The public security department has designed the following rules and regulations, which govern the issue of a criminal record certificate. A public authority, an institution, a citizen or a resident in the kingdom may request the Criminal Record Certificate for the purposes of employment or as a requirement for enrolling in a college or an institute.
The certificate can only be issued to the applicant and must not be issued to someone else.
The following procedures must be followed to obtain a criminal record:
- The applicant must visit the police station closest to his/her residential address and submit to the chief of the Criminal Evidence Division a letter, which must indicate the purposes for which the certificate would be used, from the institution or public authority requesting the criminal record certificate.
- If the applicant is Saudi, he/she must bring his/her original National ID Card and a color photograph, 6x4 cm in size to the police station.
- If the applicant is a registered resident in the kingdom, he/she must bring his/her passport and a color photograph, 6x4 cm in size to the police station.
- The identity-vetting officer will take a set of fingerprints of the applicant.
- The acknowledgment of receipt is proof of application. The receipt will specify the date the applicant can collect the criminal record certificate from the police station.
- The applicant is required to return to the police station on the date specified on the receipt. Upon presenting it, he/she can collect the criminal record certificate. The certificate can only be issued to the applicant.
- If the applicant loses the acknowledgment receipt, a letter must be submitted to the police station regarding the loss. Upon successful identity check, a new acknowledgment receipt is issued. Upon signing the confirmation the criminal record certificate will be released.