The Short Answer
If your documentation is complete and you already hold valid test reports, a PCoC is typically issued within 2 to 4 weeks of submission. If new product testing is required, add roughly 4 to 8 weeks for the laboratory work, making the realistic total around 6 to 12 weeks for a first-time regulated product. Once the PCoC exists, each SCoC is usually issued in 2 to 5 working days per shipment.
These are working estimates, not guarantees — the actual duration depends on the factors set out below. The single biggest variable is whether testing is needed. The rest of this page breaks the timeline down so you can plan your shipping schedule with confidence.
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
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HS Code Check & Regulation Identification — 1 to 3 days
Confirming the HS code and the applicable Technical Regulation is quick when product details are clear. It only stretches if the product's classification is ambiguous or the specifications are incomplete.
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Document Preparation — 2 to 7 days
Assembling the technical file — specifications, datasheets, photographs, declaration of conformity — depends entirely on how ready the manufacturer's documentation is. Well-organised exporters clear this in days; those starting from scratch take longer.
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Product Testing (if required) — 4 to 8 weeks
This is the largest and most variable block. Timing depends on the laboratory's queue, the number of tests, sample shipping, and product complexity. If acceptable existing test reports can be reused, this stage is skipped entirely — which is why we review your reports first.
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Registration & PCoC Review — 1 to 3 weeks
Once submitted on SABER, the Conformity Assessment Body reviews the application and issues the PCoC. A clean, complete submission moves fast; queries or missing documents send it back and reset the clock.
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SCoC Per Shipment — 2 to 5 working days
With the PCoC active, each consignment's SCoC is issued quickly on submission of shipment documents. It only extends if a pre-shipment inspection is required for the product category.
What Speeds It Up
- Correct HS code confirmed up front, avoiding wrong-standard rework
- A complete, well-organised technical file submitted in one pass
- Valid existing test reports that can be reused instead of new testing
- A Saudi importer who responds promptly and knows the SABER platform
- Early engagement — starting certification well before the intended ship date
What Slows It Down
- New testing required, especially for complex or multi-variant products
- Incomplete or inconsistent documentation causing back-and-forth queries
- Test reports to a standard the Technical Regulation does not accept
- A factory audit requirement for certain regulated categories
- A slow or inexperienced importer holding up the SABER submission
- Public holidays in Saudi Arabia or the testing country
Plan ahead: The costly scenario is leaving certification until goods are ready to ship, then discovering testing is needed. Start the PCoC process as early as possible — the SCoC at the end is the fast part; the PCoC and any testing are what require lead time.
Timeline for Renewals and Repeat Shipments
Once you are established in the system, the timeline shortens considerably. Repeat shipments of an already-certified model only need a new SCoC each time — a matter of days, not weeks. A PCoC renewal before its 12-month expiry is also faster than the original, since the product is already known and much of the documentation is on file, provided the Technical Regulation has not changed in the interim.
The lengthy timeline applies mainly to first-time certification of a new product model. After that, your Saudi supply chain runs on quick per-shipment SCoCs and periodic renewals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does SABER certification take overall?
With complete documentation and valid existing test reports, expect the PCoC within 2 to 4 weeks and each SCoC within 2 to 5 working days. If new product testing is needed, add roughly 4 to 8 weeks, making a realistic first-time total around 6 to 12 weeks for a regulated product. The main variable is always whether testing is required.
Why does testing take so long?
Product testing is carried out at an accredited laboratory against the standards named in the Technical Regulation. The duration depends on the lab's queue, how many tests apply, the time to ship samples, and the complexity of the product. It is the least predictable part of the process, which is why we always check whether acceptable existing reports can be reused to skip it.
Can SABER certification be expedited?
There is no official fast-track that bypasses testing or the conformity assessment, but the effective timeline improves dramatically when the inputs are right: a correct HS code, a complete technical file, reusable test reports and a responsive importer. Most delay is self-inflicted through incomplete submissions, so getting those elements in order is the real way to move faster.
How quickly can I get an SCoC once I have a PCoC?
Usually within 2 to 5 working days of submitting the shipment documents, provided they are complete. It extends only if the product category requires a pre-shipment inspection, which adds the time to schedule and conduct the inspection. For established products with an active PCoC, per-shipment SCoCs are the fast, routine part of the process.
How far in advance should I start?
Start as early as you can — ideally the moment a Saudi order is confirmed, or even before, if you know the product will be sold there. Because the PCoC and any testing carry the lead time, beginning early means the certificate is ready when the goods are, rather than the goods sitting while the certificate catches up. For a first regulated product, allow a comfortable buffer of a couple of months.