Article 56 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 56 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 السلطة المختصة في الجهة التي حصلت الوفاة فيها.
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 56 explained in plain English
The rule under Article 55 is that a death occurring outside the Kingdom must be reported within fifteen days of the date of arrival, and the report is directed to the competent Saudi representation in the country the traveler is heading to, or to any civil status office in the Kingdom in the case of return.
This Article sets out an exception that takes account of the difficulty of reaching the representation in some cases:
- The case: the death occurs abroad in a location far from the seat of the Saudi representation.
- The rule: it may be reported by registered mail instead of in person.
- The condition: the report must be accompanied by a death certificate issued by the competent authority in the place where the death occurred.
The expression "may" means that this is an optional route available to the reporter, not an obligatory one. The text does not specify a distance at which a place counts as far from the representation.
After the death is recorded, Article 57 requires the deaths registrar to draw up a death certificate in two copies without stating the causes of death unless the interested person wishes to clarify them, and to hand one of them to the reporter.
To find out whether your case falls within this exception, the representation may be contacted or a lawyer who specializes in civil status and personal status cases consulted.
Practical example
A Saudi citizen died in a small town far from the seat of the Saudi embassy in that country. His family may send the report of the death by registered mail, attaching the death certificate issued by the competent authority in that town.
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 56 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
Can a death abroad be reported by mail?
Yes. If the death occurs in a location far from the seat of the Saudi representation, it may be reported by registered mail.
What document is required with a report by mail?
A death certificate issued by the competent authority in the place where the death occurred.
Is reporting by mail mandatory?
No. The text uses the word "may", so it is a route available as an exception to the rule in Article 55.
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 55
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.
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 ح
- 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.