Article 55 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 55 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article requires a death occurring outside the Kingdom to be reported within fifteen days of arrival, to the competent Saudi representation or, on return, to any civil status office in the Kingdom.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا حدثت الوفاة خارج المملكة وجب التبليغ عنها خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوصول، ويوجه التبليغ إلى الممثلية السعودية المختصة في البلد الذي يقصده المسافر، وفي حالة العودة يكون التبليغ لدى 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 55 explained in plain English
This Article regulates reporting a death if it occurs outside the Kingdom, and sets special rules that differ from a death inside it:
- The period: fifteen days, but counted from the date of arrival, not from the date of death as is the case for a death inside the Kingdom.
- The body: the report is directed to the competent Saudi representation in the country the traveler is heading to.
- In the case of return: the report is made at any civil status office in the Kingdom.
By comparison, Article 54 makes reporting a death inside the Kingdom within fifteen days of the date of death at any civil status office, and thirty days if the death occurs in a place more than fifty kilometers from the nearest office.
Article 56 sets out an exception to this Article: if the death occurs abroad in a location far from the seat of the Saudi representation, it may be reported by registered mail, provided the report is accompanied by a death certificate from the competent authority in the place where the death occurred.
The text does not define "the date of arrival" any further, so if a question arises about counting the period in a particular case, the representation may be contacted or a lawyer who specializes in civil status and personal status cases consulted.
Practical example
Majed's mother died during a treatment trip in a European country. Majed may report the death to the competent Saudi representation in that country, or, if he returns to the Kingdom, at any civil status office, within fifteen days of the date of arrival.
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 55 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Where do I report a death that occurred outside the Kingdom?
To the competent Saudi representation in the country the traveler is heading to, or, in the case of return, to any civil status office in the Kingdom.
What is the period for reporting a death abroad?
Fifteen days from the date of arrival.
Can I report by mail if the embassy is far away?
Yes. Article 56 allows reporting by registered mail if the place of death is far from the seat of the representation, provided a death certificate from the competent authority there is attached.
More articles on Death Registration and Burial
- 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.
- Article 52
The Article requires reporting, within the legal periods, every death in the Kingdom and every Saudi who dies abroad, including children born dead after the sixth month of pregnancy.
يجب التبليغ خلال المدد المحددة في هذا النظام عن جميع الوفيات الحادثة في المملكة وعن السعوديين المتوفين في الخارج، ويشمل ذلك الأطفال الذين يولدون أمواتا بعد الشه
- Article 53
The Article names those required to report a death, starting with electronically linked health facilities, then relatives and others, with responsibility following the order so that it lapses for any group when the group before it exists.
المكلفون بالتبليغ عن الوفاة هم: أ- المنشآت الصحية المرتبطة إلكترونياً بالأحوال المدنية وفق ما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية. ب- أصول أو فروع أو زوج المتوفى أو أي من أ
- Article 54
The Article sets the period for reporting a death at fifteen days at any civil status office, and thirty days if the death occurs in a place more than fifty kilometers from the nearest office.
يكون التبليغ عن الوفاة لدى أي مكتب من مكاتب الأحوال المدنية على النموذج المعد خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ الوفاة، وتكون هذه المهلة ثلاثين يوما إذا حدثت الوفاة ف
- Article 56
As an exception, the Article allows a death abroad, far from the seat of the Saudi representation, to be reported by registered mail, provided a death certificate from the competent authority there is attached.
استثناء مما سبق إذا حدثت الوفاة في الخارج في جهة بعيدة عن مقر الممثلية السعودية جاز التبليغ عنها بوساطة البريد المسجل بشرط أن يكون التبليغ مصحوبا بشهادة وفاة من
- Article 57
The Article requires the deaths registrar to draw up a death certificate in two copies without stating the cause of death unless the interested person wishes, to hand one copy to the reporter and send the other to the deceased's file.
يجب على كاتب سجل الوفيات المنوط به القيد فور تسجيل واقعة الوفاة تحرير شهادة من نسختين على النموذج المعد لذلك دون الإشارة إلى أسباب الوفاة ما لم يرغب صاحب الشأن
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.