Certificate of conformity: your goods' entry ticket to Saudi Arabia

A Certificate of Conformity (CoC, شهادة المطابقة) proves a product meets the Saudi technical regulations that apply to it. For Saudi Arabia it is issued electronically through SABER in two parts: the Product CoC (PCoC) — per product, valid 12 months, indicatively $300–1,500 — and the Shipment CoC (SCoC) — per consignment, issued in 1–3 days against the valid PCoC. Regulated goods without them are not cleared by ZATCA.

How do I get a CoC — the actual sequence

• 1. Classify the product (HS code) → identifies which technical regulation applies
• 2. Obtain test reports from an accepted laboratory (existing reports often reusable if recent and complete)
• 3. Register the product in SABER and apply through an accredited certification body
• 4. PCoC issues — valid 12 months for that product/brand
• 5. For each shipment, request the SCoC in SABER before the goods arrive

The order matters: testing and PCoC happen before production ships. A container arriving while the PCoC is "in progress" pays storage for every day of that progress.

Which CoC does your product actually need?

Depends on the regulation mapped to your HS code: electronics need IECEE-recognised test reports; toys, textiles and building materials follow their own technical regulations; some products need the SASO Quality Mark (factory audit) on top; food, cosmetics and medical devices are not SABER at all — they go through SFDA. "Do I need a CoC and which scheme?" is a classification question, and Sanad Global answers it per product list free of charge as part of quoting.

Common CoC failures and what they cost

Test reports naming a different model number than the shipped goods; certificates under the manufacturer's brand while the goods carry yours (see our OEM guide — the certificate follows the brand owner); expired PCoC discovered at SCoC request; and lab reports from non-accepted laboratories. Each of these surfaces at the port, where the fix costs demurrage. Surfaced at booking, each is a routine paperwork task.

Related guides

• SABER certificate
• SASO
• SFDA
• Certificate of origin