Saudi women submit first passport applications
Authorities begin implementing landmark reform allowing women to travel without permission
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday began implementing a landmark reform allowing women over the age of 21 to receive passports and travel abroad without permission, authorities said.
The reform was announced earlier in August.
“The passport department has started receiving applications for women aged 21 and above to issue or renew passports and to travel outside the kingdom without permission,” the department said on Twitter.
Women in the kingdom have long required permission from males for these tasks.
The reform follows a string of reforms by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including a landmark decree last year that overturned the ban on women drivers.
In other changes unveiled earlier this month, Saudi women were also granted the right to officially register childbirth, marriage or divorce and to be recognised as a guardian to children who are minors — same as men.