Article 8 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
المادة 8 من نظام وثائق السفر
The article requires reporting the loss or damage of a passport or laissez-passer, inside or outside the Kingdom, within a week of becoming aware of it; the document is then suspended, and the Regulations set the bodies and replacement procedures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتم الإبلاغ عن فقدان جواز السفر و تذكرة المرور أو تلفهما داخل المملكة أو خارجها خلال مدة لا تتجاوز أسبوعا من تاريخ العلم بالفقد أو التلف، ويوقف العمل بهما نتيجة ذلك، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية الجهات التي يتم إبلاغها وإجراءات منح بدل عن المفقود أو التالف .
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 8 explained in plain English
This article regulates what must be done when a travel document is lost or damaged:
- The documents covered: the passport and the laissez-passer.
- The cases: loss or damage, inside or outside the Kingdom.
- The reporting deadline: not exceeding one week from the date of becoming aware of the loss or damage, not from the date it occurred.
- The effect: the passport or laissez-passer is suspended as a result of the report.
- The details: the Implementing Regulations determine the bodies to which the report is made and the procedures for granting a replacement for the lost or damaged document.
The period is short, and it runs from the time the person becomes aware of the loss or damage. Reporting results in the suspension of the document, and its holder obtains a replacement under the procedures the Regulations determine.
Article 9 follows, under which the Kingdom's missions abroad register the passports of Saudis who request it and the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs determine the cases of compulsory registration. Before it comes Article 7 on the countries to which travel is not permitted.
Anyone who is late in reporting or faces a difficulty obtaining a replacement can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
Sara was on a tourist trip outside the Kingdom and discovered one evening that her passport had been stolen. She must report its loss, within a period not exceeding one week of becoming aware of it, to the body the Regulations determine, after which the passport is suspended and she follows the replacement procedures.
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 8 of the Saudi Travel Document Law
How long do I have to report a lost Saudi passport?
Within a period not exceeding one week from the date of becoming aware of the loss or damage.
Does the rule cover losing a passport outside the Kingdom?
Yes. The loss or damage of a passport or laissez-passer must be reported inside or outside the Kingdom.
What happens to the passport after it is reported lost?
It is suspended as a result of the report, and the Regulations determine the procedures for granting a replacement.
To whom do I report a lost passport?
The Implementing Regulations determine the bodies to which the report is made.
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.