Article 73 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
المادة 73 من نظام الأحوال المدنية
The Article prohibits a citizen from having more than one entry in the central civil register, more than one personal card or family record book, or using a card or book that is not his.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز أن يكون لأي مواطن غير قيد واحد في السجل المدني المركزي ، كما لا يجوز له حيازة أكثر من بطاقة شخصية واحدة، أو أكثر من دفتر عائلة واحد، أو استعمال بطاقة أو دفتر عائلة لا يخصه.
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 73 explained in plain English
This Article sets the rule of a single entry and a single document for each citizen, and contains four prohibitions:
- Multiple entries: a citizen may have no more than one entry in the central civil register.
- Multiple cards: he may not hold more than one personal card.
- Multiple family record books: he may not hold more than one family record book.
- Using another's document: he may not use a card or family record book that is not his.
This Article is connected to those before and after it:
- Article 72 requires every Saudi head of family to go to one of the civil status departments to obtain the family record book, which is issued from the entries of the central civil register, subject to Article 50.
- Article 74 provides that the family record book is given for an unlimited period and, if its holder dies, it is withdrawn and another is issued in the name of the deceased to any of his heirs added in it who wish; it refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the period of validity of the personal card from the date of its issue, replacement or renewal, with a duty to renew it within the one hundred and eighty days before it expires.
If you find that for some reason you have more than one entry or card, act promptly by contacting civil status; you may also consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Turki lost his personal card and obtained a replacement, and then found the old card. He may not hold more than one personal card, so he must contact civil status to settle the matter. Nor may his brother use that card, because it is not his.
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 73 of the Saudi Civil Status Law
May a citizen own two national IDs?
No. A citizen may not hold more than one personal card.
May someone else's ID or family record book be used?
No. A card or family record book that is not the person's own may not be used.
How many entries may a citizen have in the civil register?
Only one entry in the central civil register.
More articles on Family Record
- Article 42
The Article requires the births registrar to notify his department weekly with a statement of birth events and the certificate copies, and requires the department to record them within three days on the child's father's page.
يجب على كاتب سجل المواليد في نهاية كل أسبوع إشعار إدارة الأحوال المدنية التي يتبعها ببيان على النموذج المعد لذلك يتضمن جميع واقعات الولادة التي قيدها في سجله مع
- Article 43
The Article requires the birth certificate to be presented within 15 days of receiving it to one of the civil status departments, to check it, stamp it with the directorate's seal and add the newborn to the family record book.
يجب تقديم شهادة الميلاد الصادرة من كاتب سجل المواليد خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ تسلمها إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية لمطابقة قيدها في السجل وختمها بخاتم المد
- Article 50
The Article allows either spouse to request the family register from civil status, and makes the husband responsible if it is not requested within sixty days of the marriage contract, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
لأي من الزوجين طلب الحصول على سجلّ الأسرة من إدارة الأحوال المدنية، وتقع المسؤولية على الزوج إذا لم يتقدم بطلب استخراجه خلال ستين يوماً من تاريخ عقد الزواج، وذل
- Article 58
The Article requires the death certificate, with the deceased's card and the family record book, to be presented to civil status within fifteen days of its issue, to be stamped, the card withdrawn and the book annotated.
يجب تقديم شهادة الوفاة الصادرة من كاتب سجل الوفيات مع بطاقة المتوفى الشخصية ودفتر العائلة الذي يضم اسمه إلى إحدى إدارات الأحوال المدنية وذلك خلال خمسة عشر يوما
- Article 72
The Article requires every Saudi head of family, subject to Article 50, to go to civil status within three years of the Law coming into force to obtain the family record book issued from the central civil register.
مع مراعاة حكم المادة (50) من هذا النظام يجب على كل رب أسرة سعودي مراجعة إحدى دوائر الأحوال المدنية خلال ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ نفاذ هذا النظام للحصول على دفتر يتضم
- Article 74Amended (1426 AH)
The Article gives the family record book for an unlimited period, with a replacement book for heirs on its holder's death, refers the validity period of the personal card to the Regulations and requires renewal within 180 days before expiry.
1 - يعطى دفتر العائلة لمدة غير محددة، وإذا توفي صاحبه يسحب ويصرف بدلا منه دفتر عائلة آخر باسم المتوفى لكل من يرغب من ورثته المضافين فيه، على أن يؤثر مكان الصورة
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.