appointment close to the candidate, with someone who knows the card, avoids many avoidable repeats
How Printwise Global Helps
Printwise Global helps individuals and employers in Saudi Arabia work out which check applies, offers fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your location, confirms the card and format before any prints are taken, and guides you through submission, apostille or attestation, and certified translation steps where they apply. Our process is simple:
- Confirm the right card. We check the card and route your request needs before any prints are taken
- Match you with a technician. Fingerprinting is offered by appointment, and coverage varies by location
- Quality check before it travels. Every finger, field, and mark is reviewed before the card is sent
- Guidance until it is sent. We explain the next steps, including attestation, apostille, and translation where they apply
Frequently asked questions
U.S. embassies and consulates abroad do not provide fingerprinting services. Printwise Global offers fingerprinting by appointment where we cover your location, and coverage varies, so check availability for your address when you book.
No. A Saudi police certificate is issued by Saudi authorities and shows Saudi records. An FBI Identity History Summary is issued by the FBI and shows U.S. records. Which one you need depends on the organisation asking for it.
No. They are issued by Saudi authorities. We can help you understand what is required and with related steps such as fingerprinting for other checks, attestation or apostille, and translation where they apply.
Yes. According to the Hague Conference, the Convention entered into force for Saudi Arabia on 7 December 2022. Whether a document needs an apostille depends on the country where it will be used.
A valid photo ID such as your passport or iqama, the correct card if one is required, and any reference paperwork from the organisation that requested the check.
Common reasons include prints that were not fully rolled, smudged or too light impressions, dry or worn skin, a wrong or non-standard card, and missing or misplaced details. Ask the authority or provider which applied.
The FBI says it requires a current fingerprint card, so a rejected card should not simply be sent again. Confirm with the authority handling your request before resubmitting.
Mobile fingerprinting may be available by appointment, depending on your location. Travel charges apply for mobile appointments, so ask for a quote when you book.
It depends on the type of check, the authority, shipping, and current processing times, which are set by the authorities and can change. Check current guidance for your route and leave time for at least one repeat.
The Printwise Team
Identity Verification Specialists
Printwise Global is an international identity-verification company providing certified fingerprinting, FBI and RCMP background checks, apostille, and certified translation. Our specialists manage cross-border document requirements end to end for clients across the USA, Canada, the UK, India, and beyond.
