Saudi Arabia has made changes to the rules of who is eligible to apply for citizenship of the Kingdom.
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz has issued a royal decree that defines who can claim Saudi citizenship.
Under the new rules, the children of Saudi women who are married to expat men can now apply for citizenship after the age of 18.
Saudi citizenship
The decree is an amendment to article No.8 of the country’s citizenship law.
It says: “On the orders of the Prime Minister upon a suggestion by the Minister of Interior” the law shall be replaced “upon a decision by the Minister of Interior”.
Citizenship is passed on automatically to children through Saudi father.
Children born to a Saudi mother and an expat father are able to apply for the citizenship and it may be granted if certain criteria are met.
They should, for example, be born in and live in the Gulf country.
Other stipulations include a clean criminal record and familiarity with the Arabic language.
The new category of eligible applicants can now use Absher – the ministry of interiors online platform – for renewing their passports.
Applicants can update their electronic passports through their accounts on the platform and visit their respective local passport offices without an appointment to have the old passport examined.
The Passports Directorate also urged citizens to take advantage of the electronic services offered by the Absher platform.
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