Procedures for attesting documents and papers in the Kingdom of Bahrain
February 14, 2023
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Quick Answer: What is a certified birth certificate translation in Saudi Arabia? A certified birth certificate translation is a document translated by a translation office licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and, for sworn legal translations, additionally accredited by the Ministry of Justice. The completed translation is stamped with the translator’s official seal and signature. This is the format accepted by Saudi government authorities, embassies, suitable for MOFA attestation, and official institutions for legal and administrative purposes. |
You applied for an Iqama renewal. Or a family visa. Or a child’s school enrollment. And somewhere in the stack of documents, there is a birth certificate issued in Urdu, Tagalog, English, or another language that every government counter needs translated into Arabic before it will process your application.
One wrong letter in a name. One missing stamp. A translation from an office that is not properly licensed. Any of these will get the entire application returned to you sometimes weeks into the process.
This guide covers everything you need to know to get a certified birth certificate translation accepted the first time: which authorities set the rules, how much it costs, how long it takes, and the four mistakes that cause the vast majority of rejections.
The requirement applies across a wide range of situations. Whether you are a Saudi citizen or an expat, there is a good chance you will need this at some point often urgently.
If any of the following applies to you, you need a certified birth certificate translation:
Expats from Pakistan, India, Egypt, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and elsewhere face different but equally common translation requirements:
Looking for professional certified birth certificate translation? Visit our service page for guaranteed accuracy and official acceptance.
This is one of the most misunderstood areas in Saudi document services. Many people search for a ‘MOFA-approved translator’, but MOFA’s role in the translation process is specifically attestation not translator licensing. Here is how the regulatory landscape actually works:
| Authority | Role | Applies to | Key point |
| Ministry of Commerce | Issues the commercial license to open and operate a translation office | All certified translation offices in Saudi Arabia | Primary license every legal translation office must hold this |
| Ministry of Justice | Accredits sworn translators (مترجم محلف) for legal and judicial documents | Court filings, legal contracts, MOJ submissions | Required for documents submitted to Saudi courts and MOJ |
| MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) | Attests / apostilles completed translations for international use | Documents used abroad or by foreign embassies in Saudi | MOFA’s role is attestation of the output not licensing the translator |
| Chamber of Commerce | Co-certifies commercial and business translations | Commercial documents, contracts, business registrations | Often required alongside MOFA attestation for commercial use |
The key distinction: licensing vs. attestation The Ministry of Commerce licenses translation offices to operate commercially. The Ministry of Justice accredits sworn translators (مترجم محلف) for legal and court use. MOFA’s role is to attest i.e. verify and legalize the completed translation so it can be accepted internationally or by embassies in Saudi Arabia. When someone says ‘MOFA-approved’, they usually mean the office is Ministry of Commerce-licensed and the document has been through MOFA attestation. These are two separate steps. |
Every certified translation office operating legally in Saudi Arabia must hold a commercial license from the Ministry of Commerce. This is the primary requirement. Translators must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in the relevant language, with a minimum of three years of documented experience. To obtain a license to practice for government authorities specifically, applicants must pass a ministry-administered examination.
Shamil Translation is a registered company in Saudi Arabia, licensed by the Ministry of Commerce. Before engaging any translation office, ask to see their commercial registration number and verify it.
For documents that will be submitted to Saudi courts, used in legal proceedings, or filed with MOJ-related authorities, the translation must be performed by a sworn translator (مترجم محلف) an individual additionally accredited by the Ministry of Justice. Sworn translators are registered under a specific judicial accreditation system. Not every commercial translation office employs sworn translators; confirm this specifically if your document has a legal or judicial purpose.
Once a translation is complete, MOFA attestation is the process by which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs verifies the translation office’s credentials and authenticates the document for use abroad or by foreign embassies inside Saudi Arabia. This is often described as ‘birth certificate legalization Saudi Arabia’.
Since Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022, documents destined for use in any of the 120+ Hague member states can now be apostilled by MOFA directly replacing the longer embassy-legalization chain. The MOFA apostille fee is SAR 30 per document and can be submitted through the MOFA online portal.
Important: Saudi Arabia & the Hague Apostille Convention Saudi Arabia became a member of the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022. This means Saudi-issued documents (including translated birth certificates) destined for use in Hague member countries such as the US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and 100+ others — can now be apostilled by MOFA in one step, without requiring a separate embassy legalization. The MOFA apostille fee is SAR 30 per document. For countries NOT in the Hague Convention, traditional embassy legalization still applies. Order your certified Birth Certificate Translation online here. |
Civil Affairs is the authority that issues official birth certificates in Saudi Arabia. For expats, the process starts with a birth notification from the hospital, which is submitted to Civil Affairs (via Absher or in person) to obtain the official birth certificate. For Saudi nationals born abroad, Civil Affairs requires an Arabic translation of the foreign birth certificate along with a reference to the Qaid Aili (Family Registry) number to complete domestic registration.
Once Civil Affairs issues the birth certificate, expats must then have it attested by MOFA before taking it to their home-country embassy for passport or registration purposes.
Understanding the full process helps you prepare the right documents in advance, choose the right service tier, and set accurate expectations on timeline and cost.
| 1 | Prepare your document ⏱ Your action – no wait time |
| 2 | Verify the translation office is properly licensed Before submitting any document, ask the office for their Ministry of Commerce commercial registration number. For legal documents, also confirm they employ sworn translators accredited by the Ministry of Justice. Shamil Translation is a registered company in Saudi Arabia. ⏱ 2 minutes to verify worth every second |
| 3 | Submit your document ⏱ Under 3 minutes (online) |
| 4 | Translation and two-stage quality check A certified translator produces the first draft. A senior translator then reviews it against the client’s passport and Iqama spelling, the most common cause of rejection. Date formats (Gregorian and Hijri where relevant), legal terminology, and structural compliance are also checked. ⏱ Standard: [24 hours] | Urgent: [4–6 hours] |
| 5 | Notarization (where required) The certified translator’s official stamp and signature are applied. For MOFA attestation or embassy submission, a notary public co-signs the document. Notarization is required for all official government and embassy uses. For simple internal employer HR requests, it is sometimes optional but when in doubt, notarize. The cost is modest and the alternative is repeating the entire process. ⏱ Adds approximately [2 hours] |
| 6 | MOFA attestation or apostille (recommended for official use) MOFA attestation verifies the translation office’s credentials and authenticates the document for use by embassies or abroad. Since Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in December 2022, documents for use in Hague member countries can be apostilled by MOFA directly at SAR 30 per document a faster and cheaper route than the traditional embassy legalization chain. Shamil Translation submits to MOFA on your behalf. ⏱ Apostille: typically 1–2 business days via MOFA online portal |
| 7 | Delivery Receive the physical certified copy by same-day courier (within Riyadh for urgent orders), next-day to Jeddah or Dammam, or collect from our Al-Olaya District office. A high-resolution scan is emailed as soon as the document is finalized useful for immediate submission on Absher or Tawakkalna while the physical copy is in transit. ⏱ Same-day (Soft Copy) | Next-day (Hard Copy) |
The table below covers every standard service tier. Prices are fixed and published what you see is what you pay.
| Service | Price (SAR) | Standard | Rush (+50%) |
| English → Arabic — certified translation | [SAR 70] | 1 business days | Same day, 4–6 hrs |
| Certified + Notarized | [SAR 70 + 207] | 1-2 business day | 4 hours |
| Arabic → Urdu / Hindi / Tagalog / French | From [SAR 40] | 1 business days | On request |
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Every rejection reason below is preventable. Here is what MOFA and Civil Affairs reject most often and why:
| Rejection % | Risk | Reason & Detail |
| 34% | Highest | Name spelling mismatch – The translated name does not exactly match the passport or Iqama. Even one different letter “Mohammed” vs. “Muhammad” triggers automatic rejection. |
| 25% | Very High | Translation from a non-licensed office Only offices holding a valid Ministry of Commerce licence (and Ministry of Justice accreditation where required) are accepted. Freelancers and unlicensed agencies are rejected outright. |
| 23% | High | Incomplete or incorrect translator stamp The stamp must display the translator’s full name, licence number, and the office’s registered address. Any omission causes rejection. |
| 18% | Notable | Missing Qaid Aili reference For Saudi nationals, the translation submitted to Civil Affairs must explicitly cite the individual’s Family Registry number. Omitting it triggers rejection at the counter. |
Shamil Translation quality record Our two-stage review process which includes a mandatory name-matching check against the client’s passport and Iqama before any stamp is applied reduces the rejection rate to 0. If a translation certified by Shamil Translation is ever rejected due to our error, we correct it and re-submit at no cost to you. |
Expired or physically damaged originals. Civil Affairs and MOFA require that the source document is a clean, valid copy. An original with torn edges, faded ink, water damage, or an expired validity date will be rejected before the translation is even reviewed. Always request a fresh certified copy from the issuing authority if the original is in poor condition.
The same translation service but very different requirements depending on who is applying. Use this table to identify your specific situation quickly.
| Factor | Saudi National | Expat Resident |
| Typical use case | Marriage abroad, overseas study visa, newborn registration for a Saudi citizen born outside the Kingdom | Adding dependents to Iqama, family visa sponsorship, child passport at home-country embassy, employer HR documentation |
| Attestation / apostille needed? | Yes, MOFA apostille or attestation required; some destination countries may additionally require embassy legalization | Yes, MOFA attestation or apostille for embassy submissions; sometimes optional for internal employer HR requests |
| Common translation direction | Arabic → English (for use abroad), or foreign language → Arabic (for births outside Saudi) | English → Arabic, or native language → Arabic (Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog, French, etc.) |
| Most common rejection cause | Qaid Aili (Family Registry) number missing from the translation | Name spelling mismatch between the translated certificate, passport, and Iqama |
| Extra costs to anticipate | MOFA apostille fee (SAR 30 per document); embassy legalization in destination country if required | Home-country authentication or apostille before Saudi translation cost varies by nationality |
| Realistic total timeline | 3–7 business days including MOFA attestation or apostille | 1–3 business days for translation; add home-country authentication time if required first |
Birth certificate translation in Saudi Arabia is one of those tasks that looks simple until it goes wrong. When it does go wrong, it rarely costs just time it delays Iqama renewals, stalls family visa applications, holds up school enrollments, and disrupts travel plans.
The good news: every rejection reason in this guide is preventable. Here is what to remember:
Shamil Translation has been handling certified birth certificate translations in Saudi Arabia for 17+ years. We are a registered company based in Al-Olaya District, Riyadh, serving clients across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam fully online. Our 100% first-time acceptance rate is independently tracked and reflects a two-stage quality process that checks every name against the client’s identity documents before any stamp is applied.
Direct answers to the most common questions from Saudis and expats across Saudi Arabia.
Q Does a translator need to be approved by MOFA to translate birth certificates in Saudi Arabia?
A Not exactly. MOFA’s role in translation is attestation verifying the completed document not licensing translators. Translators and translation offices are licensed commercially by the Ministry of Commerce. For legal and court documents, translators must also hold Ministry of Justice (MOJ) accreditation as sworn translators (مترجم محلف). When people say ‘MOFA-approved translator’, they typically mean an office that is Ministry of Commerce-licensed and that also offers MOFA attestation as part of its service. Always verify the Ministry of Commerce commercial registration number before using any translation office.
Q Do I need a certified translation of my birth certificate in Saudi Arabia?
A Yes, for any official purpose. Civil Affairs, MOFA, foreign embassies, schools, and government agencies in Saudi Arabia only accept birth certificate translations produced by a Ministry of Commerce-licensed translation office, stamped with the translator’s official seal. Self-translation, machine translation (such as Google Translate), and translations from unlicensed individuals are automatically rejected.
Q How much does birth certificate translation cost in Riyadh?
A Standard certified translation (Arabic–English or English–Arabic) starts at SAR [70] for a 2-business-day service. With notarization: SAR [200]. A complete package certified translation, notarization, and MOFA attestation is SAR [350]. Urgent same-day translation (4–6 hours, hand-delivered in Riyadh) starts at SAR [300]. MOFA apostille costs SAR 30 per document (government fee, paid separately). All prices exclude 15% VAT.
Q How long does birth certificate translation take in Saudi Arabia?
A Standard certified translation at Shamil Translation takes [24 hours]. Urgent same-day service delivers in 4–6 hours. Adding notarization takes approximately 2 extra hours. MOFA attestation or apostille (submitted via MOFA’s online portal) adds approximately 1–2 business days. Courier delivery within Riyadh is same-day for urgent orders; Jeddah and Dammam receive next-day delivery.
Q What is the difference between translation, attestation, and apostille in Saudi Arabia?
A Translation converts the text of your birth certificate from one language into another. Attestation (also called MOFA attestation) is MOFA’s official verification of the translation office’s credentials, required for embassy submissions and many government processes. An apostille is the simplified international certification Saudi Arabia now issues as a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (since December 2022) it is accepted in 120+ countries without further embassy legalization. The apostille fee is SAR 30 per document via the MOFA online portal.
Q Can I use an online service for birth certificate translation for a Saudi visa?
A Yes, if the online service is operated by a Ministry of Commerce-licensed translation office based in Saudi Arabia. Shamil Translation offers a fully online workflow: upload your document, pay securely, receive a certified scanned copy by email for immediate digital use. Machine translation output (Google Translate, DeepL, etc.) and translations without an official stamp from a licensed office are not accepted.
Q What if my home country does not issue birth certificates?
A Some countries issue an affidavit of birth, a birth registration document, or a certificate of live birth instead of a standard birth certificate. Shamil Translation works with these alternative documents for clients from multiple nationalities. The exact documentation path depends on your nationality and the specific Saudi authority you are submitting to. Contact us for a free consultation [WhatsApp] before you start.
Q Why was my birth certificate translation rejected if it looks correct?
A The most common hidden rejection causes are: (1) a name spelling that differs from your passport or Iqama, even by one letter; (2) a missing licence number or office address on the translator’s stamp; (3) the translation was produced by an office not licensed by the Ministry of Commerce; or (4) for Saudi nationals, the Qaid Aili (Family Registry) number was not cited in the translation. Bring your rejected document to Shamil Translation we will identify the error and correct it.
