28,476 seek MoI 'grace period' benefits so far

*Out of the total applicants, 8,227 have left the country after completing the procedures whereas more than 6,000 continue to stay in Qatar after correcting their residence status.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has received a total of 28,476 applications under the grace period window from October 10, 2021 until Tuesday (March 1, 2022) it was announced.With the grace period for expatriates to correct their residency status set to end on March 31, the MoI continues to receive applications, a press conference at the Search and Follow Up Department (SFD) was told.Out of the total applicants, 8,227 have left the country after completing the procedures whereas more than 6,000 continue to stay in Qatar after correcting their residence status. Capt Mohamed al-Rashid, an officer from the Unified Services Department, said the MoI service centres continue to receive applications while helping those concerned legalise their stay in Qatar. “Those beneficiaries allowed to leave the country were exempted from all consequences of legal responsibility,” he explained.Capt Kamal Tahir al-Tairi, another officer at the SFD, said the department ensures departure of the applicants and they can return to Qatar if they leave the country upon accepting the legally prescribed reconciliation. “In addition, an expatriate whose residence permit has been cancelled and has passed 90 days from its cancellation can also return to Qatar if he leaves the country after accepting the legally prescribed reconciliation. In all cases, the deportation of minors will be without a 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.The beneficiaries, who wanted to stay in Qatar, have to correct the violation by transferring sponsorship from one employer to another or by paying the settlement amount, issuance and renewal of residence permit under the current employer. These procedures are done at various MoI service centres across the country.