Job Discussion Forums

[vabeckele]

I am British national having to go to the UK for a visa into S.A.. One thing that hasn't been answered, after writing to the embassy, whether my degrees from Finland need to be notarised by a Finnish authority or can any legal office in the UK do it and be accepted.

Does anyone have experience with this and could give advice?

[scot47]

This has to be done by the authorities in the jurisdiction where the document originated. Might be possible through Finnish Embassy in London if that is more convenient.

[vabeckele]

[Richard62]

My MA is from the UK, but I got it notarized by the public notary and the relevant ministries and subsequently got it stamped by the Saudi Embassy, all in mainland Europe. This is possible, because a public notary can notarize any paper, regardless of where and by whom it was produced. I can write "I am the king of the kings" on a piece of paper, and take it to a public notary. They will simply make a photocopy of this, and then sign and declare that they saw the original copy and that the photocopy is a true copy of the original piece. Then I would have to take it to the Ministry of Justice, who would stamp and testify that the public notary is indeed a genuine notary. Then I would have to take it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who would stamp and testify that the Ministry of Justice is genuine. Then I would have to take it to the Saudi embassy, where they would stamp and testify that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is indeed genuine. This is how I managed to get my UK diploma legalised outside of the UK (in one of the Western European countries). I work for a public university in KSA as a direct hire. But some employers, especially in the government institutions, require that you get your diploma stamped not only by the Saudi embassy, but also by the Saudi Cultural Mission. In that case, you have no option, but to get this process done in the country where you obtained your diploma.

[trapezius]

You better ask your employer how they want this done. In many cases, degrees have to be attested by the Saudi authorities in the country where the degree was obtained. So you might have to get it attested by Saudi Embassy in Finland. Better find out before you land here and your employer tells you that's how they wanted it, and then you have to get that process done while sitting in Saudi, which is not going to be pleasant.

[scot47]

Notarisation is not enough. You need an APOSTILLE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_Convention

Of course ot all depends on how some Saudi pen-pusher is feeling on the day he has your papers.

[vabeckele]

Although I thank you all for your answers I am still confused. All of your experiences tell me it can be done in any number of ways.

I suppose I will have to keep on pushing for an answer from the embassies. I have written to both the one in London and in Helsinki, but with no reply as yet - I will update you on my hoop jumping when I know more.

Thank you all again.

p.s. what about the medical? Just to muddy the waters a little more. Again, I am told I should have it done in the UK, but surely an international hospital should be able to satisfy an legal problems? 300 quid for an x-ray and a blood panel in the UK.

[veiledsentiments]

Don't try to use common sense and/or logic.

And don't expect any embassy to answer a letter or email... you are lucky if they will answer a phone.

This is definitely an area where other people's experiences may or may not be of any help at all.

VS

[scot47]

Do not expect a reply from the Saudi Embassy. You MIGHT be able to speak to someone at the SACM. (Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission.)

[ttxor1]

"This is definitely an area where other people's experiences may or may not be of any help at all. "

if my experience is of any help: I have degrees from the US and UK. My potential employer told me to send my certificates to the SACM in the US, as I will be applying for a visa from the States.