Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, the tax and customs authority, requires importers to present a commercial invoice, a bill of lading, and a certificate of origin to import goods into Saudi Arabia. The importer is also required to present additional documents for certain imports.  For example, the importer would be required to present an IECEE certificate for goods that require this certificate as well as proof of registration(s) of products with the concerned parties if necessary.  To check whether there are conditions specific to each product, companies importing goods into Saudi Arabia can search for the product they want to import to check which conditions apply with the help of the Customs Tariff website or by consulting a customs broker. 

Importers are also required to complete the “Fasah” platform clearing procedures by presenting the necessary documents and completing the customs declaration form at least 48 hours prior to the arrival of the shipment at the port of entry.  Importers can submit this information directly into Fasah website or with the help of a customs broker as soon as the necessary documents are available.  Via the Fasah platform, the importer can track the shipment in Customs or before its arrival as soon as the customs declaration form is completed, as well as receive instant notifications.

The Saudi Arabian Government requires that U.S. chambers of commerce perform the authentication of shipping documents.  For more information, visit the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce.