Article 22 of the Saudi Notarization Law
المادة 22 من نظام التوثيق · الفصل الثالث: الرخصة، والإعلان عن المهنة
The article sets the term of a notarization license at five years, renewable, and leaves the Regulations to set the procedures and controls for issuing, renewing and reissuing the license.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تكون مدة الرخصة خمس سنوات قابلة للتجديد، وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات والضوابط الواجب اتخاذها عند إصدار الرخصة، أو تجديدها، أو إعادة إصدارها.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article sets out the term of the notarization license, which under Article 1 is the license of the licensed notary or marriage officiant.
It sets two provisions:
- The term of the license is 5 years, and it is renewable.
- The Implementing Regulations set the procedures and controls to be followed when issuing the license, or renewing it, or reissuing it.
So the license is not permanent, and the licensee must follow up its renewal before its term ends so as not to find themselves without a license. The article does not state when the renewal application is to be submitted or what documents it requires, or the cases that call for reissuing; all of that is left to the Regulations.
This article comes after the stage of deciding the application regulated by Article 21, under which a committee formed by the Minister decides license applications within 30 days of their submission. The licenses are then entered in the register with the competent department under Article 23, and the Regulations explain how the entry is made and what data it includes.
Practical example
Reem obtained a licensed notary license in Dammam. Her license remains valid for 5 years, and before it ends she must follow the renewal procedures set by the Implementing Regulations.
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 22 of the Saudi Notarization Law
How long is a licensed notary's license?
5 years, renewable.
Can a notarization license be renewed?
Yes. The license is renewable, and the Regulations set the renewal procedures and controls.
Where can I find the procedures for reissuing the license?
They are set by the Implementing Regulations of the Notarization Law.
More articles on The Notarization License
- Article 20
The article provides that the license of a licensed notary or marriage officiant is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice on the recommendation of the competent department.
تصدر الرخصة بقرار من الوزير بناء على توصية من الإدارة المختصة.
- Article 21
The article creates a committee to decide notarization license applications within 30 days, requires a refusal decision to be reasoned, and allows a grievance before the competent court against refusal or failure to decide in time.
يشكل الوزير لجنة للبت في طلبات الحصول على الرخص، تؤلف برئاسة وكيل من الوزارة، وعضوية مستشار شرعي ومستشار نظامي من الوزارة لا تقل مرتبة كل منهما عن المرتبة (العا
- Article 23
The article provides that notarization licenses are entered in the register with the competent department, and leaves the Regulations to state how the entry is made and the data it includes.
تقيد الرخص في الجدول لدى الإدارة المختصة، وتبين اللائحة كيفية القيد، وما يدرج فيه من بيانات.
- Article 24
The article allows licensed notaries and marriage officiants to advertise their profession in accordance with controls prepared by the competent department and issued by decision of the Minister of Justice.
للمرخص له الإعلان عن مهنته وفق ضوابط تعدها الإدارة المختصة، وتصدر بقرار من الوزير.
- Article 25
The article sets the fee for issuing a licensed notary's license at SAR 2,000 and for renewing it at SAR 1,000.
يستحصل على إصدار الرخصة للموثق رسم قدره ألفا ريال، وألف ريال عند التجديد.
- Article 26
The article prohibits practicing notarization work except after obtaining the license in accordance with the provisions of the Notarization Law and its Implementing Regulations.
يحظر ممارسة أعمال التوثيق إلا بعد الحصول على الرخصة وفقاً لأحكام النظام واللائحة.
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.