Shipping without finishing a conformity review first is one of the most common causes of delay for shipments entering Saudi Arabia. As of October 1, 2025, the Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) became a mandatory prerequisite before submitting the customs declaration for imported goods, and this applies to all imported products, whether they are subject to a technical regulation or not. This article provides a practical checklist of what should be reviewed before shipping any product to Saudi Arabia. (Note that some product categories, such as cosmetics, fall under a different regulatory reference at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority; for their specific requirements, see Requirements for Importing Cosmetics into Saudi Arabia Before Shipment.)
Why Should Conformity Review Be Finished Before Shipment?
Finishing the conformity review before shipment allows any gap in the technical file or classification to be corrected before the shipment is already on its way, and before submitting the customs declaration becomes tied to a document that has not yet been completed. Since the shipment certificate became a prerequisite for the customs declaration as of October 2025, any delay in completing it can directly affect how smoothly the shipment enters.
1. Confirm the HS Code and Product Classification
Check that the registered HS Code actually reflects the product’s function, material, and use, and that it is consistent across the invoice, the technical documents, and the product file on SABER. For more detail, see How to Choose the Correct HS Code Before SABER Registration.
2. Determine the Applicable Technical Regulation and Correct Route
Determine whether the product is subject to a Saudi or Gulf technical regulation, and what route is required accordingly; some products may not be subject to any technical regulation while others require a full conformity route. To see how the applicable technical regulation is determined, see How Is the Applicable Technical Regulation for Your Product Determined?
3. Verify PCoC or Self-Declaration Status
When the product is subject to a technical regulation, verify the actual route required: Self-Declaration or the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), depending on the product’s nature and how safety-related it is. For more detail on the difference between the two routes, see SABER Self-Declaration: When Is It Used and How Is It Different from PCoC?
4. Review Test Reports and the Technical File
Confirm that the available test report covers the actual model and the required technical standard, and that the technical file documents the product’s function and components well enough to support the chosen classification. For more detail, see The Technical File and Technical Documents: What Does Your Product Actually Need? and Is Your Current Test Report Suitable for Conformity Requirements?
5. Check Model, Brand, and Manufacturer Consistency
Confirm that the model, brand, and manufacturer stated in the technical documents match what is registered on SABER and match the actual shipment; any inconsistency in this data can affect the file’s validity. For more detail, see The Impact of Differences in Model, Brand, or Country of Origin on the Conformity File.
6. Check the Product Label and Marking
Review whether the product label and the technical data on it actually reflect the product’s real characteristics and are consistent with the marking requirements applicable in the Saudi market. For more detail, see Product Label, Marking, and Technical Data Before Entering the Saudi Market.
7. Review the Invoice and Shipment Data
Confirm that the product description on the commercial invoice, the quantity, and the shipment data all match the product data registered on SABER; any inconsistency between this data can raise additional queries during review.
8. Verify SCoC Shipment Certificate Requirements
Since the Shipment Certificate of Conformity became a mandatory prerequisite before submitting the customs declaration as of October 1, 2025, for all imported products whether subject to a technical regulation or not, confirm that this certificate’s procedures are completed through the SABER platform before the shipment arrives, not after. For more detail, see SCoC in SABER: When Is It Required and What Are the Requirements?
9. Review Core Customs Clearance Documents
Confirm that the importer’s details, the invoice data, and the HS Code are consistent across all documents submitted for customs clearance; this consistency is what makes it easier to match these documents against the product data registered on SABER during review. For a detailed applied example of this review specific to one product category, see Requirements for Importing Electrical Products into Saudi Arabia Before Shipment.
Common Mistakes Before Shipment
Recurring mistakes include: shipping before completing the shipment certificate on the assumption that it is a later step that can be completed after arrival; relying on a classification or route previously used for a similar product without verifying its actual applicability; and not checking that product data is consistent across the invoice, technical documents, and the SABER file before shipment.
Quick Checklist Before Loading
Before loading the shipment: confirm the accuracy of the HS Code; determine the applicable technical regulation if any; verify the required SABER route (Self-Declaration or PCoC); review the test report and technical file when needed; confirm model and brand consistency; check the product label; verify that the invoice and shipment data match; and complete the shipment certificate before submitting the customs declaration. Keep in mind that how each item on this list actually applies can vary by product, and not all of them necessarily apply equally to every product.
How Does SaberVerify Help?
We help importers and manufacturers review these elements before shipment, and determine whether all requirements are met before submitting the customs declaration. SaberVerify is an independent platform supporting trade compliance, product conformity, and Saudi market access. We are not the official SABER platform, SASO, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), a government entity, a customs authority, a conformity assessment body, a laboratory, or an issuer of conformity certificates.
Summary
Reviewing classification, the route, technical documents, and product data consistency before shipment, along with completing the shipment certificate before submitting the customs declaration, is what reduces the likelihood of a shipment being delayed on arrival in Saudi Arabia. Each item on this checklist needs an actual review based on the product’s nature, not uniform application across all shipments.
