Saudi Arabia: Rights of non-citizens born in Saudi Arabia to non-citizen Saudi-born parents, including residency, employment, education and access to social services; whether a non-citizen can return to Saudi Arabia after the "Return Before" date on their re-entry visa has lapsed (2014-May 2015)
1. Rights of Non-citizens Born in Saudi Arabia to Non-citizen Saudi-born Parents
Information on the rights of non-citizens born in Saudi Arabia to non-citizen Saudi-born parents was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013 notes that in Saudi Arabia, only citizens have access to "education, health care, public housing, courts and judicial procedures, legal services, and other social services" (US 27 Feb. 2014, 26). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR), a Washington-based NGO that promotes institutionalized democratic reforms in Saudi Arabia (CDHR n.d.), similarly stated that only citizens have rights pertaining to access to education, health care, employment and other social services and that it is therefore unlikely that a non-citizen born in Saudi Arabia to non-citizen Saudi-born parents would be able to obtain such rights (ibid. 11 May 2015).
According to the Director, these non-citizens have "residency" (but not citizenship) rights as long as they remain in good standing, and can be "deported like immigrant laborers if the system decides to do so" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
The Director noted that non-citizens born in the country to non-citizen Saudi-born parents can be "employed as non-citizens" (ibid.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, indicated that these non-citizens have the "right of employment in the private sector" (Lawyer 11 May 2015).
In terms of access to health care, the Director stated that these non-citizens do not have "free health care privileges" (CDHR 11 May 2015). Similarly, the lawyer noted that non-citizens have to pay for medical care through [their own] medical insurance coverage (Lawyer 11 May 2015).
With regard to education, the lawyer stated that non-citizens born in Saudi Arabia to non-citizen Saudi-born parents have access to "free education up to ... high school" (ibid.). In contrast, the Director stated that these non-citizens have to pay for their elementary and high school education, even though they are public schools (CDHR 11 May 2015). The same source further noted that after the age of 18, these non-citizens are not permitted to attend schooling in Saudi Arabia beyond the high school level, including college or university, and "must attend [college or university] schooling outside of the country" (ibid.).
According to the lawyer, non-citizens born in Saudi Arabia to non-citizen Saudi-born parents "have the right to live with their parents" (11 May 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
For information on work and residence permits, as well as citizenship rights for children born to Syrians in Saudi Arabia, see Response to Information Request ZZZ104924.
2. Right to Return to Saudi Arabia After the "Return Before" Date on Re-entry Visa Has Lapsed
According to the lawyer, non-citizens "are not allowed to enter the country after the date on [their] re-entry [visa] has lapsed" (11 May 2015). The Director said that "children born in Saudi Arabia to non-Saudis can return on [a] Saudi visa, but can be denied re-entry" (CDHR 11 May 2015). The same source explained that there is "no codified rule of law" in the country with regard to visa issuance and that "if the issuer of the visa outside the country does not want to give re-entry visas, ... there will be no travelling back home even on the date of return" (ibid.). He added that re-entry depends on an individual's "activities outside Saudi Arabia," including their involvement in political activities abroad (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR). 11 May 2015. Correspondence from the Director to the Research Directorate.
_____. N.d. "About CDHR." <http://www.cdhr.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=57> [Accessed 19 May 2015]
Lawyer, Al Khobar. 11 May 2015. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
United States (US). 27 February 2014. Department of State. "Saudi Arabia." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. <http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/222541.pdf> [Accessed 8 Apr. 2015]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information within the time constraints of this Response: Saudi Arabia – Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC.
Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Human Rights First Society; Institute for Gulf Affairs; Middle East Centre, London School of Economics.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; The Guardian; Gulf News; Human Rights Watch; Middle East Online; The National; Saudi Arabia – Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London, Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa, Ministry of Interior, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC.