JEDDAH, 17 May 2005 — The Interior Ministry’s Agency for Civil Affairs in Riyadh will start accepting citizenship applications from May 23, an official statement said. Aspirants holding doctorates will get preferential treatment, it said.
“Applications of those holding doctorates in medicine, engineering and other sciences will be received from May 23 to June 8,” the statement said. Applicants must have stayed in the Kingdom for not less than 10 years. They must accumulate a minimum of 23 points to qualify in the first stage of the process. Those with doctorates get 13 points in addition to 10 points for 10-year continuous stay.
Applications of those holding master degrees and have family connections with Saudis will be accepted from June 11 to 29, provided they have accumulated 23 points.
The date for submitting applications by bachelor degree holders is from July 2 to 20, the agency said, adding that such candidates should have obtained at least eight points from family relationship.
Qualified women can submit their applications through legal agents conforming to the same principles. The agency said it would not accept reapplications from those candidates whose applications were rejected earlier unless they acquire at least eight points.
The agency advised all prospective citizenship seekers to make sure they obtained minimum 23 points from a total of 33. Article 8 of the Citizenship Law’s executive bylaw has explained how these points are calculated.
“Applicants should provide correct information in the specified form and present the applications in person or through legal agents,” the statement said. Applications sent by mail will not be accepted.
“Those who obtained the minimum required points will be given a ticket to follow up their applications after one month to know whether it was accepted or sent to the nearest civil affairs office for further verification,” the agency said. Applicants presenting false information would be punished under the Anti-Forgery Law, it warned.
