In force Last amended 11/6/1444 AH
Saudi Arabian Nationality Law
نظام الجنسية العربية السعودية
The Saudi Arabian Nationality Law of Saudi Arabia. This page presents the official Arabic text of each article with plain-English explanations for residents and businesses.
- Articles
- 30
- In force
- 30
- Amended
- 11
- Issued
- 25/1/1374 AH
Issued by: قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم 4 وتاريخ 1374/01/25هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Saudi Arabian Nationality Law by topic
Definitions and Provisions of the Nationality Law8 articlesSaudi Nationality by Descent and Birth4 articlesNationality of a Saudi Mother's Children by a Foreign Father2 articlesConditions for Naturalization4 articlesNaturalization of Wife and Children as Dependents5 articlesNaturalizing a Saudi's Foreign Wife1 articleA Saudi Woman Marrying a Foreigner3 articlesAcquiring a Foreign Nationality3 articlesRevoking Saudi Nationality4 articlesWithdrawing a Naturalized Person's Nationality3 articlesPenalty for Lying to Prove Nationality1 article
Articles of the Saudi Arabian Nationality Law
- Article 1The article sets the official name of this law: the "Saudi Arabian Nationality Law".
- Article 2The article provides that the Nationality Law is not retroactive, and that valid decisions and nationalities granted under earlier laws remain in place as long as they rest on a valid procedure and proof.
- Article 3The article defines the basic terms of the Nationality Law: Saudi, naturalized Saudi, foreigner, minor, age of majority, and the scope of the Kingdom's territory.
- Article 4The article sets the categories treated as original Saudis, based on Ottoman nationality or residence in the Kingdom's territory in 1332 AH and its continuation until 22/3/1345 AH.
- Article 5The article makes the provision of paragraph (a) of Article 4 apply to women among the Kingdom's original inhabitants who request to regain Saudi nationality after divorce or the husband's death.
- Article 6The article bars accepting applications for nationality certificates from those covered by paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 4 one year after the Law takes effect, and for a minor one year after reaching the age of majority.
- Article 7The article sets who is Saudi by birth: a person born to a Saudi father, or to a Saudi mother and a father of unknown nationality or without nationality, or born in the Kingdom to unknown parents.
- Article 8The article allows granting Saudi nationality, by order of the Prime Minister on the proposal of the Minister of Interior, to a person born in the Kingdom to a foreign father and a Saudi mother, on four conditions.Amended M/88
- Article 9The article sets the conditions for a foreigner to be granted Saudi nationality, such as majority, ten consecutive years of residence, good conduct, a needed profession and Arabic, and the documents attached to the application.Amended
- Article 10The article makes the grant of nationality the Prime Minister's, on the proposal of the Minister of Interior, and gives the Minister the right to refuse the application without giving reasons even if the conditions are met.
- Article 11The article bars a Saudi from acquiring a foreign nationality without prior permission from the Prime Minister; one who does so without permission stays Saudi unless nationality is withdrawn under Article 13.
- Article 12The article shows the effect of a permitted Saudi's acquiring a foreign nationality on his wife and minor children, and the children's right to regain nationality within the year after reaching the age of majority.Amended
- Article 13The article allows withdrawing nationality from a Saudi by a reasoned decree in four cases, with a warning at least three months earlier, liquidation of his property, and possible bar from residence or return.
- Article 14The article shows the effect on the wife and minor and adult children when a foreigner acquires Saudi nationality, the conditions for them to enter it, and the minors' right to choose their father's original nationality.Amended
- Article 15The article allows the naturalized person to submit a separate application in the name of each woman who follows him and over whom he has legal guardianship under a Sharia document, for granting her Saudi nationality.
- Article 16The article allows the Minister of Interior to grant Saudi nationality to a foreign woman married to a Saudi, or his widow, if she applies and gives up her nationality, and to rule that she loses it if the marriage ends and she regains a foreign nationality.Amended
- Article 17The article provides that a Saudi woman does not lose her nationality by marrying a foreigner, unless she decides and declares joining her husband's nationality and enters it under its law.Amended
- Article 18The article gives a Saudi woman married to a foreigner the right to regain her Saudi nationality when the marriage ends, after she returns to reside in the Kingdom.
- Article 19The article shows the effect of withdrawal of nationality on a person's wife and children: the wife may choose and regain, minor children living outside the Kingdom may choose nationality at majority, and withdrawal under Article 11 does not extend to his family.
- Article 20The article shows the effect of travel on a naturalization applicant: prior residence is cancelled by an absence of more than a year after applying, and the right is lost if he travels before applying and exceeds his return visa period.
- Article 21The article allows the Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Minister of Interior, to withdraw nationality from a naturalized person within 10 years of his naturalization if a judgment is issued against him in one of two specified cases.Amended
- Article 22The article provides for withdrawing Saudi nationality from a naturalized person at any time, by order of the Prime Minister on the Minister of Interior's proposal, if it is established that he obtained it through false statements, fraud, error or forgery.Amended
- Article 23The article provides that withdrawing nationality from a naturalized person removes it from him and from those who acquired it with him by dependency, with it re-granted to a dependent of good character with no obstacle, counting his past period.
- Article 24The article makes the Ministry of Interior the body with original jurisdiction to implement the Nationality Law, sets how declarations and applications are submitted inside and outside the Kingdom, and lets the Minister authorize other employees to receive them.
- Article 25The article provides that all decrees and decisions on acquiring, withdrawing, forfeiting or regaining nationality take effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
- Article 26The article punishes with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to SAR 30,000 anyone who knowingly makes false statements or submits incorrect papers to prove or deny nationality; the Board of Grievances imposes it.Amended
- Article 27The article charges the Minister of Interior with issuing the Implementing Regulations of the Nationality Law within 120 days of the amendment's publication, and with issuing the decisions the Law needs.Amended
- Article 28The article repeals the nationality law issued in 1357 AH and the earlier Hejaz and Hejaz-Najd nationality regulations, and any provision in other laws that conflicts with this Law.
- Article 29The article limits to the King alone the granting of nationality to one who does not meet the conditions of Article 9, and its withdrawal from a Saudi to whom Article 13 does not apply.
- Article 30The article provides that the Saudi Arabian Nationality Law takes effect from the date of its ratification and publication in the Official Gazette.
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