Required documents for import and export in Saudi Arabia

Which documents are indispensable for clearing an imported shipment?

The two documents almost every imported shipment needs are the commercial invoice and the bill of lading. Other documents are added depending on the country of origin, the type of goods and the delivery terms. The Import Instructions page on the website of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) lists three documents to start importing: the commercial invoice, the bill of lading and the certificate of origin (شهادة المنشأ). The certificate of origin is exempt when there is a definitive indication of origin. The page adds requirements by type of goods, such as an IECEE certificate for goods subject to it and product registration with the competent authorities.

Documents are submitted on the FASAH platform by the customs broker you have authorized. ZATCA asks importers to start creating the customs declaration at least 48 hours before the shipment reaches the port. Advance submission of the manifest and customs declaration also became mandatory at seaports from 29 October 2025. This means a missing document shows up before the container arrives, not after. For the remaining steps, see import customs clearance steps.

Import documents table: what each document proves and who issues it

The table below separates mandatory documents from those linked to the type of goods. It is based on the Import Instructions page and, for items where ZATCA has not published an equivalent list for seaports, on the Customs Guide for Land Ports.

When do you need a certificate of origin, and when is it exempt?

A certificate of origin proves the country where the goods were made. It becomes necessary when other documents are not enough to establish origin, or when you request preferential customs treatment under a free trade agreement.

The Import Instructions waive the certificate when there is a definitive indication of origin, and the land ports guide exempts goods of GCC origin. The official pages we reviewed do not mention a requirement to have it attested by a specific body. If your broker or the receiving authority asks for attestation, ask on what basis before you pay for a step you may not need. If your goods are of GCC origin and you want the customs exemption, ZATCA has a separate guide on the procedures for issuing origin reports, so read it before shipment.

What do the SABER certificate and government approvals add?

If your goods are subject to technical regulations or to the oversight of a government agency, the invoice and bill of lading alone will not complete your file.

Shipment certificate via SABER

A shipment certificate is issued for each shipment through the SABER platform of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), once the product is registered and has a certificate of conformity. The SABER platform has been linked to FASAH since 1 July 2020, so customs verifies the certificate electronically when the declaration is issued. In September 2026, SASO announced that shipment certificate validity was extended from 60 to 90 days. For details, see SABER certificate and certificate of conformity.

SFDA and other approvals

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) authorizes the clearance of imported food, drugs, medical devices and pesticides. For food, it requires the facility and products to be registered on the GHAD platform and the clearance request to be filed through FASAH. The request must include a copy of the certificate of origin, the commercial invoice, the bill of lading and the health certificate, plus a phytosanitary certificate for grains and fresh fruit and vegetables. SFDA requires the invoice to show quantities, expiry dates and batch (lot) numbers. Other agencies issue their own permits depending on the goods, including products that need prior permission before clearance. To check your goods, look up their tariff line in the Integrated Customs Tariff; we cover this in detail in customs classification and the tariff.

What documents are needed to export from Saudi Arabia?

According to ZATCA's Export Instructions page, the exporter must provide the bill of lading, invoice and manifest to create the export declaration. The type of goods and the importing country determine the remaining documents.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issues certificates of origin for national products electronically to industrial and commercial establishments and to individuals such as farmers and craftspeople. It offers several forms, including a GCC form, an Arab form, a preferential form and a general form, in Arabic and English. Choose the form required by the buyer or the letter of credit. ZATCA notes that some goods are prohibited or restricted for export, and that the importing country may impose its own documents and restrictions. See export procedures from Saudi Arabia.

If you are VAT-registered and apply the zero rate to your exports, keep proof of export: the export document issued by ZATCA, commercial documents showing the customer's identity and the place of delivery, and transport documents such as the bill of lading. You must obtain them within 90 days of the supply date. Otherwise, the transaction is treated as a domestic supply at the standard rate.

Which details must match across documents, and what happens if they differ?

Key details must be identical in every document, because ZATCA may amend the customs declaration if its information differs from the attached documents.

• Parties: The importer's and exporter's names and addresses as shown in the commercial registration, invoice and bill of lading.
• Description and quantities: Item descriptions, number of packages, quantities and weights in the invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
• HS code: It determines duties and agency requirements, and any discrepancy between documents affects payment.
• Value, currency and delivery terms: When the customs value is calculated, the transaction value includes freight and insurance to the place of import.
• Country of origin: In the invoice, certificate of origin and shipment certificate.
• Shipment references: Bill of lading number, container numbers, carrier name and port of loading.
• For food: Expiry dates and batch numbers on the invoice.

Use the duty and VAT calculator to estimate the effect of value and classification before shipment.

What happens when documents do not match?

A discrepancy between the declaration and the documents gives ZATCA the right to amend the declaration. In practice, it means a hold, a delay or additional charges.

Under the Controls Regulating Customs Procedures, ZATCA may amend the declaration on its own initiative if its information differs from the attached documents. The declarant may request an amendment, with ZATCA's approval, before the declaration is referred for inspection. If the invoice cannot be provided, ZATCA values the goods under the Common Customs Law. In a dispute over value or tariff line, the goods can be released after paying the amount ZATCA assesses. If you discover an error in classification or value, you must tell ZATCA before paying. If an amendment is needed after clearance, a payment order is issued for the additional amounts.

The SABER platform states that registering the required certificates of conformity and shipment certificates is what spares a shipment from re-export. We found no table of fines for each type of discrepancy in the official pages we reviewed, so ask your broker about your specific case. Our article on why shipments are delayed at the port covers the costs that delays bring.

Do documents need to be translated or attested?

The official pages we reviewed set no general rule on translation or attestation for all shipments. However, the land ports guide requires an accurate translation of the invoice and chamber of commerce attestation of the delivery order.

We found no provision requiring the certificate of origin or invoice to be attested by an embassy or chamber in the country of shipment. Ask your broker about the port your shipment will enter through. As for record keeping, the Controls require everyone involved in clearance to keep original documents for five years from the date the declaration is filed. They also allow clearance against an undertaking and a guarantee when a document is unavailable, provided it is submitted within 90 days of registering the declaration.

Pre-shipment checklist

Go through this list before booking the shipment and before making the final payment to the supplier.

1. Confirm your FASAH account and your customs broker's authorization for the required port.
2. Determine the tariff line for the goods and check SABER, SFDA or any other agency requirements.
3. Ask the supplier for an itemized invoice with names, quantities, values, currency, delivery terms and country of origin.
4. Ask for a packing list that matches the invoice in quantities and weights.
5. Agree on the certificate of origin if needed, and the form accepted by the receiving authority.
6. Register the shipment certificate on SABER before shipment if your goods are regulated.
7. Compare the draft bill of lading with the invoice: names, number of packages and weights.
8. Send copies to your broker well before the shipment arrives, at least 48 hours ahead.
9. Keep copies of the documents and payments for five years.

To confirm the documents for a specific product, check the Import Instructions on ZATCA's website, and show your file to your customs broker before shipment, not after.

Frequently asked questions