A Philippine legal-practical article for applicants securing a Saudi “Police Clearance / Criminal Record Certificate” while physically in the Philippines

1. What people mean by “Saudi Police Clearance”

In Philippine practice, “Saudi Police Clearance” usually refers to a Saudi criminal record certificate issued by Saudi authorities (commonly through the Saudi police system under the Ministry of Interior), often requested for:

Employment (especially for returning workers, local hiring, or compliance with an employer’s onboarding),
Immigration / residence applications abroad,
Licensing or professional compliance in another country,
Personal status or other government requirements in Saudi Arabia.

This is not a Philippine police clearance (e.g., municipal police clearance or PNP clearance). It is a foreign-issued record certificate, and the Philippines’ role is typically to (a) help you assemble the prerequisites (identity, fingerprints, local clearances if needed) and (b) handle document formalities (notarization, apostille, etc.) so your papers are accepted by Saudi authorities or by the end-user (employer/immigration office).

2. Core principle on “fees”: there is no single “one fee”

From a Philippine standpoint, costs arise from multiple components, because the end product (a Saudi police record certificate) usually requires a chain of supporting documents and formalities. Applicants typically pay for:

Philippine-issued supporting documents (clearances, certificates, IDs, prints),
Document formalities (notarization, apostille, authentication-related steps),
Logistics (courier, printing, photos, scanning),
Optional services (translation, agency assistance).

So when someone asks “How much is the Saudi Police Clearance fee in the Philippines?”, the legally correct answer is: you pay fees to different entities, each governed by its own schedule of fees, and the total depends on your case (your location, urgency, document route, whether you need fingerprints, whether translation is required, and where the Saudi side requires the papers to be submitted).

3. The typical fee components (Philippine context)

A. Notarization (Philippine notary public)

If you are executing an affidavit, authorization letter, request letter, or sworn statement to support the Saudi application, you may need notarization. Key legal points:

Notarization is regulated by the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice and related Supreme Court guidance.
Notarial fees vary by notary and locality, but should be reasonable and properly receipted.
If the document will be used abroad, the notary’s competence (commission, register, proper acknowledgment/jurat) matters; a defective notarization can cause rejection later, effectively increasing your cost.

What you pay for: notarial act (acknowledgment/jurat), documentary entries, sometimes copies.

B. Apostille (Department of Foreign Affairs)

For many foreign-use documents, you may need the DFA Apostille (because the Philippines is in the Apostille Convention). Practically, this step is often required when Saudi authorities—or the receiving institution—ask for Philippine documents to be recognized abroad.

Apostille fees are set by DFA and can change over time.
There may be regular vs. expedited processing options (where available), affecting cost and release time.
You may incur extra expenses for courier services if you’re not applying in person.

What you pay for: apostille processing per document, plus any courier/handling charges if using delivery.

Practical note: Applicants sometimes say “authentication,” but in current Philippine practice this is generally done through apostille for Apostille-Convention countries and transactions. If a receiving authority insists on a different route, fees and steps can differ.

C. Fingerprinting and fingerprint cards (often required in Saudi PCC workflows)

Many Saudi criminal record processes require fingerprints taken by a competent authority. In the Philippines, applicants commonly arrange fingerprinting through:

Local law enforcement units, or
Other competent offices that can provide fingerprint impressions on a standard card/form.

Fees vary depending on the office and whether you need a certificate stating the fingerprints were taken by an authorized officer.

What you pay for: fingerprinting service, fingerprint card, certification (if requested).

D. Philippine clearances that may be requested as supporting documents (e.g., NBI / local police clearance)

Some applicants are asked to submit Philippine clearances to support identity, good standing, or to meet employer/immigration requirements, even if the end goal is a Saudi-issued PCC.

NBI Clearance fees are set by the NBI and can vary depending on the type/purpose and any service charge from the appointment/payment channel.
Local police clearance fees are set locally and may vary by LGU/police station.

What you pay for: clearance fee, convenience/service fee (if paid via a payment channel), possible delivery fee.

E. Translation (Arabic/English)

Saudi-facing processes sometimes require Arabic translations of certain documents (or English translations depending on the receiving party).

Translation is not a government fee unless done by a government office; usually it’s a private professional fee.
If the receiving authority requires certified translation, expect a higher cost.

What you pay for: per-page translation, certification, notarization of translator’s affidavit (if used).

F. Photocopying, document production, ID photos, scanning, printing

These are small but predictable costs, especially if a submission requires multiple sets.

What you pay for: copies, photos, printing, scanning.

G. Courier / mailing / document handling

If documents must be sent to a Saudi authority, the Saudi Embassy/Consulate (depending on the route), an employer, or a service provider, logistics can be significant.

What you pay for: shipping fee, insurance (optional), packaging.

H. Agency or “assistance” fees (optional; not government fees)

Many applicants use travel agencies, document processors, or liaison services.

These fees are contractual and can be substantial.
The legal risk is opacity: unclear itemization, “rush” claims, or bundling that makes it hard to verify what you’re paying for.

What you pay for: professional service fee, plus pass-through costs (apostille, courier, etc.).

4. What makes fees rise or fall (cost drivers)

Route required by the Saudi side: Some routes require more certifications, translations, or multiple submissions.
Number of documents: Apostille and notarization are often charged per document.
Speed: Expedited processing (where offered) and rush couriers increase costs.
Location: Provincial applicants may pay more for travel/courier and may have fewer nearby processing options.
Errors and rework: Mistakes in names, passport numbers, dates, defective notarization, or incomplete requirements can force repeat payments.

5. Legal and consumer-protection pointers for paying fees in the Philippines

A. Demand itemization and official receipts

For government fees and many regulated transactions, you should be able to obtain proof of payment. For private providers, insist on:

Itemized breakdown (government fees vs service fees),
Official receipt or invoice, and
Clear written scope (what they will do, expected processing time, what happens if rejected).

B. Beware “guaranteed approval” claims

A processor can help with paperwork, but no private party can guarantee that a Saudi authority will issue the certificate, especially if the Saudi side has discretion or additional checks.

C. Data privacy and sensitive documents

Saudi PCC processing often involves passport biopages, fingerprints, prior iqama details, and personal identifiers. Under Philippine practice, treat these as sensitive personal information:

Share only what is required,
Use reputable channels,
Avoid leaving originals unnecessarily,
Keep digital copies secured.

6. A practical way to budget (without guessing a single “official total”)

A clean budgeting method is to group costs into three buckets:

Government fees (Philippine)
- Apostille (per document)
- NBI / local clearance (if required)
- Any official fingerprinting/certification fees (if charged by an office)
Professional fees
- Notarization
- Translation / certified translation
- Optional assistance service fee
Logistics
- Courier (local + international if needed)
- Copies, photos, printing
- Travel/transport

Then add a contingency buffer for rework (name mismatch, additional document requests, re-notarization).

7. Frequently asked questions

Q1: Is there an “Embassy fee” for Saudi police clearance in Manila? Sometimes applicants pay fees connected to document intake, verification, or embassy-related services, depending on the submission route. However, these are not always a simple, fixed “police clearance fee”; they may be tied to a specific consular service or document processing step.

Q2: Why do people pay for apostille if Saudi Arabia will issue the clearance anyway? Because the Saudi side may require Philippine-origin documents (affidavits, identity certifications, fingerprint certifications, etc.) to be formally recognized. Apostille is often used so those supporting documents are accepted abroad.

Q3: Can I avoid paying a processor? Often yes, if you can personally manage appointments, notarization, apostille, and shipping. You trade money for time and convenience.

Q4: Why do two applicants report very different totals? Different document routes, number of supporting documents, urgency, and whether translation/fingerprints are needed.

8. Compliance checklist to avoid repeat fees

Before paying for final processing or sending documents out, confirm:

Your name matches passport spelling (including middle name formatting),
Passport number and dates are correct across all documents,
Notarization is correct (proper jurat/acknowledgment; complete notarial details),
Apostille is applied to the correct documents (and the receiving party actually requires it),
Fingerprints are clear, properly rolled, and certified if required,
Copies are legible and consistent.

9. Bottom line

In the Philippines, “fees for Saudi Police Clearance” are best understood as the sum of Philippine-side requirements and formalities (notary + apostille + clearances + fingerprinting + translation + logistics), plus any route-specific charges demanded by the receiving authority or service provider. There is rarely a single “all-in official fee” that applies to everyone; instead, your total depends on the document route and supporting requirements.

If you want, paste the exact checklist you were given (by your employer, agency, or the Saudi authority) and I’ll map it into a fee worksheet (line-item budget template) you can use to estimate your total more precisely—without relying on guesswork.