Residence Permit procedures must be completed within 30 days of entry into the country

26 February 2024 – The Ministry of Interior (MoI) in Qatar announced on 6 February 2024 that all expat employees arriving in Qatar on their work visas must, alongside their employers, complete the Residence Permit (RP) procedures within 30 days of their arrival. The revised timeline applies to the employers and expat employees of both freezones and mainland based entities in Qatar.

Previously, the employer and the expat employee had 90 days to complete the RP procedures from the date of arrival in the country. The in-country RP procedures include the completion of medical and biometrics tests, and the legalization of a local employment contract for mainland entities before an RP card (Qatari ID) can be issued.

Failure to complete the RP procedures within 30 days of arrival in the country violates the law and may result in a fine of QAR 10,000.

Deloitte’s view

The decision taken by the MoI to reduce the timeline to complete the post-arrival RP procedures within 30 days reaffirms the authorities' stance on expatriates abiding by the laws and regulations of the country and implemented this change to ensure compliance.

To mitigate the risk of non-compliance and potential fines, employers and employees must ensure all required documentation is available and appropriately legalized before the individual enters the country, facilitating the completion of the RP procedures within the new 30-day timeline.

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