Article 19 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 19 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 رأيه بقرار مكتوب يعلم فيه كلا من كاتب السجل وصاحب الشأن خلال ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ رفع الأمر إليه، وفي حالة رفض القيد أو مضي المدة المذكورة يكون لصاحب الشأن الحق في التظلم إلى اللجنة الفرعية.
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 19 explained in plain English
This Article provides a safeguard for the interested person if the registrar refuses to record a civil event, such as a birth, death or marriage. Under Article 18 the rule is that the registrar records every event as soon as it is reported; if he refuses, the following steps apply:
- Referral: within seven days the registrar must refer the matter to the department he belongs to by a reasoned memorandum, that is, one stating the reasons for the refusal.
- The head's decision: the head of the department must give his opinion in a written decision, notifying both the registrar and the interested person within thirty days of the date the matter was referred to him.
- Grievance: if the head refuses the recording, or the thirty days pass without a decision, the interested person has the right to file a grievance with the sub-committee.
The department's silence until the period ends does not prevent the interested person from filing a grievance. The Article does not state a period for filing the grievance or its procedures.
If the report came after the set period had passed, Article 20 contains special rules on verifying the event or requiring a decision of the local committee after one year.
This wording was issued by Royal Decree No. M/25 dated 1/6/1422 AH. Anyone whose event was refused recording is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Saad went to register his newborn, and the registrar refused to record the event. The registrar must refer the matter to his department within seven days by a reasoned memorandum, and the head must notify Saad of his decision in writing within thirty days. If the head refuses the recording or issues no decision within the period, Saad has the right to file a grievance with the sub-committee.
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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Frequently asked questions about Article 19 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
What do I do if the civil status office refuses to register an event?
The registrar refers the matter to his department within 7 days, and the head issues a written decision within 30 days; if he refuses or the period passes, you have the right to file a grievance with the sub-committee.
Must a refusal to record be reasoned?
Yes. The registrar refers the matter to the department by a reasoned memorandum, and the head gives his opinion in a written decision.
What if the head of the department does not respond within 30 days?
The interested person has the right to file a grievance with the sub-committee once the period passes.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/25 — 1/6/1422 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عدلت هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/25) وتاريخ 1 / 6 /1422 هـ ،لتكون بالنص التالى:
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 رأيه بقرار مكتوب يعلم فيه كلا من كاتب السجل وصاحب الشأن خلال ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ رفع الأمر إليه، وفي حالة رفض القيد أو مضي المدة المذكورة يكون لصاحب الشأن الحق في التظلم إلى اللجنة الفرعية.
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
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 رأيه بقرار مكتوب يعلم فيه كلا من كاتب السجل وصاحب الشأن خلال ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ رفع الأمر إليه، وفي حالة رفض القيد أو مضي المدة المذكورة يكون لصاحب الشأن الحق في التظلم إلى اللجنة .
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 18
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.
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 ا
- 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.