An Overview of the Process
The SABER certification process is a defined sequence: you identify how your product is regulated, prove it meets the requirements through documentation and testing, register it on the SABER platform, obtain a Product Certificate of Conformity for the model, and then raise a Shipment Certificate of Conformity for every consignment. Each stage depends on the one before it, which is why an error early on — an incorrect HS code, for example — cascades into problems later.
Two parties are always involved. The Saudi importer holds the SABER account and formally submits applications; the exporter or manufacturer supplies the technical documentation and test reports that support them. A Conformity Assessment Body reviews the applications and issues the certificates. Our role is to coordinate between all three so the process moves without avoidable delays.
The full walk-through below covers seven stages, from the first product check to renewal.
The Seven Stages in Detail
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Step 1 — HS Code Verification and Product Assessment
Everything starts with the correct HS code. The code determines whether a Saudi Technical Regulation applies and therefore which route you follow — regulated (PCoC + SCoC) or non-regulated (SCoC only). Getting this wrong means testing to the wrong standard and obtaining the wrong certificate, so the code is confirmed and cross-checked before anything else proceeds. If you are unsure of your code, our HS Code Guide explains how it is structured.
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Step 2 — Technical Regulation Identification
With the category confirmed, the applicable SASO Technical Regulation is identified. This document dictates the standards the product must meet, the type of conformity assessment required, whether a factory audit is mandatory, and the labelling and documentation rules. Every subsequent step is aligned to its requirements.
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Step 3 — Document Preparation
The manufacturer assembles the technical file: product specifications, datasheets, photographs, a bill of materials where relevant, manufacturer details and a declaration of conformity. We review this package against the Technical Regulation to catch missing or inconsistent items before submission — the single most common cause of rejection. See Documents Required for the full list.
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Step 4 — Product Testing
If the Technical Regulation requires testing and no acceptable report exists, the product is tested at an accredited laboratory against the specified standards. Existing reports from CB scheme, CE or other testing may be reusable if they match the required standard and accreditation — this is checked first to avoid unnecessary retesting and cost. Learn more on our Product Testing page.
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Step 5 — Product Registration on SABER
The Saudi importer registers the product on the SABER platform under their account, linked to their Commercial Registration number, and submits the application for certification. The exporter's documentation package supports this submission. See our Product Registration page for how the importer's account works.
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Step 6 — PCoC Issuance
A SASO-approved Conformity Assessment Body reviews the registration and supporting evidence. On approval, the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is issued and recorded in SABER. It covers the specific product model and is valid for up to 12 months, during which any number of shipments can be made under it.
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Step 7 — SCoC Per Shipment
For every consignment, a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is raised through SABER, referencing the active PCoC. Shipment documents — invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill and product photos — are submitted, and a pre-shipment inspection may apply for some products. The issued SCoC is presented at Saudi customs to clear the goods.
Where Exporters Get Stuck
Most delays in the SABER process are not caused by the certification body — they are caused by avoidable issues on the exporter's side. The recurring ones are worth knowing in advance:
- Wrong HS code, leading to the wrong Technical Regulation and wasted testing
- Incomplete technical files — missing datasheets, photos or a proper declaration of conformity
- Test reports to a standard the Technical Regulation does not accept
- An importer unfamiliar with SABER who stalls the application
- Assuming a PCoC under one importer covers shipments to another buyer — it does not
- Leaving the SCoC to the last minute before shipment
Tip: The PCoC is per product model and per importer account. If you supply several Saudi buyers, plan certification for each relationship separately rather than assuming one certificate travels with the product.
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
When documentation is complete and valid test reports already exist, the PCoC is typically issued 2 to 4 weeks after submission. If new testing is required, add roughly 4 to 8 weeks depending on the laboratory and product complexity. Once the PCoC is in place, each SCoC is usually issued within 2 to 5 working days, extending only if a pre-shipment inspection is needed.
The biggest variable is testing, followed by the responsiveness of the importer and the completeness of the exporter's documents — the areas where our involvement removes the most delay. For a full stage-by-stage breakdown of timings, see the SABER Timeline page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who starts the SABER certification process — the exporter or the importer?
The Saudi importer formally initiates it, because the application must be submitted from a SABER account linked to a Saudi Commercial Registration number, which only the importer holds. However, the process depends heavily on the exporter, who provides all the technical documentation, product information and test reports the application is built on. In practice it is a coordinated effort, and our role is to manage both sides so nothing stalls.
Do I need a PCoC before I can raise an SCoC?
For regulated products, yes — the SCoC references an active PCoC, so the PCoC must be issued first. For non-regulated products there is no PCoC, and the SCoC is raised on its own for each shipment. This is why identifying whether your product is regulated, back at Step 1, matters so much.
Can the process be done without a Saudi importer?
No. The SABER platform is built around the importer's account and Commercial Registration, so a Saudi importer must be part of the process to hold the account and submit the application. Exporters selling to Saudi Arabia always work through their Saudi buyer for the registration itself. We coordinate with the importer on your behalf where needed.
Can I reuse existing test reports to skip the testing step?
Sometimes. If you already hold test reports — for example from CB scheme, CE or other certification — and they were produced to a standard recognised by the applicable Saudi Technical Regulation by an appropriately accredited laboratory, they may be accepted as supporting evidence, removing the need for new testing. We review existing reports first, precisely to avoid unnecessary retesting and cost.
What happens at customs if the process is incomplete?
Saudi customs cross-checks SABER records at the point of entry. If there is no valid SCoC — and, for regulated products, no active PCoC behind it — the shipment is not cleared. Goods can be held, incur demurrage, or be refused entry entirely. This is why the certificates must be in place before the goods arrive, not arranged reactively once they are stuck at the port.