Article 5 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
المادة 5 من نظام وثائق السفر
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article sets a clear rule: only one valid passport per person.
- What is prohibited: any person keeping more than one valid passport.
- Scope of the provision: passports issued under this Law, so the text does not deal with passports that are not issued under it.
- Verification: the Implementing Regulations determine how the issuing body makes sure of this.
Note that the restriction is tied to the passport being valid; the text prevents holding two valid passports together, and does not speak about expired passports.
In practice, a person who wants to obtain a new passport while he still has a valid one needs to know what the Regulations provide in this regard.
This article comes after Article 4, which refers to the Regulations the granting of a passport and travel permit to persons under custody and minors whose guardian has died, and before Article 6, which prevents leaving the Kingdom except with a valid travel document and through the ports the Minister of Interior determines.
Anyone with a particular situation concerning multiple passports can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Khaled lost his passport, then obtained a replacement, and after a while found the old one. Under this article he may not keep more than one valid passport, so he should find out the status of the old passport as the laws and regulations determine.
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 5 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
May I hold two valid Saudi passports?
No. The article prevents any person from keeping more than one valid passport issued under this Law.
How does the Passports Department check that there is no other passport?
The article refers how this is checked to the Implementing Regulations.
Does the ban cover an expired passport?
The text speaks about a valid passport, so the ban concerns keeping more than one valid passport.
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 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 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.