Law No. (18) of 1963 on personal ID cards

Law No. (18) of 1963

on personal ID cards

We, Idriss I, King of Libya:

The Senate and House of Representatives has adopted, approved, and issued the following text:

Article (1)

Every person resident in the Kingdom of Libya over 16 years of age shall obtain a personal ID card according to the provisions of the law, with the following exceptions:

1. Foreigners subject to the provisions of Law No. (17) of 1962 on the entry and residence of foreigners in Libya and their exit therefrom, when they possess an ID under Article (12) thereof.
2. Non-working women.

Persons mentioned in Paragraphs (a) and (b) may obtain a person ID card at their request.

Article (2)

The Minister of Interior shall issue a decision determining the form of the personal ID, its period of validity, the information to be recorded therein, the mechanisms for verification of their veracity, and the issuing body therefor.

The Minister may impose a fee for obtaining or renewing the ID, provided that it does not exceed 250 Libyan pounds. This fee shall not be imposed within the first three years from when this law enters into force.

Article (3)

The Minister of Interior shall issue a decision determining the application form for obtaining and renewing the personal ID card, the manner of submission, the body to which the same shall be submitted, and the certificates and documents to be attached thereto. The applicant shall be exempt from paying the stamp fee and any other fee prescribed for obtaining the said certificates and documents, or copies thereof.

Article (4)

The ID holder shall notify the issuing body of any change to the information contained therein within three months at most from the date that such change occurs. He shall also attach the IDs to the notice. If the change involves place of residence, the notice mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be submitted to the body in whose jurisdiction the new residence is located.

Article (5)

In the event of loss of destruction of the ID, the ID holder shall report the same to the issuing body within 30 days at most from the date of loss or destruction. He shall also request another ID from the same body or from the body in whose jurisdiction his place of residence is located.

Article (6)

Personal IDs issued in accordance with this law shall be deemed proof of the validity of the information contained therein, and government or non-governmental bodies may not refuse to accept them as proof of identity of their holder.

Article (7)

The ID holder shall present the ID to competent security officials upon their request. If they see fit to retain the ID, they must provide a receipt to the ID holder.

Article (8)

Ministries, government agencies, public or private bodies, and individuals may not use or retain in their service any person as an employee or worker unless he possesses a personal ID in accordance with the provisions of this law.

Article (9)

Managers of hotels and similar locations furnished to accommodate the public shall record in their records the information contained on the ID of anyone who stays at such location.

Article (10)

Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated by the Penal Code or any other law, the director of private bodies and employees and managers of hotels who commit a violation of Articles (8) and (9) of this law shall be punished by a fine not exceeding 20 Libyan pounds, and multiple fines shall be imposed for each person who commits the violation.

Violation of the other provisions of this law and the decisions issued pursuant thereto shall be punished by detention for a period not exceeding one month and a fine not exceeding 10 Libyan pounds, or either of the two penalties.

Article (11)

The provisions of this law shall only apply to the regions for which the Minister of Interior issued a decision stipulating the date of entry into force of the law for each region and the necessary period for implementation thereof.

Article (12)

Personal IDs issued under the provisions of provincial laws shall remain in force until they expire. In the renewal thereof, the provisions set forth in this law and the regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be followed.

The personal ID laws issued prior to the entry into force of this law shall be repealed.

Article (13)

The Minister of Interior shall implement the provisions of this law, issue the decisions necessary for the implementation thereof, and it shall enter into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

By the order of the King

Mohieddin Fakini

Prime Minister

Wanis al-Qaddafi

Minister of Foreign Affairs