Doha, Qatar: Employers are required to complete visa procedures for expatriates within 30 days of their arrival in Qatar.
In a recent social media post, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) reminded both employers and expatriates of their responsibility to finalize residence or visit permit procedures within the specified timeframe. Failure to comply can result in judicial penalties, including fines of up to QR 10,000.
"According to Article (10) of Law No. 21 of 2015, regulating the entry, exit, and residence of expatriates (Paragraph 1), the employer must ensure that the expatriate contacts the competent authorities within 30 days from the date of entry to complete the procedures for obtaining a residence or visit permit," the MOI stated. The expatriate is also obliged to cooperate in completing these procedures.
The MOI also mentioned that, as per Article (42), it is possible to reconcile violations by paying QR10 for each day of delay, up to a maximum of QR6,000, as stipulated by the law.