Article 70 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 70 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article prohibits government, educational and private bodies and individuals from accepting, employing or retaining any Saudi who has completed fifteen as an employee, student or in any capacity unless he holds a personal card.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي جهة أو مصلحة حكومية أو مؤسسة عامة بما في ذلك الجامعات والمعاهد والمدارس ولا للشركات والجمعيات والمؤسسات الخاصة والأفراد أن يقبلوا أو يستخدموا أو يستبقوا في خدمتهم بصفة موظف أو مستخدم أو طالب أو بأية صفة أخرى أي شخص سعودي أكمل الخامسة عشرة من عمره إلا إذا كان يحمل بطاقة شخصية.
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 70 explained in plain English
This Article makes holding the personal card a condition of joining work or study for Saudis who have completed fifteen.
The bodies addressed by the prohibition:
- any government body or department or public institution, including universities, institutes and schools;
- private companies, associations and institutions;
- individuals.
The prohibited acts: accepting, employing or retaining in their service the person. The prohibition is not limited to the start of the relationship, but also covers keeping him.
The capacities covered: employee, worker, student, or any other capacity.
The person concerned: every Saudi who has completed fifteen and does not hold a personal card.
This Article complements Article 69, which requires every citizen to carry his personal card at all times and produce it in transactions that call for proof of his identity, and Article 71, which requires those in charge of hotels, shelters and places that house the public to record the card details of every guest who has completed fifteen.
If you are the owner of an establishment or in charge of an educational body, check that those joining you who have completed fifteen hold a personal card. For any inquiry about a particular case, a lawyer who specializes in civil status and personal status cases may be consulted.
Practical example
A 17-year-old Saudi youth applied for part-time work at a shop in Riyadh without holding a personal card. The shop may not accept or employ him until he holds a personal card, nor may it retain someone who works for it in this situation.
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 70 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
May a Saudi without a national ID be hired?
No government body, private body or individual may accept, employ or retain a Saudi who has completed fifteen unless he holds a personal card.
Do schools and universities require the national ID?
Yes. The Article covers universities, institutes and schools, so a Saudi student who has completed fifteen is not accepted unless he holds a personal card.
From what age is an ID required for employment or study?
For Saudis who have completed fifteen.
More articles on National ID
- Article 2Amended by M/198
The article defines the terms of the Civil Status Law, including event, civil status, registers and committees, and the personal ID card in both its physical and digital forms.
تدل المصطلحات التالية - حيثما وردت في هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية - على المعاني المدونة لكل منها: أ - المديرية : هي المديرية العامة للأحوال المدنية المسئولة عن
- 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 67Amended by M/198
The Article requires every Saudi who has completed fifteen to obtain a personal card, with procedures handled by his guardian, custodian or agent, and makes it optional between six and fifteen.
يجب أن يحصل من أكمل سن (الخامسة عشرة) من السعوديين على بطاقة شخصية خاصة به، ويقوم وليه أو وصيه أو وكيل أي منهما بالإجراءات المطلوبة لذلك، ويكون ذلك اختيارياً لم
- Article 68
The Article allows Saudis residing abroad to apply for the personal card, renew it and report its loss or damage at the Saudi representation, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
استثناء من حكم المادة (67) يجوز للسعوديين المقيمين في الخارج طلب الحصول على البطاقة الشخصية وطلب تجديدها والتبليغ بفقدها أو تلفها إلى الممثلية العربية السعودية
- Article 69
The Article requires every citizen to carry his personal card at all times and produce it in transactions that call for proof of his identity and to public authority officers whenever they ask.
يجب على كل مواطن حمل بطاقته الشخصية بصفة مستمرة، وعليه إبرازها عند إجراء جميع المعاملات التي تستدعي إثبات شخصيته، كما أن عليه إبرازها إلى رجال السلطة العامة كلم
- Article 71
The Article requires those in charge of hotels, shelters and places that house the public to record the card details of every guest who has completed fifteen in their registers.
يجب على المسئولين في الفنادق والملاجئ أو ما يماثلها من الأماكن المعدة لإيواء الجمهور أن يثبتوا في سجلاتهم البيانات الموضحة في بطاقة كل من ينزل في تلك الأماكن إذ
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.