Article 35 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 35 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires a birth that occurs while traveling outside the Kingdom to be reported within 15 days of arrival, to the Saudi representation in the destination country or to any civil status office on return.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا حصلت الولادة أثناء السفر خارج المملكة وجب التبليغ عنها خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوصول، ويوجه التبليغ إلى الممثلية العربية السعودية في البلد الذي يقصده المسافر، وفي حالة العودة يكون التبليغ إلى أي مكتب للأحوال في المملكة.
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 35 explained in plain English
This Article deals with a special case: a birth that occurs while traveling outside the Kingdom. Its rules are:
- The period: reporting must be made within 15 days of the date of arrival, not from the date of birth.
- Where, if the traveler continues the journey: the report is made to the Saudi representation in the country the traveler is heading to.
- Where, if the traveler returns: the report is made to any civil status office in the Kingdom.
This case differs from the general rule in Article 34, under which births are reported at a civil status office, on the prescribed form, within 15 days of the date of birth, extended to 30 days if the birth takes place in a location more than 50 kilometers from the nearest civil status department or office.
Article 36 also sets out another exception: if the birth takes place abroad in a location far from the seat of the Saudi representation, reporting by registered mail is permitted, provided it is accompanied by a birth certificate from the competent authority in the place of birth that contains the data needed for the entry.
Practical example
A Saudi family was traveling to Malaysia, and the mother gave birth during the trip. If the family continues its stay there, the father reports to the Saudi representation in Malaysia within 15 days of the date of arrival, and if the family returns to the Kingdom, the report is made to any civil status office there.
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 35 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
What is the period for reporting a birth that occurs while traveling?
Within 15 days of the date of arrival.
Where do I report a child born while traveling outside the Kingdom?
To the Saudi representation in the country the traveler is heading to, or, on return, to any civil status office in the Kingdom.
How does this period differ from the ordinary reporting period?
The ordinary period in Article 34 is 15 days from the date of birth, or 30 days if the birthplace is more than 50 kilometers from the nearest department or office; here it is counted from the date of arrival.
More articles on Birth Registration
- Article 8
The article requires the event registers for Saudis and foreigners to include a births register, a deaths register and a marriage and divorce register, and others may be added by decision of the Minister of Interior.
يجب أن تشمل سجلات الواقعات للسعوديين والأجانب سجلا لتسجيل المواليد وسجلا لتسجيل الوفيات وسجلا لتسجيل الزواج والطلاق، ويمكن إضافة غيرها من سجلات الواقعات للسعودي
- Article 32
The Article requires all births in the Kingdom, and all Saudi births abroad, to be reported within the periods set by the Civil Status Law.
يجب التبليغ عن جميع المواليد في المملكة وعن جميع المواليد السعوديين في الخارج خلال المدد المحددة في هذا النظام.
- Article 34Amended (1422 AH)
The Article requires births to be reported at a civil status office within 15 days of birth, extended to 30 days if the birthplace is more than 50 kilometers away.
يكون التبليغ عن المواليد لدى مكتب من مكاتب الأحوال المدنية على النموذج المعد لذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الولادة. وتكون هذه المهلة ثلاثين يوما إذا حدثت الو
- Article 36
As an exception, the Article allows a birth abroad in a place far from the Saudi representation to be reported by registered mail, provided a birth certificate from the competent authority containing the entry data is attached.
استثناء مما سبق إذا حصلت الولادة في الخارج في جهة بعيدة عن مقر الممثلية السعودية جاز التبليغ عنها بوساطة البريد المسجل بشرط أن يكون التبليغ مصحوبا بشهادة ميلاد
- Article 37
The Article requires twins to be reported each on his own and recorded separately, stating the hour and minute at which each was born.
يبلغ عن المواليد التوائم كل على انفراد ويقيد كل منهم على حدة مع الإشارة إلى الساعة والدقيقة التي ولد فيها كل منهم.
- Article 38Amended (1422 AH)
The Article requires the birth of a newborn who dies before being recorded to be registered, followed by his death, and requires a child born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy to be recorded in the register of deaths as stillborn.
إذا توفي مولود قبل قيده في السجل، وجب تسجيل ولادته ثم تسجيل وفاته. أما إذا ولد ميتا بعد الشهر السادس من الحمل فيقيد في سجل الوفيات بأنه ولد ميتا.
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.