Moving from Germany to Saudi Arabia for an Academic Job — A Complete Guide for Families

March 15, 2026 · Academic Life & Relocation

A first-hand walkthrough of the entire process: from job offer acceptance to landing in the Kingdom.

If you are an academic in Germany who has received a job offer from a Saudi university, congratulations — you are about to embark on one of the most professionally rewarding and logistically complex moves of your life. This guide documents the exact process I went through to relocate with my family from Germany to Saudi Arabia for a faculty position, written so that you do not have to figure out everything from scratch.

I will cover every step — the paperwork, the portals, the offices, the timelines, and the costs — with links and practical advice throughout.

Why Saudi Academia?

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in its higher education sector as part of Vision 2030, with universities like the University of Tabuk, KAUST, King Abdulaziz University, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals actively recruiting international faculty. For researchers in engineering, materials science, and applied sciences, the compensation packages are attractive and the research infrastructure is growing rapidly. If you have received an offer, it is worth taking seriously — but be prepared for a bureaucratic journey that will test your patience.

1 Accept the Offer and Notify Your Employer in Germany

Once you sign or accept a job offer from a Saudi university, your first step in Germany is to formally notify your current employer. Academic employment contracts typically carry notice periods (Kündigungsfristen) of three to six months, sometimes longer for civil service (Beamte) positions.

2 Understand the Visa Process — Start with Tasheer

All Saudi work visa applications from Germany are processed through Tasheer, the official Saudi Visa Application Center operated by VFS Global. There are two Tasheer centers in Germany:

• Berlin: Tasheer Berlin — for applicants whose invitation letter is addressed to Berlin
• Frankfurt: Tasheer Frankfurt — for applicants whose invitation letter is addressed to Frankfurt

Before anything else, visit or call Tasheer. The requirements for a work visa involve a large number of documents, and visiting the Tasheer office in person at least once — before submitting your application — is strongly recommended to get the most current and accurate checklist. The staff at Tasheer Berlin are professional and genuinely helpful.

Your Saudi university will provide you with two critical numbers for the appointment booking:

• Visa Number (رقم التأشيرة)
• Border Number (رقم الحدود)

These are generated once the university submits your work permit application through the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources. You cannot book a Tasheer appointment without these numbers.

3 Mosadaqa — Certificate Verification

This is where most people first encounter real friction, and it should be your first task after deciding to proceed with the move.

Mosadaqa is the Saudi Ministry of Education’s official electronic certificate verification service. It verifies that your educational degrees are authentic by contacting your issuing university directly.

The process:

1. Apply online at mosadaqa.sa
2. Upload your documents: passport copy, degree certificate, academic transcripts, consent form, and proof of payment
3. Mosadaqa contacts your German university directly via a secured channel
4. Your university confirms the validity of the degree
5. You receive a verified certificate decision

4 QVP — Qualification Verification Program

This is a newer and separate requirement from Mosadaqa that many guides fail to mention. As of late 2024, Saudi Arabia has expanded the Qualification Verification Program (QVP) to apply to all industries — including academia — and Germany is explicitly on the list of affected countries.

The QVP is administered by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and requires applicants to obtain a Professional Accreditation Certificate before entering Saudi Arabia on a work visa.

5 Medical Certificate

A medical fitness certificate is required as part of the Saudi work visa application. This is not a simple doctor’s note — it follows a defined two-step process in Germany.

5a. The HausArzt Examination

Make an appointment with your HausArzt (general practitioner) and your spouse’s HausArzt for a medical examination. The exam typically covers general health status, infectious diseases (especially tuberculosis), blood tests, and basic physical fitness.

5b. Gesundheitsamt Approval

After your HausArzt completes the examination, the certificate must be formally approved and stamped by the Gesundheitsamt (Public Health Office) of your German state.

How to find the right office:

1. Search: “[Your state] Gesundheitsamt Atteste für Auslandsvisum”
2. Call ahead to confirm they process medical certificates for Saudi work visas
3. Ask specifically which doctor’s documentation format they accept

6 Police Clearance Certificate with Apostille

You will need a German police clearance certificate (Führungszeugnis) with a Hague Apostille for yourself and potentially your spouse.

6a. Obtaining the Führungszeugnis

Apply for a Führungszeugnis zur Vorlage bei einer Behörde (for official/authority use):

• Online via buergerservice.org or at your local Bürgerbüro
• Cost: €13 · Processing time: 1–2 weeks

6b. The Hague Apostille

Germany is a member of the Hague Convention, so your police clearance can be apostilled. The competent authority depends on the document type:

7 Notarized Copies + Hague Apostille for PhD and Medical Certificates

Two specific documents require notarized copies followed by a Hague Apostille:

1. Your PhD certificate (Promotionsurkunde)
2. Your medical certificate (from Gesundheitsamt)

Step 1 — Notary Public (Notar): Visit a local Notar with the original documents. Cost: €20–50 per document.

Step 2 — Send to High Court for Apostille: Mail the certified copies to the Oberlandesgericht of your state. Submit via registered post with a cover letter, prepaid return envelope, and payment. Processing: 1–2 weeks.

8 Experience Letter from German University

Your current employer needs to issue an official experience letter on university letterhead confirming your name, position, dates of employment, academic title, and a signature from HR or your department head.

This is used for both the QVP and the general visa application package. Request this early — university HR departments often take 2–4 weeks.

9 Job Contract / Invitation Letter

This is a potential stumbling block. The Saudi visa system technically expects an employment contract certified by MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KSA) and the Ministry of Education. However, many Saudi universities issue only an initial job offer letter or invitation letter containing the Visa Number and Border Number.

10 Your Full Document Checklist

Before booking your Tasheer appointment, ensure you have everything:

Bring both originals and photocopies of everything.

11 The Tasheer Appointment

Book your appointment at tasheer.sa using your Visa Number and Border Number. On the day, arrive early, bring all documents organized in a folder, and be prepared for the officer to inspect originals.

After submitting your application, the visa can arrive remarkably quickly — sometimes within 24 hours via email. You will receive a PDF visa that is either affixed to your passport upon first entry or issued as an e-visa entry authorization.

12 After Getting the Visa — Your Checklist in Germany

Once your visa arrives, you have a 3-month window to travel to Saudi Arabia. Use this time to systematically wind down your life in Germany.

Abmeldung (Deregistration)

You are legally required to deregister your address when leaving Germany. This can be done in person at your local Einwohnermeldeamt or by post. Complete within two weeks of leaving (but ideally 2–4 weeks before departure). Keep the Abmeldebescheinigung — you will need it to cancel many contracts.

Canceling Contracts

• Apartment/rental: 3 months notice typically; negotiate with landlord if you find a replacement tenant
• Internet/DSL: Extraordinary termination (außerordentliche Kündigung) due to moving abroad is possible with proof
• Health insurance (GKV): Cancel upon proof of leaving Germany
• Phone/mobile: Same extraordinary termination right applies when relocating abroad
• GEZ/ARD broadcasting fee: Cancel via rundfunkbeitrag.de
• German pension (DRV): Inform them of your address change; you may reclaim contributions under certain conditions
• Bank accounts: Check if your bank allows non-resident accounts; set up a Saudi account (e.g., Al-Rajhi Bank) before canceling

Important Documents to Carry Physically

• Passports (all family members)
• Birth certificates of children
• Marriage certificate (with Apostille if possible — useful for Iqama process)
• All visa-related documents
• Academic degrees
• Driving license (International Driving Permit recommended)
• Medical records / vaccination books for children

13 Arriving in Saudi Arabia

Upon arrival, your work visa will be stamped in your passport. Your employer’s HR department will guide you through:

1. Medical examination (KSA): A separate Saudi medical exam at an approved clinic for your Iqama
2. Iqama issuance: Your university’s PRO processes this through the Absher portal; typically a few weeks
3. Family Iqama: Dependents’ Iqamas are linked to yours
4. Bank account: Open an account at Al Rajhi Bank or SNB — you will need your Iqama for full access
5. National Address: Register through the Saudi Post / Wasel system

Timeline at a Glance

Cost Overview (Approximate)

All costs are paid out of pocket. Many Saudi universities do not reimburse these pre-employment expenses, so budget accordingly.

Key Resources at a Glance

Final Thoughts

Moving from Germany to Saudi Arabia for an academic position is absolutely doable, but it requires early planning, patience, and persistence — especially when chasing German bureaucracies for the right stamps, approvals, and apostilles. The process is not linear; many steps can and should run in parallel.

The reward is a rich professional experience in a country that is genuinely investing in its universities and research capacity. Start Mosadaqa and QVP on day one. Visit Tasheer before you apply. Everything else follows from there.

Have questions or want to share your own experience? Drop me a message — every story helps the next person navigating this journey.