Mosadaqa Certificate Verification: A Practical Guide for Expats in Saudi Arabia

Many professional processes in Saudi Arabia start with one question: is your degree genuine? Mosadaqa is the platform used to answer it. It verifies academic certificates directly with the institutions that issued them, and its result feeds into other processes, most notably engineering accreditation with the Saudi Council of Engineers.

Saudi Council Assistance is an independent private guidance service and is not affiliated with Mosadaqa or any Saudi authority. Procedures and fees change, so always confirm the current requirements on the official platform before you apply or pay.

What is Mosadaqa?

Mosadaqa is a certificate verification service. When you submit a degree, the platform contacts the issuing university or college and asks it to confirm that the certificate is authentic and that the details on it, such as your name, degree title and graduation date, are correct. Once the institution confirms, the verification result is recorded and can be relied on by the authority that asked for it.

Who needs Mosadaqa verification?

• Engineers applying for or renewing SCE accreditation, which increasingly relies on its electronic link with Mosadaqa
• Graduates whose employer or a government process asks for verified qualifications
• Professionals upgrading a grade or changing specialisation, where a new qualification must be checked

Not every process uses Mosadaqa. Healthcare professionals, for example, usually go through a separate primary source verification as part of SCFHS registration. Check which verification route the requesting authority expects before you start, so you don’t pay twice.

Verification is not the same as attestation

People often mix these up. Attestation is a chain of official stamps on a paper document, typically from the issuing country’s authorities and the Saudi embassy or consulate, and later the Saudi foreign affairs ministry. Verification confirms the certificate directly with the institution that issued it. A process may ask for one or both. Before paying for either, ask the requesting authority exactly which it needs, and in which order, because doing them in the wrong sequence can cost you weeks.

What to prepare before you start

Gather your original degree certificate, the full transcript, your passport and any document that explains a change of name, such as a marriage certificate. Find out the institution’s exact current name and, if it has changed, its previous name. Check that your graduation date and degree title on the certificate match what you will enter on the platform. Ten minutes of preparation here prevents most of the delays described below.

How the process works

1. Create your account on the official platform with details that match your passport.
2. Upload your certificate and transcript, scanned clearly and in full.
3. Give consent for the platform to contact your institution on your behalf.
4. Pay the verification fee shown on the platform.
5. Wait for the institution to respond. This is the step that decides how long the whole process takes.
6. Receive your verification result and, where relevant, link it to your SCE or other application.

How long it takes

The platform itself is quick; the institution is the variable. Some universities reply within days, especially those that are used to international verification requests. Others take weeks, or need reminders. Universities that have merged, renamed or closed can take much longer. If you know your university is slow, contact its registrar before you submit and ask how it handles verification requests.

Common reasons for delays and rejections

• Blurred, cropped or partial scans of the certificate or transcript
• Names that don’t match between the passport and the certificate
• Incorrect institution details, such as an old name or the wrong campus
• Missing consent forms or unpaid fees
• Institutions that don’t respond to the request

Tips for a smoother application

• Scan the original documents in colour at good resolution
• Use the institution’s official current name and include its previous name if it has changed
• Keep a contact at your university’s registrar office who can chase the request internally
• Keep copies of everything you submit and every reference number you receive
• Start early, especially if your job or visa depends on the result

If your verification is rejected or stuck

A rejection usually has a specific reason, such as a document the institution couldn’t match or details that don’t line up. Read it carefully, correct the cause, and resubmit with a short explanation where that is allowed. If the request is simply stuck, the most effective step is usually a polite follow-up directly with the university, quoting the platform’s reference number.

Frequently asked questions

What is Mosadaqa used for?

It is used to confirm that an academic certificate is genuine by checking it with the institution that issued it. The result is often needed for professional registration, such as SCE accreditation, and for some employment processes.

How long does Mosadaqa verification take?

It depends mainly on the issuing university. Some confirm within days, others take weeks or longer. Complete, clear documents and a responsive university make the biggest difference.

Can I verify a certificate from a university that has closed?

Sometimes. Verification may be possible through a successor institution or the education authority that holds the records. Expect it to take longer and keep any official letters about the closure.

Do I need to attest my degree as well as verify it?

They are different processes. Attestation stamps a document through official channels, while verification confirms it with the issuer. Some processes ask for one, some for both, so check what the requesting authority needs.

Related guides

• SCE registration: what expat engineers need to know
• SCFHS Mumaris Plus registration: step-by-step guide