Saudi Arabian nationality law
| Saudi Arabian Citizenship Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of Saudi Arabia | |
| An Act relating to Saudi Arabian citizenship | |
| Enacted by | Government of Saudi Arabia |
| Status: Current legislation | |
Saudi nationality law, officially called the Saudi Arabian Citizenship System, is the law that determines who is a Saudi citizen. Foreigners are rarely given citizenship.[1]
Original Saudis
Anyone who was born or resided on Saudi Arabian land from 1332 Hijra – 1914 A.D. until 22/3/1345 Hijra provided that they did not acquire a foreign citizenship prior to this date.
By birth
A child born in Saudi Arabia to a non-Saudi father and a Saudi mother has right to Saudi citizenship upon reaching the age of majority if they fulfill the following:
- Has permanent residency
- Fluent in Arabic.
Children born to unknown parents in Saudi Arabia automatically get citizenship until the identities of the parents are known. Children born to foreigners do not have right to citizenship, but may be given nationality if they have a Saudi father.
By descent
Children born to a Saudi father or an unknown or stateless father and Saudi mother irrespective of the place of birth is a Saudi citizen by descent.
By marriage
A foreign woman who marries a Saudi man has right to citizenship provided that she gives up her foreign citizenship. Saudi women who give up citizenship upon marriage to a foreign husband (the marriage should complete 10 years and should have 3 children) has the right to take up Saudi citizenship if she divorces or returns to Saudi Arabia.
By naturalization
A foreigner may apply for citizenship if they fulfill the following:
- Above the age of maturity.
- Generally mentally competent.
- Legal permanent residence for 10 years continuously.
- Have legal ways of earning a living.
- Considered generally moral.
- Does not have a criminal record.
- Read, Write and speak fluent Arabic language.
- Conversion to Islam.
The application is sent to the prime minister, who is advised by the Ministry of Interior. They may or may not reject the application with no given reason. Wives of naturalized citizens have the right to Saudi citizenship, their minor children automatically become Saudis if living in the country. If the children are not living in the country, they remain non-Saudis and have right to take up Saudi nationality upon reaching age of majority, if the naturalized male citizen has female relatives who have the male citizen as their guardian, they will also have right to citizenship.
Loss of citizenship
Loss of Saudi citizenship may occur due to one of the following reasons:
- Works for another country's military.
- Works for another country's government.
Saudi citizens cannot give up their citizenship without permission; however, the government can revoke someone's nationality if the person is a terrorist threat, as in the case of Osama bin Laden.[2]
Dual nationality
Saudis are not permitted to acquire any foreign citizenship without the permission of the Prime Minister. If a Saudi Citizen acquired a foreign Citizenship without this permission, they will be considered Saudi unless the Saudi Government revokes their Saudi Citizenship according to the terms of Article 13: takes up foreign Citizenship without permission of the Prime Minister; works for another country's military; works for the benefit of a foreign Government during wartime with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; works for a foreign Government or International Organisation despite the Saudi Government's order for them to quit.[3]
Travel freedom
In 2018, Saudi citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 74 countries and territories, ranking the Saudi passport 60th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index.
References
- ↑ "Saudi Arabian Citizenship System:" (PDF). Refworld. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ↑ Ackman, Dan (14 September 2001). "The Cost Of Being Osama Bin Laden". Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ↑ "Saudi Nationality System" (PDF).
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1 British Overseas Territories.
2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia, therefore Russia as a whole is included as a European country here. 4 Turkey is a transcontinental country in the Middle East and Southeast Europe. Has a small part of its territory (3%) in Southeast Europe called Turkish Thrace. 5 Azerbaijan and Georgia (Abkhazia; South Ossetia) are transcontinental countries. Both have a small part of their territories in the European part of the Caucasus. 6 Kazakhstan is a transcontinental country. Has a small part of its territories located west of the Urals in Eastern Europe. 7 Armenia (Artsakh) and Cyprus (Northern Cyprus) are entirely in Southwest Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe. 8 Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa and the Middle East. Has a small part of its territory in the Middle East called Sinai Peninsula. 9 Partially recognized.
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