Article 6 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
المادة 6 من نظام وثائق السفر
The article provides that no one may leave without a valid document and through the designated ports, and that no travel ban may be imposed except by court judgment or a decision of the Minister of Interior or the head of State Security under conditions, with notice within a week.
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- لا تجوز مغادرة المملكة إلا لمن يحمل وثيقة سفر سارية المفعول، كما لا تجوز مغادرة المملكة أو الدخول إليها إلا من المنافذ التي يحددها وزير الداخلية، وتبين اللائحة التنفيذية إجراءات الدخول والمغادرة.
2- لا يجوز المنع من السفر إلا بحكم قضائي أو بقرار يصدره وزير الداخلية أو رئيس أمن الدولة - بحسب الأحوال - ولأسباب محددة تتعلق بالأمن ولمدة معلومة، وفي كلتا الحالتين يبلغ الممنوع من السفر في فترة لا تتجاوز أسبوعا من تاريخ صدور الحكم أو القرار بمنعه من السفر.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article has two important paragraphs:
Paragraph 1: conditions for leaving and entering
- No one may leave the Kingdom except a person who holds a valid travel document.
- Leaving or entering is permitted only through the ports the Minister of Interior determines.
- The Implementing Regulations set out the procedures for entry and departure.
Paragraph 2: rules for travel bans
- A person may be banned from travel only in one of two ways: a court judgment, or a decision issued by the Minister of Interior or the head of State Security, as the case may be.
- The decision must be for specified reasons related to security and for a known period.
- In both cases, the person banned from travel is notified within a period not exceeding one week from the date the judgment or decision is issued.
The default is therefore freedom to travel for a person holding a valid document, and a ban is an exception confined to these two ways. A later amendment added to paragraph 2 the phrase "or the head of State Security, as the case may be, and for specified reasons" after the words "the Minister of Interior".
Article 7 follows, under which the Minister of Interior determines the countries to which travel is not permitted. Anyone who has been banned from travel and wants to know how to object can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative or criminal cases, depending on the reason for the ban.
Practical example
A decision was issued banning a person from travel for specified reasons related to security and for a known period. He must be notified of this decision within a period not exceeding one week from the date it was issued, under the second paragraph of the article.
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 6 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
Who has the power to ban a citizen from travel?
A person may be banned from travel only by a court judgment or by a decision issued by the Minister of Interior or the head of State Security, as the case may be, for specified reasons related to security and for a known period.
Must a person banned from travel be notified?
Yes. He is notified within a period not exceeding one week from the date the judgment or decision is issued.
May one travel with an expired passport?
No. One may not leave the Kingdom except with a valid travel document.
May one leave through any port?
No. Leaving or entering is permitted only through the ports the Minister of Interior determines.
Amendment history
Amendment
Official amendment text (Arabic)
الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة)
إضافة عبارة "أو رئيس أمن الدولة - بحسب الأحوال - ولأسباب محددة" بعد عبارة "وزير الداخلية".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
1- لا تجوز مغادرة المملكة إلا لمن يحمل وثيقة سفر سارية المفعول، كما لا تجوز مغادرة المملكة أو الدخول إليها إلا من المنافذ التي يحددها وزير الداخلية، وتبين اللائحة التنفيذية إجراءات الدخول والمغادرة.
2- لا يجوز المنع من السفر إلا بحكم قضائي أو بقرار يصدره وزير الداخلية تتعلق بالأمن ولمدة معلومة، وفي كلتا الحالتين يبلغ الممنوع من السفر في فترة لا تتجاوز أسبوعا من تاريخ صدور الحكم أو القرار بمنعه من السفر.
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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.