Certified Translation Services
Your Family Visa to Saudi Arabia Was Rejected at MOFA
Because your marriage and birth certificates had an MEA apostille but no MOFA Enjaz stamp — and the documents were not MOJ-certified translated into Arabic.
Your spouse and children are joining you in Riyadh, and Jawazat returned the file with one line.
"Submit MOFA-attested and MOJ-certified Arabic translation of the marriage and birth certificates. Apostille alone is not sufficient for dependent sponsorship."
What is MOFA attestation — and why Saudi still requires it after the 2023 Hague accession
MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation is the final Saudi-government stamp on a foreign document used inside the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention in December 2023, which collapsed the chain for Hague member countries — Indian documents now need an MEA apostille in India, then a MOFA stamp in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Embassy attestation in India is no longer required for routine personal documents, but MOFA inside Saudi is still mandatory.
Family visa dependents require marriage certificate (spouse) and birth certificates (children) — both apostilled and MOFA-attested, then MOJ-certified translated into Arabic by a Saudi Ministry of Justice–licensed translator. The Arabic translation must cover the original document, the apostille text, and all seals. The submission is filed through the Enjaz portal (mofa.gov.sa → Document Authentication), SAR 30 per document, 1–3 working days.
Real rejection · 2026
A Hyderabad IT professional sponsoring his wife for a family visa in Jeddah filed the marriage certificate with only an MEA apostille. Jawazat bounced it — MOFA attestation was missing, and the Arabic translation was done by a non-MOJ freelancer. The file was returned twice; the family was separated for an extra 11 weeks while the chain was redone in the correct order.
What Saudi requires in 2026 for a family-visa file
- Apostille in India (Hague route) — MEA apostille on the original marriage certificate and each child’s birth certificate, after state SDM / Home Department attestation.
- MOFA Enjaz attestation in Saudi Arabia — SAR 30 per document, filed online or via typing centre; 1–3 working days. Required even though Embassy attestation is no longer needed.
- MOJ-certified Arabic translation — by a Saudi Ministry of Justice–approved translator. Required by Sharia courts, MOFA, MOI, Jawazat, Najiz, and banks.
- Exact name match — passport spelling must match the document exactly. Mismatched transliterations trigger automatic rejection.
- Sponsor Iqama — the principal’s Iqama must be valid and the Qiwa contract current for dependent sponsorship to be approved.
- Clear, undamaged originals — torn, laminated, or stained documents are returned at the counter.
The chain order matters: notary in India → MEA apostille → MOFA Enjaz stamp in Saudi → MOJ-certified Arabic translation. Each step authenticates the version that follows.
How to get your family-visa documents attested — step by step
Notarize in India + state attestation
Notary public signature on the original certificate, then Home Department / SDM attestation in the issuing state.
MEA apostille (Hague route)
MEA stamps the apostille. Saudi Embassy attestation in India is no longer required for Hague member countries.
MOFA Enjaz attestation in Saudi
Submit through mofa.gov.sa (Document Authentication) or via a typing centre. SAR 30/document, 1–3 working days. Original must travel to Saudi.
MOJ-certified Arabic translation
We provide MOJ-licensed Arabic translation of the attested documents. Covers original text, apostille, all seals, and marginal notes.
Submit to Jawazat / MOI for dependent visa
Bundle the MOFA-attested originals + MOJ Arabic translations with sponsor Iqama and submit at the Absher / Muqeem counter.
Certified Translation Services — Pricing
Saudi MOJ-licensed Arabic translator · WhatsApp +91 8750 6465 17
Tags: #SaudiMOFA #MOJArabicTranslation #FamilyVisaSaudi #HagueApostilleSaudi #EnjazAttestation #MarriageCertificateSaudi #BirthCertificateSaudi #IqamaDependents #Jawazat #MOI #SaudiMOFA2026 #HagueConvention #CertifiedTranslationIndia #NRIinSaudi
Common questions
Is Saudi Embassy attestation still required for Indian documents?
No. Since December 2023, Saudi Arabia is a Hague Apostille Convention member — an MEA apostille replaces Saudi Embassy attestation for personal documents. MOFA inside Saudi is still required.
What is the correct order for a family-visa document?
Notarize in India → Home Department attestation → MEA apostille → MOFA Enjaz in Saudi → MOJ-certified Arabic translation → submit to Jawazat.
Does a self-translated Arabic file work?
No. Sharia courts, MOFA, MOI, Jawazat, Najiz, and Saudi banks all require MOJ-licensed translation with the translator’s stamp. Self-translations are rejected outright.
How much does MOFA Enjaz cost?
SAR 30 per document via the Enjaz portal (visa.mofa.gov.sa) with pickup at a MOFA branch; 1–3 working days. Typing centres charge a small additional fee.
What if my certificate is in Hindi or Urdu?
Saudi counters do not accept Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tagalog, or any non-English/non-Arabic language. Get an English certified translation first, then the MOJ Arabic translation.
Do children’s birth certificates need the same chain?
Yes. Each child’s birth certificate is independently notarized, apostilled, MOFA-attested, and MOJ-translated. The bundle is submitted with the sponsor’s Iqama for dependent sponsorship.
Does the apostille text itself need to be translated?
Yes. The MOJ-licensed translator translates the original certificate and the apostille text together as a single Arabic file. Skipping the apostille text triggers a redo request.
How long does the whole process take?
MEA apostille 3–5 working days, MOFA Enjaz 1–3 working days, MOJ Arabic translation 1–2 working days. Plan 2–3 weeks total once the originals reach the right counter.
+91 8750 6465 17 · info@certifiedtranslationindia.com
"Trusted by WHO, CBI, HDFC Bank & thousands of Saudi-bound families since 2011."
www.certifiedtranslationindia.com