Article 18 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 18 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires registrars to record every civil event as soon as it is reported, with the date of the entry, and the entry must include the reporter's name, surname, age, residence, capacity and the date of the report.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على كتاب السجلات قيد كل واقعة مدنية عند التبليغ عنها مباشرة مع تحديد تاريخ القيد يوم حصوله، ويجب أن يتضمن القيد اسم المبلغ ولقبه وسنه ومحل إقامته وصفته في التبليغ وتاريخ حصول التبليغ.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the duty of the registrar when a civil event is reported to him, and contains two rules:
- Immediate recording: every civil event must be recorded as soon as it is reported, with the date of the entry being the day it is made.
- The reporter's details: the entry must include:
- the reporter's name and surname;
- his age;
- his place of residence;
- his capacity in reporting, such as being the child's father or a relative;
- the date on which the report was made.
The purpose is that it is known who reported the event, when and in what capacity, which helps when the entry is reviewed later or its accuracy is verified.
This Article is the counterpart of Article 17, which requires every citizen to report the civil events that must be registered within the period set by law: the citizen reports and the registrar records at once.
If the registrar refuses to record, Article 19 provides that within seven days he must refer the matter to the department he belongs to by a reasoned memorandum, and the head of the department must give his opinion in a written decision, notified to the registrar and the interested person within thirty days of the matter being referred to him; if the recording is refused or this period passes, the interested person has the right to file a grievance with the committee.
Practical example
Fahd went to the civil status office in Tabuk to report the birth of his daughter. The registrar must record the event on the same day and write down Fahd's name, surname, age, place of residence, his capacity as the father of the newborn, and the date of the report.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
When does the registrar record a civil event?
It must be recorded as soon as it is reported, with the date of the entry being the day it is made.
What details are recorded about the reporter?
His name, surname, age, place of residence, capacity in reporting, and the date the report was made.
What if the registrar refuses to record the event?
Under Article 19, the registrar refers the matter within seven days to his department by a reasoned memorandum, and the head decides within thirty days; the interested person may file a grievance with the committee if recording is refused or the period passes.
More articles on Registering Civil Events
- Article 5
The article makes the Kingdom's representations responsible for registering Saudis' events abroad and recognizes a foreign state's registration if it does not conflict with the Kingdom's laws, with a duty to enter it within 180 days.
تتولى ممثليات جلالة الملك مسئولية مكاتب الأحوال المدنية في الخارج فيما يتعلق بتسجيل الواقعات المدنية للسعوديين المقيمين في دائرة اختصاصها في الخارج، ومع هذا فكل
- Article 16Amended by M/198
The Article requires the biometric features of Saudis who have reached the age of six to be recorded when entries are amended or civil statuses and events are registered, and leaves the rules to the Implementing Regulations.
عند تعديل القيود أو تسجيل الحالات والواقعات المدنية، تُسجّل الخصائص الحيوية لمن بلغ سن (السادسة) من السعوديين. وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية الضوابط اللازمة لما ورد ف
- Article 17
The Article requires every citizen holding a family record book to go to the civil status office with the information and documents needed to register himself and his family, and every citizen to report future events within the legal period.
يجب على كل مواطن يحمل حفيظة نفوس أن يتقدم إلى إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية بجميع المعلومات والوثائق اللازمة لتسجيله وأفراد أسرته، وعلى كل مواطن التبليغ عن جميع ال
- Article 19Amended (1422 AH)
The Article sets the procedure when a registrar refuses to record a civil event: he refers the matter within 7 days, the head decides within 30 days, and the interested person may file a grievance with the sub-committee.
إذا رفض كاتب السجل المنوط به القيد – قيد أية واقعة مدنية - وجب عليه خلال سبعة أيام رفع الأمر إلى الإدارة التي يتبعها بمذكرة مسببة. وعلى مدير الإدارة أن يبدي رأي
- Article 20Amended (1422 AH)
The Article regulates recording a civil event reported late: before its first year ends the registrar records it after verification; after a year it is recorded only by decision of the local committee.
عند التبليغ عن واقعة مدنية بعد فوات المدة المحددة وقبل نهاية السنة الأولى لحدوثها، فعلى كاتب السجل أن يتثبت من صحة وقوعها في التاريخ المبلغ عنه، وله في هذا السب
- Article 21
The Article requires the reporter to be given a copy of the entry for the event on the prescribed form, the registrar and the reporter to sign the entry and its copy, and a refusal to sign to be recorded in the presence of two witnesses.
بعد قيد الواقعة يعطى المبلغ صورة من قيدها على النموذج المعد لذلك ويجب أن يوقع على القيد وصورته كل من كاتب السجل المنوط به القيد والمبلغ فإن امتنع المبلغ عن التو
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.