MoI calls on community leaders as grace period ends this month

The Ministry of Interior (MoI), while urging expatriates to make use of the grace period, has asked leaders of various communities to encourage their members to benefit from the scheme.

Addressing a press conference Tuesday, officers from the Search and Follow Up Department (SFD) and Unified Services Department said the ministry has ensured the provision of all facilities to help companies and expatriate workers legalise the latter's stay in the country, adding that there is a 50% reduction in the violation settlement amount.“Beneficiaries can rectify a violation by transferring from one employer to another. They can approach one of the five MoI service centres at Umm Sulal, Umm Sunaim, Mesaimeer, Al Wakra and Al Rayyan for this. A violation can also be rectified by paying the settlement amount and getting the residence permit issued/renewed under the existing employer. Beneficiaries can go to the Al Shamal, Al Khor, Al Daayen, Umm Salal, The Pearl-Qatar, Onaiza, Souq Waqif, Rayyan, Umm Sunaim, Al Sheehaniya, Mesaimeer and Al Wakra service centres for this,” said Capt Mohamed al-Rashid, officer from the Unified Services Department. The grace period started on October 10 in accordance with Article 45 of the law regulating the entry, exit, and residence of expatriates. It will come to an end on March 31. Capt Kamal Tahir al-Tayri from the Search and Follow Up Department said the grace period is an opportunity for correcting the legal status of violators by allowing them to change the employer in accordance with the regulations, and exempting them from the fines imposed on them. “The grace period exempts violating expatriates who wish to leave the country from legal responsibility without holding them accountable for the violations,” he said. He reiterated that the violator will not be arrested while approaching the service centres or the SFD. There will be no legal consequence or action against those who avail of the grace period,” he added. Residence Permit (RP) holders who have passed 90 days since the RP expiry date and wish to move to another employer, and RP holders against whom a ‘Leaving Work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to move to another employer, can approach the SFD. Work visa holders who have exceeded 90 days since entering Qatar without getting an RP and wish to correct their status to stay in the country, as well as work visa holders against whom a ‘Leaving Work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to correct their status to stay in the country, can avail the service at SFD. The Search and Follow Up Department ensures the departure of applicants who accepted the legal reconciliation amount. Those looking to benefit from the grace period can approach MoI service centres from 1pm to 6pm.