How to obtain a Police Clearance Certificate in Riyadh, KSA

Just want to share the expatriates in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, how to obtain a Clearance Certificate from Riyadh Police. As of September 1, 2013, the procedure may take as long as two weeks and costs around SR 180 as fees. Translation charges are not included. Better to go to these offices before 12 noon, as some of them remain closed afternoon. So plan accordingly.

Always keep the following with you in the whole process:
1. Original passport and a few copies of their relevant pages
2. Original Iqama and a few copies
3. Two or more copies of passport size photos
4. Pen

Those who don't know "why PCC", if you are planning to go to USA, Europe, Australia etc. within 5 years of your stay in KSA, you require a PCC from Saudi Police in most cases. And some of the expatriates may require it for many other reasons. Whatever is your concern, if you are applying for a PCC after your stay in the Kingdom, the procedure is a little tedious. So to save your time and your friend's or relative's energy and time (because one of them should be authorised to do all these tasks on your behalf in your absence), better get it before your departure from KSA, if you really require it.

 Just follow the steps:

1. In order to obtain the police certificate from Riyadh Police, applicants will need to obtain a Letter of Endorsement addressed to the Saudi authorities from their respective embassies or Consulates.

For Indian expatriates:

Embassy of India, Riyadh has entered into a contract with VFS GCC LLC for outsourcing its Passport, Visa and Consular services. So Indian expatriates have to proceed to the India Passport and Visa Application Centre at Omm Al Hamam, Riyadh. You can spot the location here. Coordinates:   24°40'46"N   46°39'13"E

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Ask for "Form 2: Application for Miscellaneous Services" and fill the details and paste a photo. Tick 9 e in the form and specify "Police Clearance Certificate for (eg. USA) from Saudi Police". Alternatively you can download the form from the links here: as PDF and DOC format.  You have to submit your original Passport and pay SR 117 as fees  along with your application. Usually you will be asked to come after a week (or sometimes more depending upon the place and date of issue of passport) to get your letter. Remember these are steps for Indians, other nationalities have their own procedures.

2. Usually the letters of endorsement from the embassies will be in English. You have to get it translated to Arabic from a certified translator. This is not a must, but for your safer side.

3. With the original Letter of Endorsement from your embassy and its translation go to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), KSA (WAZARAT-UL-KHARIJIYA in Arabic) to get it authenticated. The location Coordinates are 24°38'56"N   46°41'31"E . How to reach Ministry's different branches in different parts of Kingdom.


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Go to the section "STAMP" not "VISA". Pay SR 30 as fees and they will fix a stamp and authenticate the original Letter of Endorsement. Keep your Iqama and translated copy handy as they may be required for verification in the counter. The stamped part of the document:

4. With this authenticated letter of endorsement, go to the Police Station in Dirah (Deera'h or Dhira).  Don't be confused, as there are two police stations within a distance of 300 metres, ie, on either sides of the Eidgah (Open Air Mosque, a large ground behind this office). You can spot it easily, as usually long queues can be seen here infront of a sheet covered blue door, which is accessible from the road, where you can see boards like "DO NOT WHIPPING YOUR HAND ON THE WALL"


View Saudi Police Clearance Certificate Issuing Centre, Dirah in a larger map

Here you don't have to pay any fees and all procedures are done in a hall. You will be called at the counter, where you have to submit the MoFA authenticated original Letter of Endorsement, Iqama/Passport, copy of Passport page, a recent photo. After the details are entered in the system by the officer in the counter, verify yourself the passport number and date of birth in the printed PCC form, which you have to submit for fingerprint impression using ink. Relax, give both of your hands to the officer at the thumb impression counter, who will do the rest of the job. Don't forget to retain the slip detached from the printed form, in which the date of collection of the certificate will be printed in Hijri date.

 If you dont know the Gregorian date, use conversion sites like that of Islamic Affairs of Dubai. Usually, within a week, you can collect your Police Clearance Certificate producing your slip. The PCC will be in Arabic which will bear a seal "No Criminal Record" along with many other stamps. 

Remember, to get this seal stamped, you are doing all these.

                                The other side of PCC with your fingerprint impressions.

5. With this PCC you have to go again to MoFA, mentioned in step 3, for authentication by stamping it by paying a fees of SR 30.

6. Now for international requirements, you have to translate this letter from Arabic to English or other preferred language through a certified translator. With the translated copy, your Police Clearance Certificate, is ready for its further journey. 

NB: You can skip any of these steps, you  may get your PCC, depending on your luck or influence in these offices.