Article 2 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
المادة 2 من نظام وثائق السفر
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 سفر، أو تذكرة مرور بصفة مؤقتة لأي شخص لا يحمل الجنسية العربية السعودية، ليستخدمه في سفره خارج المملكة والعودة إليها، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية حالات إصدارهما وسحبهما.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article, in its current text as amended by Royal Decree No. (M/134) dated 27/11/1440 AH, has two paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: the passport for a Saudi
- A passport is granted to anyone who submits a request for it from among holders of Saudi Arabian nationality.
- This is in accordance with what the Implementing Regulations determine, so the detailed procedures and requirements are found in the Regulations.
The wording "to anyone who submits a request" ties obtaining the passport to the national's submitting a request, subject to what the Regulations determine.
Paragraph 2: a temporary document for a non-Saudi
- The Minister of Interior may, when necessary, issue a passport or laissez-passer temporarily to any person who does not hold Saudi nationality.
- The purpose is for him to use it for traveling outside the Kingdom and returning to it.
- The Implementing Regulations determine the cases of their issue and withdrawal.
This is a discretionary power of the Minister ("the Minister of Interior, when necessary"), and not a right of every non-Saudi. The article connects with Article 1, which provides that the competent authority in the Ministry of Interior and the Kingdom's missions abroad issue the passport and laissez-passer. Anyone whose request is refused or whose document is withdrawn can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
A young Saudi man in Riyadh wants to obtain a passport for the first time. He submits his request as the Implementing Regulations determine, since the article grants the passport to anyone who requests it from among holders of Saudi nationality.
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 2 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
Is every Saudi entitled to obtain a passport?
The article provides for granting a passport to anyone who submits a request from among holders of Saudi nationality, in accordance with what the Implementing Regulations determine.
Can a non-Saudi obtain a Saudi passport?
The Minister of Interior may, when necessary, issue a passport or laissez-passer temporarily to a non-Saudi for use in traveling outside the Kingdom and returning to it.
Who determines the cases of withdrawing the temporary passport?
The Implementing Regulations determine the cases of issuing and withdrawing the temporary passport or laissez-passer.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/134 — 27/11/1440 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
عُدلت هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 134) وتاريخ 27 / 11 / 1440هـ ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:
"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 سفر، أو تذكرة مرور بصفة مؤقتة لأي شخص لا يحمل الجنسية العربية السعودية، ليستخدمه في سفره خارج المملكة والعودة إليها، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية حالات إصدارهما وسحبهما".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يعطى جواز السفر لطالبه من السعوديين، ولوزير الداخلية عند الاقتضاء إصدار جواز سفر أو تذكرة مرور بصفة مؤقتة لأي شخص لا يتمتع بالجنسية العربية السعودية ليستخدمه في سفره خارج المملكة والعودة إليها، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية حالات إصدارهما وسحبهما، وإضافة الزوجة والأولاد إلى أي منهما.
More articles on Types of Travel Documents and Their Issuance
- Article 1
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.
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
- 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.