Article 1 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
المادة 1 من نظام وثائق السفر
The article sets out the travel documents issued in the Kingdom's name (passport, laissez-passer, diplomatic passport and special passport) and the body that issues each.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
وثائق السفر التي تصدر باسم حكومة المملكة العربية السعودية وتخول حاملها السفر هي :
1 - جواز السفر .
2 - تذكرة المرور .
3 - جواز السفر الدبلوماسي .
4 - جواز السفر الخاص .
وتقوم الجهة المختصة في وزارة الداخلية وممثليات المملكة في الخارج بإصدار جواز السفر و تذكرة المرور وفقا لهذا النظام، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية أوصافهما ومدة صلاحيتهما وإجراءات الحصول عليهما، والحالات التي تمنح فيها تذاكر المرور. أما جواز السفر الدبلوماسي و جواز السفر الخاص فتصدرهما وزارة الخارجية وفقا للنظام الخاص بهما.
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 1 explained in plain English
This article sets out the types of travel documents issued in the name of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that entitle their holder to travel, of which there are four:
- The passport.
- The laissez-passer.
- The diplomatic passport.
- The special passport.
The article distinguishes between these types by the issuing body and the law that governs them:
- The passport and the laissez-passer: issued by the competent authority in the Ministry of Interior and the Kingdom's missions abroad under this Law. The Implementing Regulations set their descriptions, their period of validity, the procedures for obtaining them, and the cases in which laissez-passers are granted.
- The diplomatic passport and the special passport: issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under their own law, not under this Law.
The period of validity of the ordinary passport, its descriptions and the cases in which a laissez-passer is granted are therefore not set by the text of the article but by the Implementing Regulations. Article 2 then shows that a passport is granted to every Saudi national who requests it in accordance with the Regulations, and that the Minister of Interior may, when necessary, issue a passport or laissez-passer temporarily to a non-Saudi.
Anyone with a difficulty over which document suits his situation can contact the Passports Department or consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
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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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
What types of travel documents are there in Saudi Arabia?
The passport, the laissez-passer, the diplomatic passport and the special passport.
Who issues the diplomatic passport?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under its own law, and the same applies to the special passport.
What is the validity period of the Saudi passport?
The text of the article does not set it; it refers to the Implementing Regulations to set the passport's descriptions and period of validity.
Who issues the laissez-passer?
The competent authority in the Ministry of Interior and the Kingdom's missions abroad, and the Regulations set the cases in which it is granted.
More articles on Types of Travel Documents and Their Issuance
- Article 2Amended (1440 AH)
The article provides that a passport is granted to every Saudi who requests it in accordance with the Regulations, and allows the Minister of Interior, when necessary, to issue a temporary passport or laissez-passer to a non-Saudi.
1- يمنح جواز السفر لكل من يقدم طلباً بذلك من حاملي الجنسية العربية السعودية، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية. 2- لوزير الداخلية عند الاقتضاء إصدار جواز س
- Article 4Amended (1440 AH)
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to regulate granting a passport and travel permit to persons under custody and to minors whose guardian has died.
يكون منح جواز السفر وتصريح السفر للخاضعين للحضانة والقصّر المتوفى وليّهم، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية.
- Article 5
The article prevents any person from keeping more than one valid passport issued under the Law, and refers to the Regulations for how the issuing body is to make sure of that.
لا يجوز لأي شخص الاحتفاظ بأكثر من جواز سفر ساري المفعول صادر وفقا لهذا النظام، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية كيفية تأكد الجهة التي تصدره من ذلك.
- Article 9
The article makes the Kingdom's missions abroad register the passports of Saudis who request it, and tasks the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs with determining the cases and procedures of compulsory registration.
تقوم ممثليات المملكة في الخارج بتسجيل جوازات سفر السعوديين الذين يتقدمون إليها بطلب ذلك، كما تتولى وزارة الداخلية و وزارة الخارجية تحديد الحالات التي يكون فيها
- Article 13
The article provides that the Travel Document Law and its Regulations replace the travel document provisions of the Travel Passports Law of 1358 AH, with its instructions and decisions, from the date they take effect.
يحل هذا النظام ولائحته التنفيذية محل الأحكام المتعلقة بوثائق السفر الواردة في نظام الجوازات السفرية الصادر بالأمر السامي رقم (17 / 3 / 2 ) وتاريخ 19 / 1 / 1358
- Article 14
The article requires the Minister of Interior to issue the Implementing Regulations and publish them in the Official Gazette within no more than 16 months of the Law's publication, to apply from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر وزير الداخلية اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام وتنشر في الجريدة الرسمية، وذلك خلال مدة لا تتجاوز ستة عشر شهرا من تاريخ نشر هذا النظام، على أن يعمل بها ابتداء
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.