Illegal residents can avail amnesty by Dec 31 without any legal action: Official

Ashraf Siddiqui

Doha

Illegal residents can avail the amnesty offered till December 31, 2021, without any legal action against them, a Ministry of Interior (MoI) official has said.Talking to media persons, Capt. Khalil Taher AlTayri, Officer at the Search and Follow-Up Department of the Ministry of Interior, the grace period for correcting the status of expatriates who have violated the provisions of Law No 21 of 2015 that regulates the entry, exit and residence of expatriates is until December 31, 2021. 

He clarified that the amnesty is only for those violators present in the country only.

He said those illegal residents who intend to leave the country without any legal action should report along with their passport and open flight ticket at the Main Reception of Follow-Up and Search Department, Ministry of Interior between 01 PM to 6 PM from Sunday to Thursday to avail the amnesty.  No legal action will be taken against them and they will travel like any other normal passenger, he added. Moreover, they will be entitled to come back to Qatar on another job visa.

Violators leaving the country should be adhering to the COVID–19 precautionary measures followed in the country.

Amnesty covers the following : 

1- An expatriate who stays in the country violating the law not renewing the residence permit and has exceeded a period of 90 days from the validity date, and an absconding complaint was not filed against him/her by the employer. 

2- An Expatriate who stays in the country violating the law and an absconding complaint (Leaving the work – violation of the purpose) has been filed against him/her by the employer, but 30 days have not completed from the date of filing the complaint.  

3- Family Residence Permits and Visitors who have violated the period of stay. After paying the fine of over stay can leave and may return back to Qatar also without any ban.

4- An expatriate who have violated the law and an absconding complaint (leaving the work – violation of the purpose) has been filed against him by his employer and more than 30 days have been passed from the date of complaint filing.  After paying the fine can leave the country and can come back on another job visa.

5- An expatriate whose residence permit has been cancelled and has passed 90 days from its cancellation. The violator to pay the fine before leaving the country and can come back on another job visa.

Capt. Khalil Taher AlTayri said in all cases, the deportation of the minors under the age of 18 will be without ban to return to Qatar, regardless of their violation of the provisions of the law, and they are exempted from any legal consequences.

He said on arrival at the Main Reception of Search and Follow-Up Department, the Ministry of Interior along with the open ticket and passport, the concerned staff will verify the data and complete all the necessary procedures. Flight can be reserved from the facilities available at the premises, a travel permit will be issued to the violating person and handed it over to him/her to travel like any normal passenger. The procedure takes three minutes only.

Capt. Mohammad Ali Rashid from Unified Services Department gave a briefing on those violators of Law No. 21 of 2015 who wishes to stay in Qatar. He said the violators are required to report to any of the following Unified Services Department Centers: 1. Umm Sulal Services Center; 2. Umm Sunaim Services Center; 3. Musaimeer Services Center; 4.  Al Wakra Services Center; and 5. Al Rayyan Services Center.

1- Residence Permit holders who have passed 90 days from the expiry date of the residence permit and wish to transfer to another employer. 

2- Residence Permit holders against whom a ‘leaving work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to move to another employer. 

3- Holders of work visas who have exceeded 90 days from entering the country without approaching to authorities issuing a residence permit and wish to stay in the country after correcting their status, provided that the approval should be obtained from the Labor Department for the same nationality on the new recruiter VP. 

4- Holders of work visas against whom ‘Leaving Work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to stay in the country after correcting their status, provided that the approval should be obtained from the Labor Department for the same nationality on the new recruiter VP).