248

Civil Status Law Executive
Regulations*
Issued by the circular of the Minister of Justice No. 13/T/4323 dated 25.7.1432 and reported by the
Decision of the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior No. 27910/39 dated 5.6.1432 AH.
Civil Status Law Executive Regulations
Chapter One
General Provisions
Provisions of the Law
Article 1
This law is named Civil Status Law and its provisions shall tackle
the following:
a. Documenting the civil status of each Saudi citizen and record
anything related to this status including civil cases that may take place
in his life in the register prepared for this purpose.
b. Writing civil entries that may occur to expatriates inside the
Kingdom in the register prepared for this purpose.
Article 2
The following terms, wherever they occur in the present law and its
executive regulations shall have the meanings given opposite to each
one of them:
a. Directorate: Means the General Directorate of Civil Status Affairs
responsible for the activities of civil status affairs.
b. Civil Status Department: Means the regional branch of the
Directorate assigned within its scope of jurisdiction to register civil
status case of the population of the region.
c. Civil Status Office: Means that office assigned to register civil status
cases in the cases register and reports to one of the departments of civil
status affairs.
d. Commission: Means the Central Civil Status Commission formed
under the provisions of article 86 hereof.
e. Local Committee: Means the Civil Status Committee formed in each
department of office under the provisions of paragraph (a) of article 82
hereof.
f. Sub-committee: Means the Civil Status Committee formed in each
region under the provisions of clause (b) if article 82 hereof.
g. Central Civil Register: Means the general register wherein civil cases
of all Saudis are recorded.
h. Register of Entries: Means the register wherein all civil status entries
are recorded.
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i. Entry: Means the entry of birth, marriage, divorce, loss or recovery of

nationality, death and any other case that this law or its executive
regulations considers necessary to register as well as all subsidiary
emergencies, incidents and amendments to registrations.
j. Civil Status: Means all information that describes the civil life of the
citizen by entering any of the previous entries.
Article 3
Civil status departments and offices shall register civil cases and cases
as well as issue identity cards and family cards in accordance with the
provisions of this law and related executive regulations.
Article 4
Civil status departments shall be assigned in undertaking its
responsibilities by civil status offices that are constituted under a
resolution by the Minister of Interior as may be necessary. The
resolution shall state the civil status department to which each civil
status office shall report.
Article 5
His Majestys missions shall undertake responsibility for civil status
offices abroad with regard to the registration of civil entries for Saudis
within their scope of jurisdiction abroad. Nevertheless, every
registration of a civil case for Saudis that may be carried out in any
foreign country in accordance with its laws is considered valid provided
that the entry does not contradict the laws applicable in the Kingdom.
However, within one hundred eighty days from the date of occurrence,
the case should be registered in the register of entries and civil register
as per the registration that has been done abroad.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter One (General
Provisions)
1. Director General Of Civil Status shall supervise civil status
departments and offices, follow up their performance of their duties and
direct them to carry out their duties and responsibilities in the light of
the provisions of this law and related executive regulations and the
powers granted to him.
2. Original register is the vessel where all documents and papers of the
citizens civil status shall be filed after receiving the national identity
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card and a serial number of filing shall be assigned to it at each

department or office.
3. Documents and records section is the place allocated for filing
original documents and records.
4. When registering any case, Saudi missions abroad shall comply with
the relevant provisions stated herein and the registration procedures
and report cases registered by them to the Ministry of Interior (General
Directorate of Civil Status) within thirty days from the date of
registration and a copy of the documents establishing the case shall be
attached. The civil status department or office shall register it in the civil
register based on the registration made by the Saudi mission.
5. Failure to report civil cases that took place abroad by the Saudi
mission shall not impede from registering them in the register if the
concerned person contacts himself after completing necessary
procedures of the entry provided for herein.
Chapter Two
Civil Registers
Article 6
A central civil status register shall be established under this law
wherein the civil status of each Saudi citizen, whether living inside or
outside the Kingdom, shall be documented. The said register shall be
organized, classified and entries made in it in accordance with an order
approved by the Minister of Interior.
Article 7
Registers for the registration of civil entries of Saudis as well as other
separate ones for expatriates shall be prepared at civil status offices
wherein the civil cases that occur to them inside the Kingdom shall be
entered.
Article 8
Registers and pages of entries for Saudis and expatriates shall include
registers for the registration of births, deaths, marriage and divorce.
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Other registers for entries related to Saudis and expatriates may be

added upon a resolution by the Minister of Interior.
Article 9
The registers and pages of entries for Saudis and expatriates shall be
numbered and stamped with the official seal of the Directorate. The first
and last pages of each book shall show the number of pages of each
book and stamped with the official seal of the Directorate.
Article 10
Civil registers with content data and copies thereof and official
documents related to them are an authority in establishing the
information contained therein unless otherwise proved to be invalid by
a court judgment or official resolution issued by the concerned pertinent
authority in accordance with the provisions of the executive regulations.
Article 11
All data contained in the civil registers are classified as confidential
and these registers may not be moved outside civil status offices and
departments in any case whatsoever. If an official judicial or
investigation authority issues a decision to review or inspect the same, a
judge may be delegated or the investigator attend to the place of the
registers at the respective civil department or office for review and
inspection. The judge delegation decision may include authorizing him
to delegate his powers to others.
Article 12
The executive regulations of this law shall determine the relationship
between the central civil register and entries registers. They shall also
determine the forms of these registers and forms of personal IDs, family
cards, certificates, documents, reports and other writs required for the
implementation of this law.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Two (Civil
Registers)
6. All entries related to citizens shall be entered in a civil register
carrying a special number and each entry shall be given a special
electronic number.
7. Civil register number under article 6 hereof shall be entered at the
time of providing any service to citizens by all governmental and private
sectors. The number shall be used in all documents including legal
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deeds, powers of attorney, official correspondence and all applications

submitted by the concerned person to any agency.
8. The original register is the authority in case of difference whatsoever
unless there is any amendment or addition, in which case supporting
documents and papers shall be referred to.
9. The civil register shall contain main and subsidiary data as provided
for under article 25 hereof. Every data shall be included in the
designated column.
10. The place of the case shall be registered in accordance with the
names stated in the regions law and executive regulations (city, province
or centre).
11. A copy of the registers of entries shall be printed when
electronically completed. These registers shall include births, deaths,
marriage, divorce, nationalization and loss and recovery of nationality.
Pages shall electronically be numbered and stamped with the official
seal when printed from the electronic system.
12. The pertinent authority referred to in article 10 hereof is the
authority used in the registration under the law of civil status and
executive regulations.
13. The entry register shall include the full name of the person
concerned with the entry, civil register number, type of entry, number of
registration, place and date of occurrence by day, month and year,
number and date and place of issue of the document supporting the
entry. The electronic system shall specify the name of the employee who
registered it and the time of registration.
14. The entries of granting Saudi nationality to expatriates shall be
entered in a register that includes columns that have adequate
information on them like full name, place and date of birth, previous
nationality, social status, names of parents and their nationality and the
article under which the person acquired the Saudi nationality or the way
of granting it and the order supporting the same.
15. Names shall be entered in the civil register in tetra form as a
minimum and the last part of the name should be the surname. The
following shall be taken into consideration when registering them:
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a. The word son of or daughter of or al shall be placed between

the name of the person and the name of his father and son of or al
between his fathers name and the name of his grandfather.
b. When registering the first name of the citizen, the provisions of
article 45 hereof shall be taken into consideration. Any information
registered in previous documents contrary to the provisions of the said
article should be changed in accordance with the procedures provided
for in articles 27, 28, 33 and 40 of the executive regulations.
c. Arabic grammars should be observed in all uses and accuracy
should be observed when registering names.
d. The first name shall be registered free from any titles. No words that
are not part of the name should be registered such as sheriff, Mr., Haaj
and the like.
e. Names shall be registered free from non-additive combinations. No
combined names like Muhammad Saalih or Muhammad Mustaff may be
entered in the register except those whose names are registered in their
documents as composite prior to 25.1.1393 AH.
f. No additional phrases may be entered in the name column such as
alias or the like.
16. As exception from the provisions of 15.d, the title of prince to the
name of the person whose father is one of their highness members of the
royal family and the wives of princes as long as they are under their
names and this title shall continue with them after they are divorced if
they have children but it is removed after their divorce if they do not
have children and any provisions to the contrary shall be amended.
17. The personal photographs required for the procedure shall be 6 x 4
cm, recent and colored with a white background in an opposite position,
without glasses, clear and showing all face features in the civil dress
used in the Kingdom. No professional dress or the dress of any group of
citizens may be used in the photo. The personal photo of women shall be
free from any makeup and the head and neck are covered.
18. Documents and papers shall be archived electronically
immediately after taking any action.
19. The Directorate shall review the applicable forms and amend
necessary ones as consistent with the provisions of these executive
regulations.
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Chapter Three
Entry in the Register
Article 13
Entry in the central civil register shall be made on the basis of
allocating a separate space for each Saudi family while entry in the entry
registers is made as per precedence of report.
Article 14
Entry in the entry registers and certificates and documents taken from
them shall be with fixed ink and clear handwriting along with dates in
figures and letters. No words may be abbreviated, symbols used or
empty spaces left during entry. It is prohibited to closely insert words or
add them between lines or erase, obliterate o change in the entries. In
case of error during registration, necessary correction shall be made by
writing off lightly the wrong word and the correct word written on the
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Article 17
Every citizen holding an identity card shall submit to any civil status
department or office all necessary information and documents to
register him and the members of his family. Every citizen shall report all
civil entries that should be registered that may take place in the future
within the period specified under the law.
Article 18
The registrar shall enter every civil case immediately after it is
reported to him and shall enter the date of registration at the time of
registration. The entry shall include the name of the informant, his title,
age, place of residence and his capacity with regard to reporting the case
and the date of reporting the case.
Article 19
If the registrar assigned to enter the civil status case refuses to enter
any civil case, he shall, within seven days, forward the case to the
employing department under a justifying memorandum. The head of
department shall give his opinion by a written decision reported to the
registrar and the concerned person within thirty days from the date of
forwarding the case to him. In case the entry is rejected or the said
period lapses, the concerned person has the right to complain to the
committee.
Article 20
Upon reporting a civil case after the lapse of the specified period and
prior to the end of the first year from occurrence, the registrar shall
check if it has actually took place at the reported date. For this purpose,
he may request supporting documents and conduct necessary
investigations. After the case is proved, he shall enter it in the relevant
register. As for the cases reported after the end of
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Article 22
The registrar may not enter any case with regard to which he is the
informant, a requestor of an entry or a witness or related to his wife, one
of his seniors, juniors or his relatives to the fourth degree unless and
until the matter is forwarded to the head of department who should
study the papers and check that they are true and then instruct
registration of the necessary entry.
Article 23
Every person may have an official duplicate copy of the entries related
to him, his seniors, his juniors or spouse. Pertinent public authorities
and any party having an established interest may request an official
copy of any entry or document. The executive regulations shall state the
meaning the pertinent public authority and the established interest as
well as the procedures for the production of copies and fees due for the
same.
Article 24
Registration in the register of entries shall be ceased at the end of the
last day of Dhul Hijjah each year and the register shall be closed under
minutes to be entered at the end of the last entry in the register without
leaving any empty space between them. The minutes shall be signed at
least by the registrar and his administrative superior. The registers of the
new year shall opened on the first day of Muharram.
Article 25
Regional civil status departments shall have special cabinets to keep
registers of entries related to the regional offices and civil status
documents based on which the entries were registered. The said
registers shall be deposited for filing within one month from closing
registration therein. The executive regulations shall specify methods and
ways of filing in the archiving cabinets and how clear indices are made
of the archived registers so that they can readily be referred to when
necessary.
Article 26
Registers shall be inspected by the committee when deposited for
filing in the archiving cabinets. They shall be signed at the end of entries
of each register stating that they have been inspected and minutes shall
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be prepared stating the result of inspection and the condition of these

registers and any registration violations they may have. The said
minutes shall be submitted to the commission within fifteen days from
the date of inspection.
Article 27
Civil registrars are responsible for every distortion, forgery, addition
or deletion made to the registers in their custody. If more than one
registrar is responsible for the register, they shall be considered jointly
responsible for safeguarding such registers. This responsibility shall
transfer to the archives treasurer after receiving such registers. If any
such thing takes place, the head of department and the directorate shall
sue the culprit and conduct necessary investigation to uncover the truth
about it and file a case of correction before the commission. Moreover,
every party having interest may file the said case immediately and
request the culprit to pay necessary damages that he may have incurred
without prejudice to the criminal and disciplinary penalties provided for
herein and in the other laws.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Three (Entry in
the Register)
20. Reporting the case is to contact civil status department requesting
registration of the case as per the relevant supporting documents.
21. The central civil register for each citizen shall be electronically
linked with the civil registers of seniors, juniors and spouse.
22. When the electronic linking between the Ministry of Interior
(General Directorate of Civil Status) and a department concerned with
substantiation or notification of any civil case that the law and its
executive regulations is completed, registering it by the said department
serves as a notification. The person concerned with the case (the father
in case of birth and husband in cases of marriage and divorce) shall be
included in the requested system (notification of contact) under such
notification. When contacting, the case shall be registered in the civil
register and entries register by the registrar in civil affairs in the light of
the measures provided for herein.
23. Entry in the civil status registers shall be considered complete after
it is approved by the concerned person and the document supporting
registration is activated and received.
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24. When an error occurs in the data entered in electronic registers, the
wrong data shall be blocked so that it will not appear in the produced
documents until it is correct in accordance with the procedures provided
for in the law and its executive regulations.
25. The data registered in the central civil register for every citizens
shall include the following:
a. Main data:
1. First name after completing fifteen years of age,
2. Full names of parents, their nationalities and civil register numbers,
if any,
3. Type of nationality (native or nationalization),
4. Sex,
5. Place and country of birth,
6. Date and documentation of birth,
7. Personal photograph,
8. Distinguishing mark,
9. Complexion and colour of eyes,
10. Blood group,
11. Ten fingerprints, and
12. Filing number, date and place of issue.
1. First name before completing fifteen years of age,
2. Social status,
3. Husbands register number for the married female,
4. Level of education,
5. Profession and its code,
6. Place of residence,
7. Height,
8. Any other data that may be required to be registered.
26. Requests of amendment provided for in article 15 hereinabove
shall be submitted to any civil status department or office to complete
necessary procedures related to the requests of amendment to main data
and refer the same to the concerned sub-committee. Main amendment
requests may directly be submitted to the committee.
27. Amendment shall be made to the subsidiary data by the civil status
department or office based on documents, papers or investigations
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substantiating amendment in the light of the measures provided for

herein.
28. The first name for those less than fifteen years of age is changed
under a declaration by the parent stating his desire to change provided
the provisions of article 15 hereof are taken into consideration for the
name to be changed.
29. The social status and husbands register number for the married
female shall be amended in accordance with the measures provided for
in article 46 of the law and related provisions herein.
30. The level of education is amended as per a copy of the supporting
document attested to be true copy of the original.
31. The profession and its code shall be registered or amended as per a
supporting document issued by the pertinent authority effective from
the date stated in the document. With regard to amendment of the
professions of the military who completed their service, the official letter
should consider the following:
a) It should contain number and date of issue and number and date of
the resolution under which he is discharged from service.
b) The letter should be sent in a sealed envelope with letterhead
stamped with the official seal of the issuing department.
c) The envelope shall be addressed to the director of the respective
civil status department. The envelope shall carry the subject as
amendment of profession along with the name of the concerned person.
d) The identity of the person who brought the letter shall be checked
and his name, civil register number and signature shall be entered in a
special register prepared for this purpose.
32. The place of residence shall be amended as per the measures
provided for in article 81 hereof.
33. The main data shall be amended by the civil status department or
office under a resolution by the respective sub-committee unless any
objection is received.
34. The date of birth shall be amended by the civil status department
or office after checking the following:
a) No previous amendment was made,
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b) The date of birth is not based on a certificate of birth or an approved

medical report unless the request is meant to correct a material mistake
clear in the report,
c) the amendment should not result in changing the order among
siblings or the difference of age between him and his parents or his
eldest son is unreasonable and the like.
d) The amendment should not result in the violation of regulations
and instructions like joining school, employment or receiving the
personal identity card (national identity card) before legal age.
e) If the amendment exceeds five years or if the requestor is a military,
this should be reported to the Directorate.
35. Notwithstanding the provisions of article 34 hereof, no amendment
should be made to the date of birth of military personnel except with
express approval by the pertinent authority in accordance with the
instructions related to each sector.
36. Cases substantiated by material proofs may not be amended except
by similar or stronger proofs.
37. If the name of the place where the birth took place is changed, it
may be changed in the civil register if a request is submitted in this
regard.
38. The name of the place of case may be amended as consistent with
the names contained in the Regions Law and related executive
regulations.
39. When the sex changes from male to female or the other way round
after registration for medical reasons, the following actions should be
taken:
a) A request to change the name and sex should be submitted by the
concerned person or his/her guardian,
b) The sex should be proved by a medical report from a medical
committee approved by the Ministry of Health, and
c) After a decision is issued by the pertinent sub-committee approving
the amendment, all data related to the concerned person shall be
changed as consistent with the case in the civil register and old
documents should be cancelled and withdrawn as well as the original
register is noted with cancellation and a new original with new number
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and date is created and the said data changed in the civil register and
provided with new documents.
40. When the first name of the person who is over fifteen years of age
is requested, the following actions should be taken:
a) A request is submitted on the form prepared for this purpose stating
the name to be changed to and reasons,
b) The provisions of article 15 hereof shall be taken into consideration,
c) An advertisement should be published in a local newspaper stating
the name to be changed and a period of one month should lapse,
d) It should be checked that the concerned person has not committed
any crime or the name placed on the list of embargo by the concerned
authority and if a previous crime has been committed or if he is placed
on the list of embargo, these authorities should be notified at the time of
change, and
e) If the requestor of change has received a separate document, the
decision issued to change the name shall be authenticated by a notary
public and advertised in the official gazette.
41. If a request is submitted to delete the clan, this shall be made in
accordance with the following rules:
a) The original register of the person requesting am4endment should
be checked to rule out any comments.
b) It should be checked that no previous crime has been committed by
the concerned person or his name placed on the list of embargo by the
concerned authority and if a previous crime has been committed or if he
is placed on the list of embargo, these authorities should be notified at
the time of change, and
c) This should be advertised in a local newspaper and after the lapse of
one month when no objection or comment is received, the necessary
action is taken in accordance with article 33 hereof.
42. When a request to amend the name of father or grandfather is
requested, this should be made in accordance with the following
measures:
a) The measures provided for in the previous article should be taken
into consideration,
b) The change should be made in accordance with the Saudi document
supporting identity of the father or grandfather, and
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c) If the father or grandfather fails to obtain Saudi documents, the

amendment should be made under a legal deed if a document
supporting that the correct request is valid under the documents of
brothers, uncles or close cousins when there are no brothers or uncles.
43. When the surname, branch or clan is requested to be changed, this
should be made in accordance with the following measures:
a) The measures provided for in article 41 hereof should be taken into
consideration,
b) The amendment should be made in accordance with the Saudi
document proving the identity of the father or grandfather, and
c) If no Saudi documents are obtained and evidence supporting the
validity of the request as per documents related to brothers or uncles is
submitted, the amendment shall be made under a legal deed.
44. If the filing number is repeated by a single issuing department for
two different persons, the validity of the procedures of obtaining the
documents should be verified and the filing number for the one
preceding the other in the registration in the civil register is approved
and the register of the other is placed on the list of requested persons
(notification of contact) so that a new filing number is created for him
and amend the same in the civil register and withdraw and replace his
documents and provide him with amendment notification.
45. If it is proved after checking the original register that there is a
mistake in the registration of the filing number between the native
citizens registers and nationalized persons registers, the issue shall be
forwarded to the Directorate to take necessary action. No amendment
may be made except under a decision by the sub-committee.
46. When the amendment or change in data provided for in articles 39,
40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 is completed, security authorities as well as
concerned authorities in civil status department, his employer, control
authorities, lending funds and other agencies with which the person
requesting the change has relation shall be informed of the action taken
along with his civil register number stated.
47. The nationality stated in the birth certificate may not be changed if
it is proved by official documents at the time of registration of birth.
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48. If the child or one of his parents receives the Saudi nationality at a
date following the date of birth, this should be noted on the birth
certificate by a special stamp.
49. The distinguishing mark, height, complexion, colour of eyes and
blood group shall be registered and amended under a document issued
by a public or private hospital or public health centre where a hospital is
not available.
50. Referral to sub-committees shall not include requests of
amendment based on the decisions issued by these sub-committees like
requests of amendment to children according to their father's statement
if an amendment is made to the father under a decision by any subcommittee.
51. When amendment is made to the civil register, the number and
date of the order on which the amendment is based shall be registered
and the system shall keep previous data and electronically determines
the staff who has undertaken the amendment and date and time of
amendment.
52. In case the identity card is not registered in the civil register, a
request to register it shall be submitted in accordance with the following
process:
a. If the request is submitted by the holder of the identity cared, the
following action shall be taken:
1. Submit a request for registration on the form prepared for this
purpose along with the original identity card,
2. If the identity card is missing, the applicant shall provide a
guarantor who should sign on a form prepared for this purpose and
advertise the missing identity card in a local newspaper.
3. The original and register of the identity card shall be checked to
ensure that it has been issued in a legal way and that the additions (if
any) have been made in accordance with legal procedures and that no
comments on it are received.
4. It should be checked that the applicant is the holder of the identity
card and the personal photograph on the identity card should be
matched with the one fixed to the original register and both of them
should be matched with the applicant. If it is impossible to match the
photograph or if there is any doubt, the photographs shall be matched
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and the fingerprint on the original register (if any) with that of the
applicant through criminal evidence department.
5. Inquire from passports through the fingerprint and name to ensure
that the name of the applicant is not placed on lists, that the applicant
does not have any documents and that he had not left the Kingdom.
6. Inquire from criminal evidence about previous offences through the
fingerprint but women are relieved from this requirement.
7. Question the applicant about his job and place of residence during
the past period, the reason why he had not previously been registered in
the civil register, and if he is married, he should explain the status of his
wife and a copy of the marriage entry should be submitted, the names of
his children and the jobs they hold should be known. He should also be
questioned about his Saudi relatives (father, brothers, uncles, cousins or
relatives of a lower degree from the side of his father respectively).
Copies of national identity cards should be attached and undertakings
about their relations with the applicant should be signed and two
witnesses should be brought to confirm before the concerned staff that
his affidavit is true and correct.
8. If the father of the applicant is dead, a copy of the heir nomination
deed along with the original for matching should be submitted to the
concerned staff. If the original could not be produced, the copy should
be attested by the department which issued the original along with
copies of the documents of heirs.
9. Attach evidence that the individuals added in the identity card are
living and check that they are not registered in the civil register or carry
any documents.
10. The papers shall be forwarded to the directorate to complete
necessary action towards deciding on registering the identity card in the
civil register by the concerned authority.
b. If the holder of the identity card is dead and his wife or any of his
seniors or juniors or relatives of first or second degree request to register
it or if this registration is requested by an official authority, it should be
registered in accordance with the following measures:
1. The application for registration shall be submitted on the form
prepared for this purpose;
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2. The original identity card shall be attached, and if the original is

missing, a copy shall be attached and an advertisement should be
published in a local newspaper;
3. The original and register of the identity card should be checked to
ensure that it is issued in a legal way and that the additions made to it
have been made under official procedures and that there are no
comments on it;
4. A copy of the heir nomination deed along with the original for
matching by the concerned staff should be submitted, and if the original
is impossible to produce, the copy shall be attested by the department
which issued the original;
5. The papers should be forwarded to the directorate to complete
necessary actions on deciding on registering the identity card in the civil
register by the pertinent authority.
6. After completing registration of the identity card in the civil register,
the death should immediately be registered under the evidence
provided for in point 4 and the death should be noted in the identity
card and the original register.
7. No citizen data chip may be issued unless it is sure that the death is
noted in the civil register, identity card and original register.
53. If the identity card could not be proved to be true and correct, it
should be forwarded to civil affairs commission to decide on its validity
or to withdraw it pursuant to the provisions of article 89 of the law.
54. Foreign embassies in the Kingdom should encourage their subjects
to report to civil affairs any civil cases that may occur to them in the
Kingdom within the period specified in the civil status law and notify
them that the birth case in Saudi Arabia is only proved by a Saudi birth
certificate.
55. The two Eids holidays are not included in the periods specified for
reporting civil cases. However, official holidays (weekend) are included
in the said period unless they occur on the first or last day of reporting,
in which case it is not included in the specified period.
56. The case registration application form, in addition to the data of the
person concerned with the case, shall include the name of the informant,
his degree of relation or capacity, number of identity card, place of
residence, signature and application submission date. It should also
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include a column stating the reasons of delay, if any, a column stating

that the informant has been informed about the provisions of article 79
of the civil status law and the provisions of article 26 of the Saudi
Nationality Law.
57. When applying for substantiations and necessary investigation, the
provisions related to each case contained herein should be taken into
account.
58. Each civil case shall be registered immediately after it has been
reported. The entry should include the name of the concerned person,
the full name of the informant, his civil register number, his place of
residence, his telephone number and his relation with the person
concerned with the case. The electronic system shall determine the date
of registration of the case and the staff who did it. This will do for the
signature of the registrar referred to in article 2 of the law.
59. If the original document evidencing the case is impossible to
examine, it should be replaced by a copy attested by the department
which issued the document under which the case shall be registered.
60. The actions taken by the registrar including investigations on
reporting any case after the lapse of the period specified in the law are
considered as registration of the violation to decide on the fine against
the violating party.
61. The violation and fine shall be registered electronically against the
concerned person and explained to him. The fine shall be paid through
the electronic system (Sadad).
62. The cases proved by reports, deeds or contracts issued by
governmental authorities inside the country are approved, after they are
ensured to be correct, without the need to prove them by other means
unless there is something that requires investigation and the fine
applicable to delay in reporting within the period specified in the law
shall be imposed.
63. The court judgments proving the case issued by a foreign country
shall be authenticated by the Board of Grievances.
64. The cases related to Saudis shall be registered in the Saudi entries
register and the civil register and the cases related to expatriates shall be
registered in the expatriates entries register.
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65. Fourth degree referred to in article 22 of the law means paternal

cousins, maternal cousins and other relatives of equal degree.
66. The public authority referred to in article 23 of the law is every
governmental agency whose activities, duties and services require a
copy of the entry of document.
67. The established interest referred to in article 23 of the law is
anything that realizes established benefit or prcases established harm by
an official or private authority or any pertinent authority.
68. The copies of entries provided for in article 23 of the law mean the
chip of data of each citizen electronically produced from the central civil
register.
69. A fee of twenty Saudi Riyals shall be collected for each request to
obtain a copy of the entry or document referred to in article 23 of the law
through the electronic system (Sadad).
70. The procedures for producing copies of the entries and documents
as per article 23 of the law shall be as follows:
a) The identity of the person requesting the copy shall be checked and
he should complete the form prepared for this purpose.
b) If the application is submitted by a party having an established
interest, the reasons for requesting these copies should be explained and
supporting documents should be attached.
c) If the application is submitted by a public authority, it is enough to
send a letter to this effect.
d) The fees due for producing copies should be paid.
e) The name of the applicant should be written on the copy if the copy
is requested by a public authority and if the applicant has an established
authority, his capacity shall be written on the copy.
f) The copy of the document or entry should appear in a manner
distinguishable from the original and should be signed by the director or
his designee and stamped with the department's seal.
71. A woman has the right to have an official duplicate copy of the
entries registered in the civil registers related to the woman or her
seniors, juniors or husband as per the procedures contained herein.
72. Copies of entries or documents shall be delivered under daily
records that contain the number of entry or document, name of
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recipient, his capacity and his signature along with his civil status
number and date of delivery.
73. If a citizen applies to obtain a copy of a document or entry and it is
found that that there is no original document, the paper shall be referred
to the sub-committee for study and issue the necessary decision.
74. All documents and procedures shall be sent to the original entry of
the concerned person after they are electronically archived by the
department which has undertaken the procedure based on the civil
register of the concerned person except the following:
a) Copy of the form prepared to provide the dependents added to the
head of the family in the civil register with the national identity card,
b) The papers related to linking the civil register of the wife registered
in the civil register with her husband or father,
c) The papers related to adding children if these papers include a birth
certificate registered in the civil register,
d) The papers related to the renewal of the personal identity card
(national identity) or family card (family register) or a replacement of a
missing or damaged document including the damaged or renewed
document after taking the action that guarantees not using it like
punching,
e) The papers related to amendment of professions and updating of
the address.
In these cases, they shall be filed in daily files with the departments
which have undertaken the procedure after they are electronically
archived.
75. With regard to the methods and ways of filing in the filing cabinets
and original file and how to make clear indices of files provided for in
article 25 of the law, the provisions of Documents and Archives Law and
related executive regulations related to filing shall be adopted.
76. The local committee shall examine the electronically produced
registers referred to in article 11 hereof and take the procedures
provided for in article 26 of the law.
77. Every staff having the authority to work on or access to the
electronic data system under the operating number designated for him
shall be responsible for everything registered under his number in the
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civil register. He shall keep his password confidential and not to leave
his system open after getting access to the system.
78. Immediately after discovering the violation, the claim of correction
shall be filed before the commission for the acts provided for in article 27
of the law.
79. Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous article and after
conducting necessary investigations into the acts provided for in article
27 of the law, the subject should be referred to the authority concerned
with investigation into the crimes of forgery, if any. If it is found that no
forgery is committed, the subject shall be referred to the sub-committee
to apply the fine.
Chapter Four
Place of Entry
Article 28
Every Saudi head of family and his dependents shall be entered by a
civil status department. Civil cases shall be entered by any civil status
office. For Saudis living abroad, cases shall be entered by the Saudi
mission in the country where they live or any civil status department of
their choice inside the Kingdom.
Article 29
The place of residence of the person living in the Kingdom in terms of
exercising his civil rights, for the purposes of official notices and
notifications addressed to him, is the place where he customarily lives
in. Nonetheless, the place where the person practices his work on a
continuous basis is considered as the place of his residence.
Article 30
The place of residence of the married woman is the place of residence
of her husband and the place of residence of a minor is the place of
residence of his father or guardian.
Article 31
Subject to the above, any person may choose a place of residence at
which he receives notices and notifications addressed to him regarding
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certain matters or transactions in addition to his general place of

residence.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Four (Place of
Entry)
80. Every person shall state his place of residence, address, means of
contact (post box number, e-mail, telephone number, etc.) and notify any
change on time. He shall also be responsible for the information he
provides and the effects and obligations resulting therefrom on the form
prepared for this purpose.
81. Determination of the customary place of residence should be based
on a copy of the ownership of the real estate, a copy of the lease contract
a certificate of identification from the employer, from the mayor, chief of
the clan or the officially approved identifier. If the person chooses a
special place of residence as per article 31 of the law in addition to his
general place of residence, this should be made on a special form
prepared for this purpose that includes the matters or transactions
concerning which he receives notifications and notices addressed to him.
Chapter Five
Births
Article 32
All births in the Kingdom and all Saudi births abroad shall be reported
within the period specified in the law.
Article 33
Persons responsible for reporting births are:
a) Father of the newborn if he is present in the country on the day of
birth or if he appears during the reporting period,
b) The next of kin to the newborn among male relatives who have
completed scaseeen years of age living with the mother of the newborn
in the same household,
c) The next of kin to the newborn among male relatives who have
completed scaseeen years of age not living with the mother of the
newborn in the same household,
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d) The mayor of the neighbourhood of the chief of the clan,

e) The administrative governor of the village or centre,
f) Any person or persons who are responsible under the executive
regulations. This responsibility of reporting the birth shall be as per the
above order. The responsibility of a group shall no longer exist if the one
preceding in order is present.
Article 34
Reporting any birth shall be made to any civil status office on the form
prepared for this purpose within fifteen days of the date of birth. This
period shall be thirty days if the birth takes place at a place more than
fifty kilometers away from any civil status department or office.
Article 35
If birth takes place during travel outside the Kingdom, it should be
reported within fifteen days from the date of arrival. The report shall be
addressed to the Saudi mission in the destination country. In case of
return, the birth case shall be reported to any civil status office in the
Kingdom.
Article 36
As an exception, if the birth takes place abroad at a place far from the
place of the Saudi mission premises, it may be reported by registered
mail provided that the report is accompanied by a birth certificate from
the pertinent authority where the birth took place including necessary
data to complete the entry.
Article 37
Twins shall be reported separately and individually and each one of
them shall be entered separately and the hour and minute of birth of
each one shall be indicated.
Article 38
If a newborn dies prior to be entering him in the register, his birth
should be registered followed by his death. However, if he is born dead
after the sixth month of pregnancy, he should be entered as born dead.
Article 39
Whoever finds a foundling newborn, he should immediately notify the
nearest police station in cities or the administrative governor in villages
and centres. They should prepare minutes of the case stating description
of the case and circumstances and stating the place where is found, the
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day and hour when he is found. The minutes shall include a description
of the child, things found with him, apparent estimated age and
complete identification of the person who found him unless he refuses
this. The minutes should be signed by the person who prepared it and
the person who found the child if he accepts his name to be mentioned.
The child and the minutes shall be delivered to an approved institution
or person to take care of him unless the person who found him wishes to
take care of him if he is proved to be fit by the Ministry of Labour and
Social Affairs after he is named according to the applicable instructions.
Article 40
The institution or person to whom the foundling child is surrendered
to take care of shall inform the civil status office of the same within
fifteen days from the date of taking over the foundling child. The
register shall enter him in the register in due course and the child's birth
certificate is delivered to the institution or person who undertakes to
take care of him without mentioning that he is a foundling. In case either
parent or both are known, the child's entry shall be amended upon a
decision from the sub-committee.
Article 41
The births registrar assigned to enter the case after registration of the
birth case shall prepare a birth certificate in two copies on the form
prepared for this purpose on which he shall note down the number and
date of entry in the register and deliver one copy to the informant as
stated in the executive regulations of this law and send the other to the
department to which he belongs.
Article 42
At the end of every week, the births registrar shall notify civil status
department to which he belongs with a statement on the form prepared
for this purpose including all birth entries he entered in his register
along with copies of birth certificates. The department shall enter these
cases within three days in the page of the father of the child.
Article 43
The birth certificate issued by the registrar shall be submitted within
fifteen days from the date of receipt to one of the civil status
departments to match the entry in the register and to stamp it with the
seal of the directorate and add the newborn to the family card.
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Article 44
Directors of hospitals, dispensaries, health quarantines, prisons,
owners of agencies where births may take place and every agency
licensed to practice delivery like physicians and midwives shall keep
regular books to register birth cases that may take place at their agencies
or under their supervision to include the following data:
a) Day, date, hour and place of birth,
b) Sex of the newborn (male or female),
c) Full names of parents, their nationality, religion, place of residence
and professions. At the end of each month, they should inform the
pertinent civil status department with all births that took place at their
institutions or under their supervision. This notification does not release
the persons stated in article 33 from the responsibility of notification and
is not sufficient to enter the birth case in the relevant register.
Article 45
No two brothers or sisters from one father or a son with his father may
share the same name if both of them are living. Citizens are not
permitted to register names which violate the teachings of Islam.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Five (Births)
82. The order mentioned in article 33 of the law is meant to determine
responsibility but does not result in rejecting the notification from any
other class.
83. The mother of the newborn is responsible to report births in
addition to the groups provided for in article 33 of the law.
84. If any person responsible for notification reports the case of birth,
any subsequent reports are not accepted unless they contain information
that affect the correctness of the previous report, in which case the report
substantiating the case as nearest to the date of occurrence should be
accepted after conducting necessary investigation.
85. If the father of the child objects to the name of the child, he should
complete necessary procedures in the light of the provisions of articles
28 and 28 hereof.
86. If the subject of objection is denial of paternity, the objecting person
should be told to refer to the court having jurisdiction to consider the
case in a legal manner. If a final court judgment is issued approving
denial of paternity, the civil registration of the child shall be stopped and
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the papers are forwarded to the sub-committee to issue a decision

canceling his civil register as provided for in article 15 of the law.
87. The period of reporting birth cases provided for in article 34 of the
law for birth cases occurring inside cities shall be thirty days.
88. The period of reporting birth cases provided for in article 35 of the
law shall be thirty days.
89. When registering a birth case of a Saudi based on a birth certificate
not registered in the civil register or a birth report issued by a public or
private hospital, the following shall be taken into account prior to
registering the case:
a) The form prepared for this purpose shall be completed.
b) Prior to considering registration of the birth case, it should be
checked that the wife is added in her husband's card. If she is not added,
evidence to matrimonial relationship should be attached.
c) If either spouse is an expatriate and the marriage is completed
under an approval, a certificate to this effect issued by the concerned
authority or a Saudi embassy or a copy of the approval certificate by the
seal of any of the said authorities should be attached if the number and
date of the approval of the concerned authority is not mention in the
marriage contract.
d) If either spouse is a subject of any GCC country or if the wife is born
in the Kingdom for a Saudi mother and an expatriate father, it is
sufficient to produce the contract if it is issued or certified by a court in
the Kingdom or is authenticated by a Saudi mission for those who
completed their marriage outside the Kingdom or any certificate issued
by a Saudi mission evidencing the case of marriage.
e) If either spouse does not carry documents or is an expatriate living
in the Kingdom in an unlawful way or if the marriage is completed
without approval, a file shall be instituted and referred to the authority
having jurisdiction as the case may be, the child shall be registered and a
note is written in the remarks column about the number and date of the
file and its subject.
f) The original birth certificate shall be referred to.
g) The birth report should state the name of the physician who
performed the delivery, his stamp, signature, date of signature, the
official seal of the agency and the signature of the official.
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90. When applying for the registration of a birth case of a Saudi based
on a report issued by a public health centre, the following should be
taken into account prior to the registration of the case in the entries
register and the civil register:
a) Complete the procedures provided for in the previous article,
b) The report should be stamped by the health centre with the phrase
"we certify that the contents of this document are correct" and signed by
the administrative director of the health centre.
c) The Directorate of Health Affairs in the region where the health
centre is located should attest the report confirming the authenticity of
the signature of the administrative director in charge and should state
the number and date of the permit of delivery issued to the health
centre.
91. When an application for the registration of a Saudi citizen based on
a birth report issued by a private health centre, the following should be
taken into account before registration of the case:
a) The procedures contained in the above two articles shall be
completed,
b) The father and witnesses shall be questioned by the civil status staff
on the questioning form prepared for this purpose. They may also be
questioned about matters that have not been included in the form if
required.
c) If there are children added with their father and are younger than
the applicant, their father shall be questioned about the reason of not
adding the applicant when he added his brothers.
d) Comparison shall be drawn between the dates of birth of his added
and not added children, the name of the mother of each one, her
nationality and the documents she carries shall be known and any
proximity of dates of birth of children from one mother or contradiction
between the date of birth and marriage contract shall be verified.
e) The original register of the father shall be checked to ensure that it is
authentic and that there are no comments on it.
92. The medical reports evidencing birth issued by public and private
hospitals during the first week from the date of birth shall serve as birth
reports issued by them.
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93. When an application for the registration of a house birth case of a

Saudi born inside the Kingdom, procedures shall be completed as
follows:
a) The relevant forms shall be completed and signed by the informant
and witnesses before the concerned staff;
b) The requirements under paragraphs a and b of article 89 and
paragraphs b, c, d and e of article 91 hereof shall be completed;
c) A copy of the vaccination card of the newborn, if any, shall be
attached;
d) The child shall be referred to the hospital to estimate his age under
a medical report with his photograph fixed on it and stamped with the
official seal; and
e) A letter shall be sent to passports requesting a sample of the travels
of the mother during the year of birth and the year of entry of the
mother and the date of birth shall be compared. If it is found that the
date of birth precedes the date of entry of the mother, the informant
shall be questioned and the papers shall be forwarded to the directorate.
94. When an application is submitted to the Saudi mission abroad for
the registration of a birth case of a Saudi outside the Kingdom, the Saudi
mission shall act as follows:
a) Check the Saudi documents carried by the informant and his
capacity in the report;
b) Request a copy of the birth certificate of the child attested by
pertinent authorities in the country where the birth took place;
c) Check that the nationality of the father in the birth certificate is
Saudi;
d) If the documents evidencing the birth case are in a language other
than Arabic, they shall be attested by the Saudi mission after translating
them; and
e) The contents of article 89 hereof with regard to the condition of the
wife shall be taken into account.
95. The Saudi mission abroad shall inform the Ministry of Interior
(Civil Status) about the cases registered with them within thirty days
from the date of registration along with copies of the documents
evidencing the case and keep copies of them as original and report any
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delay in reporting birth cases to be referred to the sub-committee to

decide on fines.
96. When applying to any civil status department or office to register
the birth case of a Saudi abroad, the following actions shall be taken:
a) If the case was registered with the Saudi mission abroad, the
following are sufficient to register the case in the civil register:
1. Birth certificate issued from abroad if it is attested by the Saudi
mission and the ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the certificate is in a
language other than Arabic, it should be translated and the translation
attested by the Saudi mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. It should be verified that the nationality of the father was Saudi at
the time of the occurrence of birth.
3. Copies of the parents' documents and a copy of the document under
which the newborn entered the Kingdom.
4. If the newborn remains living abroad after registering the case, it
should be noted in the civil register that he is still living abroad.
5. If the newborn enters the Kingdom under non-Saudi documents,
Passports shall be notified with a copy of the document under which he
entered the Kingdom after registering the case in the register.
b) If the birth case is not registered with the Saudi mission abroad, the
following actions shall be taken:
1) Attach the birth certificate issued from abroad attested by the
mission of the country where the case took place and the Saudi Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. If the certificate is issued in a language other than
Arabic and is translated outside the Kingdom, it should be attested by
the mission of the country where the birth took place and the Saudi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, if the translation is made by a
translation office licensed in the Kingdom, it should be attested by the
Chamber of Commerce.
2. The requirements under items 2, 3, 4 and 5 of paragraph a hereof
shall be completed.
3. The informant shall be questioned about the reasons that prcaseed
from registering the case with the Saudi mission abroad and asked to
complete the form prepared for this purpose.
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97. Subject to the provisions of articles 89 thru96 hereof, if more than

fifteen years lapse from the date of birth, the following actions shall be
taken:
a) The applicant, his father or any of his brothers or paternal uncles
shall be questioned about he place and date of birth, full name, name of
mother and relation with them and the reasons why he was not added
before reaching the puberty age and they shall sign a declaration to this
effect.
b) If his father is dead, a copy of the inheritance deed shall be attached.
c) A declaration shall be taken from two witnesses, the chief of the clan
or the mayor of the neighbourhood identifying him and determining the
place and date of birth.
d) The photograph of the applicant shall be fixed on all declarations
and stamped with the civil status seal.
e) An attested copy of the last academic certificate he obtained shall be
attacked along with copies of the documents under which he joined the
school. If he has a job, an identification certificate from his employer
shall be attached along with an attested copy of the documents under
which he was employed.
f) Inquire from passports based on the fingerprint and name to be sure
that there is no name of the said person on the lists and that he does not
carry any documents and that he did not leave the Kingdom.
g) Inquire from criminal evidence division about the previous offences
registered against him based on the fingerprint. Women are relieved
from this requirement.
h) Personal information form No. 215 shall be completed in three
copies for the said person.
i) If the child was born outside the Kingdom or inside the Kingdom
but left it and applies after reaching 18 years of age, forms Nos. 71 and
72 shall be completed and copies of documents under which he left the
Kingdom shall be attached.
98. After completing the requirements under articles 89 thru 97 hereof
and the absence of any comment, the following actions shall be taken:
a) If the report is made within the first year from the date of birth,
necessary actions shall be taken to register the case in the entries register
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and the civil register and the birth certificate is handed over to the
informant.
b) If the report is made after one year from the date of birth, the
application shall be referred to the pertinent committee to issue the
necessary decision and refer it to the civil status department or office for
implementation.
c) If more than eight years lapse from the date of the birth, the whole
file shall be forwarded to the directorate to complete necessary
procedures prior to referring it to the pertinent committee.
d) For those who apply after reaching the age of puberty (18 years) to
register the birth case and was born outside the Kingdom or inside it but
he left it without carrying any document proving him to be a Saudi and
was not registered with the Saudi mission, the directorate shall take
account of the provisions of the resolution of the Council of Ministers
No. 179 dated 22.6.1422 AH.
e) For the above cases, the provisions of article 171 hereof shall be
taken into account. This does not impede from registering the case after
verifying it to be correct and complete all related procedures and
requirements.
99. The nationality of parents shall be written down in the register, as
the case may be, at the time of birth after checking the documents
proving their nationality.
100. Who carries a Saudi passport but does not hold a Saudi
nationality as per article 2 of Travel Documents Law, his civil entries
shall be registered in the registers of expatriates.
101. If the nationality of the mother is not provide by official
documents, the phrase "not substantiated" shall be written in the
mother's nationality column.
102. Upon applying to register an expatriate's birth case inside the
Kingdom, the following procedures shall be taken:
a) It should be verified that the mother is living in the Kingdom at the
time of birth and that his residence is legal.
b) A copy of the valid parents' documents shall be attached to verify
that the newborn is not added to the foreign documents of his parents. If
he is added to the documents of either parent as born in the Kingdom
without having a Saudi birth certificate, it should be checked that the
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documents produced to register the case should not contradict the

contents of his father's documents and the said addition does not
substantiate the birth case.
c) The authenticity of the case should be proved under substantiation
procedures provided for in articles 89 thru 93.
d) If the birth occurs at the house, it should be advertised in a local
newspaper after completing all procedures. The birth case shall only be
registered one month after the date of advertisement without receiving
any objection.
103. If a newborn is born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy, the
report of death should include the date of birth and period of
pregnancy.
104. If a newborn dies after birth and prior to registration in the civil
register, the cases of birth and death shall be registered in the civil
register but only a death certificate is issued. However, if he is born dead
after the sixth month of pregnancy, the death case shall be registered in
the entries register only.
105. Anyone born before his father has obtained the Saudi nationality,
the father shall be requested to attach a copy of his previous documents
and the child is registered in the registers of expatriates.
106. A foundling child found inside the Kingdom shall be reported
through the Ministry of Social Affairs or any of its branches and is
registered in the Saudi births register. However, a child of unknown
father is registered in the Saudis register or expatriates register
according to the nationality of his mother.
107. The page of the child's father under article 42 of the law means the
family card (family register).
108. After registering the birth case under a birth certificate issued
from outside the Kingdom, an electronic birth certificate is issued and
the foreign birth certificate is stamped with the sentence "Registered in
the civil register under No. .", returned to the applicant and a copy of
it is filed as the basis of registration.
109. Birth cases which have not been reported as per article 22 hereof
shall not be registered in the civil register and the register of entries
unless the concerned informant refers to any civil status department or
office.
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110. Saudis registered in the civil register who have not previously
obtained a birth certificate and apply to obtain a birth certificate shall be
provided with a birth certificate based on the central civil register.
111. Birth certificates shall contain the following information:
a) Certificate number, date and place of issue,
b) Name of the infant and his register number,
c) Place and Hijri and Gregorian date of birth,
d) Day, hour and minute of birth,
e) Sex,
f) Name of father, number of his register and place and date of birth,
g) Name of mother, number of her register, nationality and place and
date of birth, and
h) Nationality of father for non-Saudis.
112. If a citizen is living abroad and wishes to receive the birth
certificate through the Saudi mission in the country where he is living,
the birth certificate is produced and sent to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to deliver to the citizen through the Saudi mission after
registering the case in the civil register based on the papers received
from Saudi missions.
113. Birth certificates is attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after
they are attested by an authorized civil status department or office.
114. The Permanent Committee of Scientific Research and Iftaa is the
body authorized to determine the names that contradict Islamic
Sharee'ah.
115. Subject to the measures provided for in article 15 hereof, the first
name of a citizen shall be registered as per the following:
a) It should be explained to the one wishing to register a name that is
not advisable under the provisions of the Islamic Sharee'ah like Barrah or
the like as an advice that it is better not to have such a name. If he insists
on the name, it should be registered. Anyone who applies for the change
of a name, his request shall be considered in accordance with the
provisions of the law and the executive regulations.
b) A name that a legal verdict issued by the Permanent Committee of
Scientific Research and Iftaa prohibits may not be adopted like Malaak,
Abdul Aaatee, Abdul Muslih, Nabi, Nabiyah and the like.
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c) Anyone who has already adopted a name that the legal verdicts
issued by the Permanent Committee of Scientific Research and Iftaa
consider prohibited shall be informed or his guardian when referring
civil status departments that he should change his name to another one
that does not violate the Islamic Sharee'ah. If he objects to change his
name, he should be counseled and advised. However, if he insists, the
papers should be forwarded to the directorate to take necessary action in
the light of the royal order No. 650/M dated 28.6.1419 AH.
d) The above mentioned procedures shall also apply for anyone who
receives the Saudi nationality.
Chapter Six
Marriage and Divorce
Article 46
The marriage contract, divorce document, remarriage document,
judgments on khul' and dissolution of marriage as long as the two
parties to them are Saudis to any civil status office within a period of
three months from the date thereof for registration and stamping with
the civil status seal.
Article 47
Reporting marriage, divorce, remarriage, dissolution of marriage and
khul' is the responsibility of the husband. However, the wife, the father
of the husband, the father of the wife or any of their relatives may
undertake the duty of reporting the case.
Article 48
Immediately after receiving the marriage contract, remarriage document,
divorce document, dissolution of marriage or khul', the civil status
department shall note down their contents in the entries of the couple.
Article 49
If one of the couple is a Saudi and the other is non-Saudi, registration
shall be completed in accordance with the rules specified by the
executive regulations.
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Article 50
The husband should refer to any civil status department or office
within sixty days from the date of the marriage contract in order to
receive the family card.
Article 51
At the end of each week, authorized marriage commissioners shall
notify the civil status department to which they belong with a statement
on the form prepared for this purpose containing all marriage, divorce
and remarriage cases along with copies of the document prepared or
attested by the commissioner. Moreover, at the end of every week, court
clerks shall notify civil status department to which they belong with a
statement on the form prepared for this purpose with a summary of the
judgments issued on dissolution of marriage, khul' and parenting
establishment cases as well as cases related to considering absent people
as dead.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Six (Marriage
and Divorce)
116. The period of reporting of the cases under article 46 of the law
shall be calculated from the date of the contract, the document or the
judgment evidencing the case and not from the date of the occurrence of
the case.
117. Cases under article 46 of the law shall be registered after verifying
the following:
a) An application has been submitted to register the case as per the
relevant procedures.
b) The nationality of the coupe has been verified under the documents
proving the same.
c) The case has been established under a contract, document or
judgment authenticated by the department which issued it.
d) The judgment evidencing the case is final taking into consideration
the provisions of article 63 hereof.
e) No amendment has been made to the data of the contract, document
or judgment unless it is attested by the department which issued it.
118. After registering the cases provided for in article 46 of the law,
they shall be registered in the civil register and the contract stamped,
document or judgment proving the same. The stamp fixed on the
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document shall contain a statement of the registration of the case,

number of registration, date of registration and place of issue.
119. Subject to the provisions of article 165 hereof, upon registering
any divorce case of any Saudi woman, her name should be removed
from the civil register of her husband.
120. Upon applying for the registration of a marriage case with a
divorced woman whose case of divorce from her previous husband was
not registered, the case of divorce should be registered under the
procedures provided for herein prior to considering the application for
the registration of the marriage case.
121. Whoever applies for the registration of a marriage case with a
woman who does not carry any documents of nationality should
observe the following procedures:
a) The woman's nationality should be checked as per her condition in
accordance with the procedures and measures provided for in the Saudi
Arabian Nationality Law ad this law and their executive regulations and
forward to the directorate.
b) If the woman proves to be a Saudi and a direction is issued by the
directorate to register her in the civil register, the following procedures
shall be observed:
1. If her father is registered in the civil register, she should be
registered in the civil register as a dependent to him;
2. If her father is not registered in the civil register, she should be
registered in the civil register and is provided with the national identity
card;
c) If they are not proven to be Saudis, the papers shall be referred to
the governorate of the region to take necessary action towards their
residence and documentation of their marriage; and
d) The marriage case should be registered if the legal matrimonial
relation between them is proved.
122. The case in which either party is a non-Saudi hall be registered as
follows:
a) All procedures and measures required for registration as provided
for in article 117 hereof shall be completed.
b) The marriage should have been concluded with the approval of the
pertinent authority and their residence in the Kingdom is legal.
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c) The marriage, divorce, khul' or remarriage for a Saudi party shall be

registered in the entries register special for Saudis and then in his civil
register.
d) For the non-Saudi party, the case is registered in the register of
entries special for expatriates.
e) The expatriate register of the expatriate woman married to a Saudi
man is linked with the civil register of her husband to appear with him
in the family register with her expatriate register (residence permit). This
linking does not mean acquiring the Saudi nationality and does not
relieve from renewal of the residence permit.
123 Whenever either party to the document substantiating marriage is
a non-Saudi, it should state that he is not prohibited to marry or that the
marriage has been concluded with the approval of the concerned
authority along with the number and date of approval.
124. The Saudi mission shall enter the number and date of the
approval of the concerned authority on the marriage contract when
attesting it and in the passport when issuing an entry visa to the
Kingdom.
125. The divorce case shall be registered in the civil register for the
Saudi woman divorced by an expatriate man who remain added to the
register of her father and whose marriage has not already been
registered as follows:
a) In case the register number of divorcing expatriate is known, the
1. Issue the personal card (national card) of the divorced woman as
applicable.
2. Register the case of an expatriate's marriage case to a Saudi woman.
3. Register the case of her divorce from an expatriate.
b. In case the divorcing expatriate's register number is not known, the
1. Issue the personal card (national card) of the divorced woman as
applicable.
2. Amend the social status of the woman to "divorced" under the
divorce document.
126. The full (quartet) name of the Saudi husband and wife should be
entered along with the number of the civil register of each one in the
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marriage contract, divorce, khul' and remarriage documents as well as

court judgments issued for the substantiation of any case referred to
hereinabove. For non-Saudis, the names written in their documents shall
be entered.
127. Failure to report cases provided for in article 51 of the law to the
civil status department does not impede registration and taking action
about the same when reported and original documents and judgments
evidencing the same or a duplicate copy thereof should be provided.
Chapter Seven
Deaths
Article 52
All deaths occurring in the Kingdom and those occurring for Saudis
outside the Kingdom shall be reported within the specified periods. This
includes children who are born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy
whether they die before or after birth.
Article 53
Article 56
As an exception of the above, if the death takes place abroad at a
distant place from the Saudi mission offices, it may be reported by
registered mail provided that the report is accompanied by a death
certificate issued by the pertinent authority at the place where the death
took place.
Article 57
The deaths registrar shall immediately after registering the death
prepare a death certificate of two copies on the form prepared for this
purpose without indicating the reason of death unless the concerned
person wishes otherwise. The registrar shall write at the bottom of the
copies the number and date of entry in the register and deliver one copy
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to the informant and send the second to the department where the file of
the deceased person is located to add to his file.
Article 58
The death certificate issued by the deaths registrar shall be submitted
with the deceased persons personal identity card and family card
containing his name to a civil status department within fifteen days from
the date of issue of the certificate to match its entry in the register and
stamp with the seal of the directorate and withdraw the deceased
persons identity card and note down his name in the family card that
contains his name.
Article 59
Directors of hospital, health quarantines, nursing places, prisons,
shelters or any concerned agency shall send the death certificate issued
by the deaths registrar to civil status department in their region if the
death takes place in their premises and they carry out burial procedures.
Article 60
If a ship wrecks or a plane crashes and some passengers or pilots are
missing or if disasters take place resulting in the loss of some persons
and it is not possible to carry out the procedures for entry of death as
stated hereinabove, the Minister of Interior shall, three months after the
date of the accident, take a decision on the loss of the persons who were
on board along with their names and the concerned civil status
department shall be notified to note down on their entries. However
death may only be established by a court judgment to this effect.
Article 61
Military commanders shall prepare death certificates for soldiers,
employees and volunteers who die inside or outside the Kingdom
during military operations or similar or subsidiary missions as provided
for in article 57 of the law. One copy shall be sent through the Ministry
or Presidency to the relatives of the deceased person and the other to
civil status department in the region to note down their entries.
Article 62
If someone is decapitated, the administrative governor shall prepare
the death minutes and send the same to the concerned civil status
department to enter the death and issue the necessary certificate without
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waiting for a report on the case by the deceased persons relatives and
without indicating the reasons of death.
Article 63
If a body of a human being is found, the police station or village or
centre mayor shall prepare the necessary minutes that contains the
description of the deceased person, the time and place and
circumstances of finding the body. A photograph of the body shall be
taken if possible to be attached with the minutes. The minutes shall be
sent to civil status department to prepare the death certificate
accordingly.
Article 64
No deceased person may be buried unless a burial permit is obtained
from an approved physician in two copies. If no physician is available,
the permit is given by the village or centre mayor after verifying that the
death is natural. In case the reasons of death are suspected, they shall
collect information and prepare minutes that state the condition of the
body. No permission of burial may be given unless the governor of the
region is notified.
Article 65
Persons who require to obtain a burial permit are the ones who are
required to report the incident of death. The person assigned to move
the body shall check that the burial permit is present and the cemetery
guard shall receive a copy of the death permit prior to commencing
burial and deliver the same at the end of each month to his employer to
dispatch to the concerned civil status department and the other copy
shall be submitted to report the death.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Seven (Deaths)
128. The director of any institution is responsible to report the death
that takes place within his institution as per the groups provided for in
article 53.c of the law.
129. The period of reporting death cases provided for in article 54 of
the law shall be thirty days.
130. When a death case registration request under a report or medical
report issued by a public or private hospital is requested, the following
actions shall be taken:
a) The form prepared for this purpose shall be completed, and
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b) A death report or medical report shall be attached including full

name of the deceased person, his civil register number, date of death in
day, month, year, hour and minute in figures and letters, direct reason of
death, name of the physician who proved the death, his stamp, signature
and date of signature and the official seal of the institution and signature
of the concerned official,
131. When a death case registration is requested as per a death report
issued by a public or private health centre, the following shall be
observed prior to registering the case:
a) Requirements of the above article shall be met,
b) The report shall be stamped by the health centre as we certify that
the contents of the document are true and correct and signed by the
administrative director of the health centre.
c) The Directorate of Health Affairs in the region where the health
centre is located shall attest the report confirming correct signature of
the administrative director in charge.
132. When an application for the registration of a death case of a
citizen that took place outside the Kingdom as per a death certificate
issued abroad, the following actions shall be taken:
a) If it is registered with the Saudi mission in the country where the
death took place, it is enough to enter it in the register based on the
death certificate issued from abroad if it is attested by the Saudi mission
and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs after completing the form
prepared for this purpose. If the certificate is prepared in other than
Arabic language, it should be translated and attested by the Saudi
mission and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the translation is
made by an office licensed in the Kingdom, it shall be attested by the
Chamber of Commerce.
b) If it is not registered with the Saudi mission abroad, it shall be
registered in the entries register and civil register after taking the
following procedures:
1. Complete the form prepared for this purpose,
2. Attach the death certificate issued from abroad attested by the
mission of the country where the death took place and the Saudi
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the certificate is prepared in other than
Arabic language and is translated abroad, the translation should be
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attested by the mission of the country where the death took place and
the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the translation is made by an
office licensed in the Kingdom, it shall be attested by the Chamber of
Commerce.
3. The informant should be questioned about the reasons for not
registering the case with the Saudi mission abroad and should complete
the form prepared for this purpose.
133. When applying the provisions of article 60 of the law, the
provisions of article 22 hereof should be taken into account and the
death should be noted down in the entries of deaths who have reported
to have died.
134. Death certificates issued by military commanders are replied on
as per the provisions of article 61 of the law related to registration of
deaths and their entries should be noted with the same.
135. When applying for the registration of a death case of a citizen
without having a death report or medical report, he is considered as
absent and the following procedures shall be taken:
a) All information available about the deceased person required for the
registration of the case of death shall be entered on the form prepared
for this purpose and listed on the requested system (informed to contact)
along with the data of the informant as per the provisions of article 56
hereof.
b) The directorate shall be notified to take the following procedures:
1. Verify the case of death and list the person informed about his death
on the requested system (missing).
2. Write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if it is required and if the
information indicates that the death took place abroad.
136. After completing the necessary procedures provided for in the
previous article, the papers shall be referred to the court having
jurisdiction to consider legal establishment of the death. In the light of
the decision issued, the following procedures should be taken:
a) Notwithstanding the provisions of article 20 of the law, the death
shall be registered in the entries register and the civil register in
accordance with the procedures contained herein if the death is proved
by a legal deed but the name of the deceased remains on the list of
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missing and the General Directorate of Passports shall be notified to

amend the status of the passport to electronically invalid.
b) If the court does not prove the death case, the following procedures
shall be taken:
1. A family card (family register) shall be issued for the absent person
as per the applicable procedures along with the word absent written
in the civil register and family register.
2. The General Directorate of Passports shall be addressed to amend
the status of the passport to electronically invalid and keep him on the
list missing.
137. When an application for the registration of a death case of a
citizen who holds an identity card that is not registered in the civil
register, necessary actions should be taken to register the identity card as
per the provisions of paragraph (b) of article 52 hereof.
138. The death certificate shall include the following data:
a) number, date and place of issue of the certificate,
b) Full name of the deceased person as mentioned in the official
documents,
c) Number of register,
d) Sex,
e) Date of birth,
f) place and date of death in Hijri and Gregorian calendars,
g) Reason of death, and
h) Nationality, passport number and religion for non-Saudis.
139. If the death takes place at a police station or detaining house or
prison or in implementation of decapitation judgment, this should be
stated in the entries register, civil register and original register but
should not appear in the death certificate.
140. Prior to delivering a citizens death certificate, necessary actions
including withdrawal and punching and replacement of the family card
if necessary shall be taken to ensure that his personal identity card and
family card are not misused. Withdrawn documents shall be filed in the
death certificate original register.
141. When an application for the production of an electronic death
certificate in lieu of a manual death certificate is submitted, this should
be done after verifying that the original manual certificate is sound and
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the manual certificate should be withdrawn and kept as evidence of the

electronic certificate and the case shall be registered electronically if it
has not previously been registered electronically.
142. After registering a citizens death case under a death certificate
issued from abroad, an electronic death certificate shall be issued and
the foreign death certificate shall be kept as basis for the registration.
143. If the person ruled to be dead proves to be living, this shall not be
entered in his register unless a final judgment invalidating the death
judgment is issued. The death certificate shall be cancelled and data in
the entry register ad civil register shall be amended accordingly as per
the procedures contained herein.
144. If a body of a dead human being is found, the person writing the
minutes as per the provisions of article 63 of the law shall take ten
fingers prints and DNA of the dead person.
145. If the deceased person is a non-Saudi, the case shall be registered
in the light of the measures contained herein and the governorate of the
region shall be provided with a copy of the death certificate to take the
a) Inform the embassy or mission of his country through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to inform about the decision his relatives may take
about his burial in the Kingdom or deport him outside the Kingdom
within a period not exceeding two months from the date of reporting the
case to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The address and destination
should be made clear.
b) In case no reply is received within the period specified hereinabove,
burial is undertaken and the diplomatic mission is notified to this effect.
c) The sponsor shall be obliged to quickly finalize necessary
procedures as per instructions and consider them as wanted if they
fail to comply with these regulations.
d) A special department within the police station shall undertake all
procedures related to death as standardization of procedures and quick
deciding on them.
e) If an heir or a legal attorney is present in the Kingdom and wishes to
receive the body to deport outside the Kingdom or to bury in the
Kingdom, he shall be requested to produce the approval of heirs attested
by the embassy of his country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Chapter Eight
Personal and Family Identity Cards
Article 67
Every Saudi male citizen who completes fifteen years of age should
contact a civil status department to obtain his own personal identity
card. The personal card is optional for women and for those aged
between ten and fifteen after obtaining parents approval. The card shall
be produced based on the central civil register.
Article 68
As an exception of the provisions of article 67, Saudis living abroad
may apply for a new personal identity card or a renewed one or report
missing or damage thereof to the Saudi mission at the place where the
applicant lives, The executive regulations shall determine the rules and
procedures followed in these cases.
Article 69
Every citizen shall carry his personal identity card on a continuous
basis and shall produce when finalizing all transactions that require
establishing his identity. He shall also produce it to public authority
officers whenever he is requested to do so.
Article 70
No public agency or institution including universities, institutes and
schools nor private companies, societies and establishments and
individuals may accept, use or receive in their service as an employee or
student or in any other capacity any Saudi citizen who completed fifteen
years of age unless he carries a personal identity card.
Article 71
Officials in hotels, shelters or similar facilities prepared for
accommodating the public shall enter in their records the data shown on
the identity card of any person who stays in such facilities if he has
completed fifteen years of age.
Article 72
Notwithstanding the provisions of article 50 hereof, the head of every
Saudi family shall contact civil status department within three years
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from the date this law comes into effect to obtain a card containing his
data and those of the members of his family (family card). The family
card shall be produced based on the entries in the central civil register.
Article 73
No citizen may have more than one entry in the central civil register,
have more than one personal or family card or use a personal or family
card that does not belong to him.
Article 74
1. The family card is issued for an unlimited period. If the holder of the
card dies, it is withdrawn and another family card is issued in the name
of the deceased person for each one heir added in the family card
provided that a note of death is entered in the space of the photograph.
2. The executive regulations shall state the validity period of the
personal identity card from the date of issue, replacement or renewal. It
should be renewed within a period of one hundred eighty days
preceding its expiration date.
Article 75
At the occurrence of any civil status case that may differ from any data
of his personal identity card or family card in his custody, every citizen
shall submit it to any civil status department to amend necessary data or
replace them as the case may be within sixty days from the date of the
occurrence of the case. Prior to completing the necessary procedure, he
may not use the data that should be amended by way of fraud.
Article 76
If the personal identity card (national identity card) of the family card
(family register) is lost or damaged, the following shall be taken:
1. The party having interest shall report the case to any civil status
department within fifteen days from the date of loss or damage;
2. If either document is lost for the first time and the holder reports the
case within the said period, he shall be compensated for the lost or
damaged card and an undertaking is taken to protect it;
3. If the document is lost or damaged for the second time, the hold
shall be compensated for it provided that he pays a fine of SR. 100 and
for every next time of loss or damage, he shall be the same fine;
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4. If the document is lost for the fourth time, the holder shall be
compensated for it after paying a fine of SR. 1000 and for every next time
of loss or damage, he shall be the same fine;
5. If both documents are lost or damaged at the same time, each loss or
damage shall have a penalty in the light of the above referenced fines;
6. If the case of loss or damage is reported after the lapse of the
specified period but before the lapse of one year from the date of loss or
damage, the holder of the document shall pay a delay fine of SR. 100 but
if one year lapses from the date of loss or damage, the papers shall be
forwarded to the pertinent committee under the provisions of article 83
of the law to decide the fine he should pay for the delay of reporting the
case and to apply the fines referred to hereinabove, as the case may be;
7. The fines provided for in the previous clauses may not be applied if
either document is lost or damaged as a result of fire, accident, theft or
disaster if this is proved by official minutes; and
8. Civil status departments shall collect the fines referred to
hereinabove immediately as an exception of the provisions of article 83
of the law. In all cases, compensation shall be given for the lost or
damaged document in accordance with the procedures determined in
the executive regulations.
Article 77
If the Saudi nationality is removed from its holder for any reason
whatsoever, the personal card and the family card shall be surrendered
to a civil status department to withdraw the same and to note on the
family card or withdraw it. The executive regulations shall state the
cases of withdrawal or noting down.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Eight (Personal
Identity Cards and Family Cards)
146. The personal card (national card) shall contain the following:
a) Personal photograph,
b) Full name but not less than four names (first name, fathers name,
grandfathers name and surname),
c) Place of birth,
d) Date of birth,
e) Civil register number,
f) Date of expiry,
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g) Place of issue,
h) Copy number,
i) Number, place and date of filing, and
j) Smart chip.
147. Notwithstanding the provisions of articles 148, 1514, 142 and 153
hereof, issuing of the personal card by citizens registered in the civil
register shall be as follows:
a) An application on the form prepared for this purpose shall be
submitted by the concerned person or his parent or guardian.
b) He should be identified before the concerned staff at the civil status
department by the father, grandfather or any of his brothers, paternal or
maternal uncles or legal attorney (special power of attorney) or two
Saudi witnesses provided that the identifier has completed eighteen
years of age and holds a personal card (national card).
c) a copy of the family card (family register) to which the applicant is
added along with the original for matching or the identity card of the
person if he has one.
d) four photographs shall be attached provided that they meet the
conditions provided for under article 17 hereof.
e) An identification certificate from the school that he is a full-time
student shall be submitted and a copy of the last school certificate or an
identification certificate from the employer should be attached. If the
applicant is neither a student or an employee, an identification certificate
should be attached stating the job he is practicing. For a woman who is
not an employee or a student, it is enough to have a declaration from her
that she is a housewife.
f) A copy of the birth certificate along with the original for matching
shall be attached or the original addition shall be referred to in order to
identify the supporting document.
g) The concerned staff shall match the photograph on the application
form with the applicant prior to photographing.
h) The concerned staff shall authenticate that the information of the
application and the photograph are matching prior to printing.
i) The personal card (national card) shall be delivered as per the
provisions of article 170 hereof.
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148. If the applicant is a male, registered in the civil register and has
completed twenty years of age, the following procedures shall be taken
after completing the ones under the previous article:
a) He and his father, if living, his brothers, if his father is dead and one
of his paternal relatives, if he has no brothers, about the reason of
delayed application for the card and the work he is practicing.
b) A copy of the inheritance deed along with the original for matching
shall be attached if the father is dead.
c) the application shall be forwarded to the directorate to decide on it.
149. If the applicant is not registered in the civil register but his father
is registered in the civil register, the birth case shall be registered in the
civil register in accordance with the procedures contained herein.
150. If the father of the applicant is not registered in the civil register,
his father shall be treated as follows:
a) If he carries an identity card, the necessary procedures for
registering him in the civil register shall be completed as stated herein.
b) If he does not carry an identity card, his Saudi nationality shall be
checked in accordance with the procedures contained in the Saudi
Nationality Law and the following instructions and executive
regulations.
151. For women to receive personal cards (national cards), the
following measures shall be observed:
a) The application for issuing a card for a woman shall be submitted to
the female section in the departments where such sections are available
and all other procedures shall be completed through it.
b) These applications may be received in the male section provided
that the form is completed by the womans parent or legal attorney and
the form and the personal photograph are signed and placed inside a
closed envelope and forward it to the female section.
c) If applications are received through an external office in the female
section, the form shall be completed by the parent or the legal attorney
by writing the name of the woman to whom the photograph belongs
and sign before the concerned staff on the form after fixing the
photograph on it and stamping it with the official seal.
d) To verify the character of the woman when no parent or legal
attorney is present shall be as follows:
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1. She shall be identified by any of her relatives of two Saudi women

provided that the identified has completed eighteen years of age and
carries his personal card (national card).
2. She shall submit her Saudi passport to match the personal
photograph fixed on her passport to her character by the director or
assistant director of the female section.
e) A register carrying number (8) shall be allocated to issue personal
cards for women starting with the number (1) at each female section
where cards are issued.
f) The file register staff shall enter the serial number of the form.
g) The name of the woman in the family card (family register) shall
remain attached to her father or husband after obtaining the card.
h) If the applicant carries an identity card registered in the civil
register, it shall be withdrawn and the necessary action ensuring not
abusing it like punching is taken and is attached with the new original
and the old original is noted to this effect. It shall then be registered in
the filing register with a new number and date and the identity card
number, date of issue and place of issue shall be corrected and she is
provided with a certification to this effect on the form prepared for this
purpose.
i) Upon receiving the application from the male section and upon the
appearance of the applicant, the pertinent female staff shall check that
the envelope is closed and that it contains her photograph.
j) Procedures shall be completed in accordance with the requirements
of article 137 hereof.
k. Subject to the provisions of article 170 hereof, the personal card shall
be delivered to its owner officially in the delivery register after ensuring
that she is the concerned person and after signing on delivery.
l. The whole file shall be kept at the documents and registers section
(archive) of the female section.
152. Subject to the procedures provided for herein, in the cases where
it is not possible for the applicant to appear before civil status
departments and offices like patients, disabled persons and prisoners,
the following shall be taken:
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a) the form prepared for this purpose shall be completed by the

applicant, his parent or attorney indicating his complete information,
personal photograph and place of residence.
b) With regard to patients, disabled or handicapped persons, a medical
report from a hospital stating his condition shall be attached with the
application.
c) The papers shall be forwarded by the director of the department
subject to his approval to a committee formed for this purpose
comprising head of the computer department or his assistant, the
photographer and a computer staff or a staff from documents and
registers section. The committee shall check the original register of this
person and match the photo on the form and stamp it with the official
seal and make a file for it.
d. After studying the application by the committee and if no comment
is found and subject to the approval of the director of the department, a
time for visit is appointed within a period not exceeding one week from
the date of application. The applicant, his parent, his attorney or his
employer shall be informed about the appointment with the committee.
The employer shall inform the applicant. The committee shall be
accompanied by a security guard.
e. The photo fixed on the application shall be matched with the
application prior to photographing and fingerprinting. Upon
completion, the minutes form prepared for this purpose shall be
completed and signed by the members of the committee and the
applicant or his parent.
153. If the applicant is added with his father under article 15 of the
Saudi Nationality Law, the papers shall be forwarded to the directorate
accompanied by the following:
a. A copy of the original register of his father showing his addition as
well as date and place of birth.
b. A copy of the document used in granting his father the Saudi
nationality and the document used in adding him to his father.
c. A stating proving his stay in the Kingdom since his father was
granted the Saudi Nationality.
154. When a nationalized woman obtains a personal card (national
card), the filing register No. 8 and the civil register should be noted
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down with the number of article under which she obtained the Saudi
nationality.
155. The personal card (national card) shall be valid according to age
groups as follows:
a. Five years from the age of 15 to 30 years,
b. Ten years from the age of 31 to 50 years, and
c. Twenty years from the age of 51 and over.
156. The personal card (national card) shall be renewed as per the
a. Complete the form prepared for this purpose;
b. Produce one photograph meeting the conditions provided for in
article 17 hereof;
c) Produce original personal card (national card);
d) Match the photograph and fingerprint of the applicant with the
ones saved in the civil register. If no photograph and fingerprint are not
saved in the civil register, his photograph and fingerprint shall be taken
and matched with the ones fixed on the card to be renewed. If this is not
possible, the photograph shall be matched with the original register by
the department or office where the original register is placed and its
validity to be attested.
157. The woman carrying the personal card (national card) shall be
interacted with by women in transactions or services that require
proving her character. It is enough to write down the information
contained in the card without taking a copy of it.
158. Saudi missions abroad shall complete the procedures contained
herein with regard to the applications submitted to them in accordance
with the provisions of article 68 of the Law and refer the papers to the
General Directorate of Civil Status.
159. If it appears that a citizen has more than one entry in the central
civil register, the following actions shall be taken:
a) The original register of these entries shall be checked and matched,
b) The documents obtained under these entries should be checked,
c) the national information centre should be contacted to identify links
to each entry,
d) The applicants employer should be contacted to know their
opinion,
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e) the papers should be referred to the sub-committee to undertake

necessary investigation to know the reasons for obtaining more than one
entry and issue necessary decision on approving one of the entries and
cancelling others and the data that should be amended about the
concerned person in accordance with the procedures provided for in the
law and the executive regulations,
f) The decision of the committee should be implemented and the
documents based on the cancelled entries should be withdrawn and
their original registers noted as cancelled, and
g) The approved entry and other cancelled entries should be linked
when accessing any of them.
160. The family register shall contain the following information:
a) Personal photograph,
b) Full name but not less than four names (first name, fathers name,
grandfathers name and surname),
c) Civil register number,
d) Copy and page numbers,
e) Names of family members,
f) Relation between the family members and the head of the family,
their civil registers numbers and place and date of birth of each one of
them, and
g) Place and date of issue.
161. Family card (family register) is a substantiation document of all
family members added in it.
162. Immediately after registering the marriage case of a Saudi in the
civil register, a family card (family register) should be issued containing
the name of the wife and her civil or foreign register number and place
and date of her birth in accordance with the procedures provided for in
article 163 hereof.
163. The family card (family register) shall be issued including the
members of the family with the possibility of realizing the following:
a) A separate page or more may be allocate for each wife and her
children, whether the father is living or dead. If there are other
dependents, they shall be noted down in the bottom of the family
register.
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b) A separate pages shall be allocated for the children of the divorced

mother and the name of the mother and the number of her civil register
shall be noted down at the bottom of the family register.
c) Replace each page alone without linking the same with the rest of
the pages allocated for other wives.
164. Subject to the provisions of article 76 of the law, a replacement for
a damage or lost personal card (national card) or family card (family
register) shall be obtained in accordance with the following:
a) The form prepared for this purpose shall be completed stating the
reason, conditions and circumstances of loss or damage and supporting
documents shall be attached.
b) A personal photograph meeting the conditions under article 17
hereof shall be provided.
c) Original personal card (national card) and family card (family
register) shall be produced in case of damage or either one in case of loss
or copy thereof unless this is impossible.
d) The photograph and fingerprint of the applicant with the ones
stored in his civil register. If the photograph and fingerprint are not
store in the civil register, his photograph and fingerprint shall be taken
and matched by the department or the office having the original and
authenticity attested.
e) The lapse of 14 days from the date of application.
165. Every citizen who does not apply to any civil status department to
amend or replace his personal card (national card) or family card (family
register) pursuant to article 75 of the law shall be listed on the Wanted
System (Notice of Contact).
166. Upon applying for linking the divorced or widowed woman with
the civil register of her father, the following should be taken:
a) Verify that the case has been registered as per the procedures
provided for herein.
b) Verify that she is the daughter of her father and that she did not
marry after she was divorced or widowed.
c) If it is found that her father has already changed the first name,
fathers name, grandfathers name, family, branch name or clan name
resulting in difference of name with her fathers name, her data shall be
changed as per the change done to her fathers data.
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d) Withdraw the family card (family register) and replace it.

167. Upon registering the identity card of a dead person in the civil
register pursuant to article 52.b hereof, the family card (family register)
shall be issued in place of the identity card if the dead person has
dependents added in his card after checking that the dependents have
not already been registered in the civil register and the death shall be
noted in the space of the photograph.
168. If the dead person has dependents in the family card (family
register), the death shall be registered in accordance with the applicable
procedures, the family card is withdrawn and the action that ensures
non-abuse of the card like punching shall be taken and a new family
card shall be issued for the dead person and the death shall be noted
down in the space of the photograph.
169. Upon finding a personal card (national card) or family card
(family register), it shall be dispatched to the nearest civil status
department or office. As soon as it is received, the necessary action that
guarantees non-abuse like punching shall be taken, the civil register
noted to this effect and the card is filed in the original register.
170. The personal card (national card) and the family card (family
register) are delivered to the concerned person, his attorney or guardian
and such delivery is documented electronically. The staff delivering the
card shall withdraw the previous document in case of renewal or
damage prior to activation of the new document.
Chapter Nine
Penalties
Article 78
Without prejudice to severer penalties provided for in other laws,
anyone who violates the provisions of this law shall receive the penalties
specified in the following articles.
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Article 79
An imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and a fine of
not more than ten thousand Saudi Riyals or either penalty shall be
imposed on:
1. Anyone who may give an untrue data necessary for the
implementation of this law, or
2. Anyone who violates the provisions of article 73 of the law.
Article 80
A fine not more than ten thousand Saudi Riyals shall be imposed on
anyone who violates the provisions of articles 32, 39, 45, 52, 70 and 71.
Article 81
A fine not more than five thousand Saudi Riyals shall be imposed on
anyone who violates the other provisions of the law, executive
regulations and implementing resolutions.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Nine (Penalties)
171. The violation shall be documented by a proces-verbal with which
a copy of the documents supporting the violations shall be attached and
the file shall be referred to the pertinent committee within five working
days from the date of documentation.
172. The violation related to mortgaging the personal card (national
card) or family card (family register) shall be documented by the
pertinent authority which discovered it under a proces-verbal with
which a copy of the mortgaged document is attached stating the number
and date of issue of the document, name of holder, place of controlling
the violation, name of person or agency with whom or with which the
document was found, the number of licence or commercial register, the
name of the staff who committed the violation, his identity number,
name of the representative of the control body who prepared the
minutes and his signature and the witnesses of the case, if any, and their
signatures. The minutes shall be sent to the nearest civil status
department or office from the place of occurrence of the violation.
173. The mortgagee and the mortgager of the personal card (national
card) or the family card (family register) and the one who leaves it with
others with the intention of using it for a purpose other than the
designated one shall receive the penalty provided for in article 81 of the
civil status law.
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Chapter Ten
Local Committees, Sub-committees and Central Civil
Status Commission
Article 82
a) Upon a decision by the Minister of Interior and as needed, local
committees shall be constituted in each civil status department and
office. The committee shall consist of the following:
1. A representative from civil status directorate appointed by the
Minister of Interior or his designee,
2. A representative from the Ministry of Justice appointed by the
Minister of Justice or hi designee, and
3. A representative from the Ministry of Health appointed by the
Minister of Health or his designee.
b) Upon a decision by the Minister of Interior and as needed, subcommittees shall be constituted in regions. The sub-committee shall
consist of the following:
1. A counselor appointed by the Minister of Interior,
2. A representative appointed by the Minister of Justice, and
3. A doctor appointed by the Minister of Health.
Article 83
Local committees shall apply the authorities they have under articles
20 and 26 of the law and sub-committees shall decide on the following
subjects:
a. Applications for the correction or amendment of civil status entries
and entry rejection complaints. With regard to the amendment of the
date of birth, the currently applicable decisions and instructions shall
remain effective until relevant rules are laid down under a resolution by
the Council of Ministers.
b. Investigation into cases of violations of this law and related
executive regulations and apply prescribed penalties and fines against
them.
c. Other subjects referred to it by civil status department.
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Article 84
Every sub-committee shall submit a copy of each decision it issues to
the directorate within one week from the date of issue. The directorate
and every party having interest may object to the decision of the
committee before the civil status commission within a period not
exceeding sixty days.
Article 85
As an exception of the provisions of article 84, the persons against
whom judgments are issued may complaint against the decisions of subcommittees on fines or imprisonment or both before the Board of
Grievances within sixty days from the date of notification.
Article 86
A central commission shall be formed in the general civil status
directorate comprising the following:
a. Director General of Civil Status Directorate, chairman,
b. A counselor from the Board of Grievances appointed by the
President of the Board, member,
c. A legal counselor appointed by the minister of Interior, member,
and
d. A doctor assigned by the Minister of Health, member.
Article 87
The Central Civil Status Commission shall have the authority to
consider and decide on the following subjects:
a. Deciding on objections against the decisions issued by local
committees and sub-committees;
b. Attesting minutes of registers examination sessions; and
c. Advising on all matters related to civil status referred to it by the
Minister of Interior.
Article 88
The executive regulations shall state the procedures required by the
good performance of committees and the commission including the
procedures related to applications, complaints, objections and decisions
on the same.
Article 89
Identity cards issued prior to the coming into effect of this law shall be
the basis of registering Saudi citizens in the central civil register unless
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their authenticity is suspected, in which case they shall be referred to the

issuing department to match with their originals and check their
authenticity. If it is not possible to prove if they are authentic or not
based on registers, they shall be referred to the civil status commission
to decide on their authenticity or withdraw them and take necessary
actions on penalizing culprits.
Article 90
Identity cards shall be relied on until they are withdrawn and
replacements are issued within four years from the date of coming into
effect of this law. With the end of this period, identity cards are
considered cancelled unless the period of replacement is extended upon
a decision by the Minister of Interior.
Article 91
Within the scope of application of this law, the head of family is:
a) The husband with respect to the wife,
b) The father with respect to his sons added in his card and his
unmarried daughters,
c) The mother with respect to her minor sons and unmarried
daughters after the death of their father, and
d) The relative with respect to those who live with him among his
relatives whom he supports or takes care of even if he is not obliged
under the law to support them after they have lost their family head if
they have not already been registered in the central civil register.
Article 92
Upon coming into effect of this law, birth and death certificates are
issued in accordance with its provisions and health offices shall continue
issuing these certificates until these responsibilities with their approved
posts and staff are gradually moved to the civil status office within five
years. This article may be amended upon a resolution by the Council of
Ministers.
Article 93
As an exception of the provisions of articles related to specification of
the period of reporting cases provided for herein, the Minister of Interior
may specify the cases that he decides to extend the period of reporting
them in accordance with the measures stated in the executive
regulations.
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Article 94
The Minister of Interior shall issue the executive regulations and
implementing decisions of this law to be published in the official
gazette.
Article 95
This law shall supersede the Population Division Law issued by Royal
Order No. 8172 dated 15.7.1358 and the Law of Births and Deaths issued
by Royal Order No. 2 dated 11.1.1382 AH and cancels any contradicting
law. As an exception, the Royal Decree No. M/52 dated 3.9.1405 AH.
approving the resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 160 dated
25.7.1405 AH. amending paragraph (d) of Personnel Service Law until
the issue of the resolution of the Council of Ministers which should lay
down general rules addressing the issue of amending the date of birth
referred to in paragraph (b) of article 83 hereinabove.
Article 96
This law shall be published in the official gazette and shall come into
effect one year after publishing it in the official gazette.
Provisions of the Executive Regulations for Chapter Ten (Local
Committees, Sub-committees and Central Civil Status Commission)
174. The General Director of Civil Status shall designate a certain
department within the directorate to undertake the following duties:
a) Following up decisions or copies thereof received from local
committees and sub-committees and referring them to the concerned
department for the submission of objections to these decisions.
b) Following up issues to the concerned department and filing
objections to them before the central civil status commission and follow
up any decisions issued by the commission.
c) Evaluating the performance of committees and propose necessary
amendments to procedures required for the good performance of
committees and the commission.
d) Referring anything related to the proposed amendments to the
administrative development department to undertake necessary studies
and prepare and develop plans and programmes, collect and analyze
statistical information, update and organize databases to provide indices
and invest in decision making and proposing necessary amendments.
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175. The form prepared for objections filed before the commission against
the decisions of the committees shall include the following:
a) The name of the applicant, his civil register, place of residence, address,
telephone number and name of his attorney, if any,
b) The subject of objection along with the data and cases as well as
justifications and supporting documents,
c) Number and date of issue of the committee's decision objected to along
with a copy thereof, and
d) Date of application and signature of the applicant.
176. The commission shall have a secretary who shall have a Sharee'ah
related or legal qualification and a secretarial staff assigned by the General
Directorate of Civil Status Affairs.
177. The secretary of the commission shall undertake the following duties:
a) Supervise the secretarial activities of the commission and enter subjects
after they have been completed in the claims register,
b) Inform the claimant in case of the shortage of data and documents that
should be provided within fifteen working days from the date of receiving
the claim statement to complete the data or documents that should be
provided with the claim statement,
c) If the claimant fails to complete the required data or documents within
thirty working days at the latest from the date of informing him, the
secretary of the commission shall return the transaction to its originating
department,
d) Inform the defendant of the claim statement within ten working days
from the date of completing the required data and documents in order to
submit his reply to the claim statement supported by documents within
thirty days from the date of informing him,
e) Inform the parties to the case of the date and time of the session
appointed for considering the case at least fifteen working days before the
date of the session if their presence is required,
f) Request the documents and papers required by the commission and
address invitations to the persons whom the commission need to consult
about the claim.
g) Prepare the minutes of the commissions sessions and meetings. The
minutes shall contain the date and hour of opening of each session, the
names of present members of the commission, the parties and their
attorneys as well as all procedures and events that take place in the sessions
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and the testimonies to be heard in it, the statements, requests and defences
of the parties. The minutes shall be signed by the members of the
commission, its secretary and the parties, present persons whose names are
mentioned. If any of them objects to signing the minutes, this should be
written down in the minutes of the session.
178. The secretariat of the commission shall undertake the following
duties:
a) Receive the objections submitted to the commission against the
decisions of the local committees and sub-committees to enter in the
incoming mail record on a regular and serial basis and refer them to the
secretary,
b) Keep the records of claims and enter incoming and outgoing mail,
c) Present to the commission the subjects which the commission is
authorized to consider and decide on,
d) Organize and keep cases referred to it and arrange the agenda,
appointments and sessions for easy reference,
e) Prepare the agendas of the meetings of the commission and the table of
activities of the session to be presented to the commission for approval,
f) Inform the members of the commission about the dates of meetings,
g) Direct notifications and notices to the parties of the case and concerned
parties about the dates of prescribed sessions and request and follow up the
presence of their representatives,
h) Organize the minutes of the commission, its decisions, order, number
and file electronically,
i) Inform the concerned civil status department and the parties to the case
of the decisions issued by the commission and provide the committee from
which the decision objected to with a copy of the decision and the letter of
notification, and
j) Prepare a monthly report on the activities of the commission and
present it to the commission and provide the department mentioned in
article 174 hereof with a copy of it after it has been approved by the
commission.
179. Each local committee and sub-committee shall have a secretary who
undertakes the duties provided for in article 177 hereof and a secretary who
undertakes the duties provided for in article 178 hereof with respect to the
activities of the committee provided that the grade of the secretary shall not
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be less than 5. Both of them shall be assigned by a director of a civil status

department or office.
180. The local committee or sub-committee shall elect among its members
a chairman who foresees the activities of the committee.
181. The grade of local committee members shall not be less than 6 or
equivalent and the grade of the members of the sub-committee shall not be
less than nine or equivalent.
182. Matters requiring settlement by committees may be submitted to the
civil status department or office to undertake completion of necessary
procedures and refer them to the concerned committee.
183. Civil status departments and offices shall implement the decisions
issued by local committee, sub-committees and the commission. With
regard to fines, the department or office shall register the fine on the
electronic system (sadad)
184. The civil status departments and offices shall seek the help of the
governorate of the region, province, centre or "wanted system" if required.
185. If the commission the presence of either party to the claim at a session
and he is properly informed, he shall attend. If the claimant fails to attend
and does not submit an excuse acceptable to the commission, it may cancel
the case. However, if the defendant fails to appear, the case shall be
postponed to a next session about which the defendant is informed. If he
fails to appear in this session or fails to appear at any other session without
excuse acceptable to the commission, the commission may consider the case
and issue its decision which is considered to have been issued in his
presence.
186. The party who fails to appear within thirty minutes from the time
specified for the start of the session shall be considered absent. If he appears
while the session is still held, he is considered present.
187. Substantiation may be made by all ways of substantiation including
electronic data or originating from a computer and correspondences of the
facsimile and e-mail.
188. If the local committee or sub-committee or the commission decides to
inspect or investigate or hear any statements, it may carry out the same
itself or it may assign someone to carry out it among its members of others
if necessary.
189. The decisions of local committee, sub-committees and commissions
with the majority of votes of all its members. The member who adopts a
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contrary opinion, his opinion should be included in the minutes provided

that it is justified. If votes are equal with regard to the commission, the
chairman shall have a casting vote.
190. The committees and the commission shall consider the cases referred
to it and issue the necessary decisions within sixty days from the date of
entry.
191. Anything not provided for herein with regard to the activities of the
committees or the commission shall be governed by the general rules in the
Law of Procedure and any other relevant provisions that agree with the
nature of the cases presented before them.
192. At the end of every Hijri year, local committees shall visit civil status
offices and departments reporting to them to inspect and close records in
accordance with a unified form and report the same to the commission.
193. Sub-committees shall issue a decision that decides on some penalties
that do not exceed SR. 1000 related to the violation of the provisions of
articles 32, 39, 46 and 52 of the law provided that gradual penalties are
imposed as consistent with the period of delay.
194. Implementation of the decisions issued by committees does not
impede objecting to them by the directorate or any party having interest
before the commission within the period specified in article 84 of the law
(sixty days).
195. The decisions issued by the central civil status commission are
considered final.
196. Identity cards are considered cancelled and those registered in the
civil register shall be replaced by personal cards (national cards) and family
cards (family registers).
197. When the electronic transaction of any procedure provided for
herein, it may be moved to and activated as provided for in electronic
transactions law.
198. These executive regulations shall supersede the executive regulations
issued by the ministerial resolution No. 95/FG dated 4.3.1308 AH and shall
cancel any contradicting decisions and instructions.
199. These executive regulations shall be published in the official gazette
and shall come into effect sixty days after publishing in the official gazette.
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Civil Status Law Executive

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

i. Entry: Means the entry of birth, marriage, divorce, loss or recovery of

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

card and a serial number of filing shall be assigned to it at each

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Other registers for entries related to Saudis and expatriates may be

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

deeds, powers of attorney, official correspondence and all applications

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

a. The word son of or daughter of or al shall be placed between

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

be prepared stating the result of inspection and the condition of these

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

substantiating amendment in the light of the measures provided for

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

b) The date of birth is not based on a certificate of birth or an approved

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

c) If the father or grandfather fails to obtain Saudi documents, the

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

2. The original identity card shall be attached, and if the original is

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

include a column stating the reasons of delay, if any, a column stating

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

65. Fourth degree referred to in article 22 of the law means paternal

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

certain matters or transactions in addition to his general place of

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

d) The mayor of the neighbourhood of the chief of the clan,

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

the papers are forwarded to the sub-committee to issue a decision

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

93. When an application for the registration of a house birth case of a

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

delay in reporting birth cases to be referred to the sub-committee to

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

97. Subject to the provisions of articles 89 thru96 hereof, if more than

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

documents produced to register the case should not contradict the

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

document shall contain a statement of the registration of the case,

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

c) The marriage, divorce, khul' or remarriage for a Saudi party shall be

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

marriage contract, divorce, khul' and remarriage documents as well as

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations

Civil Status Law Executive Regulations