The Complete Guide
Customs Clearance in Saudi Arabia
Everything you need to know about clearing shipments through the Fasah platform: documents, duty, VAT, and Saber certification — from a ZATCA-licensed team that follows your shipment step by step.
What is customs clearance?
Customs clearance is the statutory process that allows goods to enter or leave through Saudi ports. It includes filing an electronic customs declaration on the Fasah platform, classifying the goods under the correct HS code, assessing customs duty and VAT, and completing any inspection or conformity certificate before a release order is issued. As a company licensed by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, QATF Logistics handles these steps on your behalf from start to delivery.
Process
Five steps from intake to delivery
We follow a clear path for every shipment — no surprises, no unexplained delays.
- 1
Shipment data intake
We receive the commercial invoice, bill of lading, and certificate of origin, and review them at least 48 hours before the shipment arrives.
- 2
Customs declaration filing
We classify each item under the correct HS code and file the declaration through the Fasah platform, linked to ZATCA.
- 3
Duty & VAT assessment
Customs duty is assessed on the CIF value, and 15% VAT is added on top of that total.
- 4
Inspection & release
We track the inspection lane if flagged (red/yellow) and complete any additional documents required by Saber or technical authorities.
- 5
Final delivery
Once the release order is issued, we coordinate onward transport to the final destination anywhere in the Kingdom.
Documents
Required documents
We check these documents are complete before filing the declaration, to avoid any delay in release.
- Commercial invoice showing value, quantity, and a description of the goods
- Bill of Lading for sea freight, or Airway Bill for air freight
- Certificate of Origin
- Saber Shipment Certificate of Conformity, if the goods fall under technical regulations
- Any additional approval required from the Food and Drug Authority or the Communications, Space & Technology Commission, depending on the goods
Duty & VAT
Customs duty & VAT
Duty is assessed as a percentage of the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), and the rate varies by product classification.
| Band | Examples |
|---|---|
| 0% — exempt goods | Books, medical devices, select basic foodstuffs |
| 5% — standard rate | Most consumer and industrial goods |
| 12% — protected-industry goods | Manufactured goods with local equivalents |
| 20% — elevated rate | Select food and consumer categories |
| 100% — excise goods | Tobacco and tobacco products |
Once duty is assessed on the CIF value, Then 15% VAT is added on top of that total.
Try the duty calculatorDo you need Saber certification?
Any product covered by Saudi technical regulations — electrical appliances, building materials, toys, and cosmetics among them — needs a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) through the Saber platform before it can clear customs. We help you complete it and link it to your customs declaration.
Cities
We serve every city in the Kingdom
Our head office is in Riyadh, and we handle clearance at the Kingdom's major ports.
FAQ
Customs clearance FAQ
With complete documentation and a correctly filed declaration on the Fasah platform, release typically takes one to three business days depending on the inspection lane (green/yellow/red) and the port. Shipments requiring Saber certification or additional technical approvals can take longer while conformity is completed.
At minimum: the commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, and certificate of origin. Depending on the product, you may also need a Saber shipment conformity certificate, a health or food certificate from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, or an approval from the Communications, Space & Technology Commission for electronic devices.
Customs duty is charged as a percentage of the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), typically ranging from 0% to 20% depending on the product's classification, with a 100% excise rate on tobacco. VAT of 15% is then applied to the total of value plus duty. Try our customs duty calculator to estimate the cost before you ship.
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) through the Saber platform is required for any product covered by Saudi technical regulations — electrical appliances, toys, building materials, and cosmetics among them. The certificate links automatically to the customs declaration in Fasah, and clearance is held without it.
We recommend filing the declaration on Fasah at least 48 hours before the shipment reaches the port, leaving enough time to review classification and documents and avoid delays or extra port storage charges.
Send us your shipment details — we'll handle the rest
From filing the declaration to final delivery, get direct follow-up from one team.