Beginning today, Saudi women can travel abroad without ‘permission’ from male guardian

The passport department has already started receiving applications for women to issue or renew passports and to travel outside the kingdom without permission, AFP reported.

The Passports and Civil Affairs departments in all regions of #SaudiArabia have started to execute the Royal Order issues on the 30th of July, by which women above the age of 21 will be able to travel without permission and to exercise more control over family matters. pic.twitter.com/GwYPN5seAy

— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) August 20, 2019

In the new changes unveiled earlier this month, women will now also be able to register their marriage, divorce, or the birth of their children, as well as obtain family documents. Women can register as the co-head of a household with the husband, which will make it easier for them to secure Saudi national identity cards. They can now also be the legal guardian of their children, a position hitherto reserved for men.

The reform comes after high-profile attempts by women to escape alleged guardianship abuse despite a string of reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including a landmark decree last year that overturned the world’s only ban on women drivers.

However, several other rules which are part of the guardianship system remain in force, such as requiring a male guardian’s permission to marry, leave prison, or start a business. Saudi women still cannot bequeath citizenship to their children.