RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has multiplied the penalties for those who violate its Travel Document Law, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from well-informed sources. According to the amendments to the Travel Document Law, approved recently by the Council of Ministers, the fine for neglecting travel documents has been raised from SR5000 to SR100,000. The maximum travel ban period has also been raised to five years from three years. The new penalties will include those who commit violations such as adding, deleting or changing information in passports or laissez-passer tickets (a document granting unrestricted access or movement to its holder), or deliberately destroy or distort passport and other travel document or change personal photos in the document. The violators also include those who commit negligence that lead to the loss of a passport or a laissez-passer ticket, in addition to joining hands with others who deliberately contributed to the use of passport illegally or involve in the sale of either passport or laissez-passer ticket. The penalties will also be slapped on those who attempt to use a passport or a laissez-passer ticket belonging to a third party, as well as on those who leave the Kingdom or enter it without a travel document or through ports other than the specified ones. There will be exemptions for those who have acceptable excuses. The penalties will be imposed against those who violate any of the provisions of the Travel Documents Law and its executive regulations. According to the amended Travel Law, minister of interior will determine the countries to which travel is not allowed, and the departments under the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) would take the appropriate action against the violators. The Law also included all the previous penalties for the violators of the Travel Document Law or its executive regulations.
