Qatar issues urgent instructions to expatriates, penalties if not followed

Expatriates whose residence permits are cancelled in Qatar must leave the country within 14 days from the date of cancellation. Otherwise, they will face fines, an official from the country's Ministry of Interior said.

Speaking at a webinar on safe travel organized by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior, Captain Ali Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari, an official from the Airport Passport Department, said that the grace period after the cancellation of the residence permit has been reduced from 30 days to two weeks.

According to Al Kuwari, "Earlier it was 30 days, but now it is two weeks." He also said that if the person concerned stays in the country beyond the stipulated 14-day period, he will have to pay a fine of 10 Qatari riyals per day.

At the time, he urged visitors to carefully check the validity of the visa and the period of stay mentioned in the visa stamp attached to their passports. Al Quwari noted that staying beyond the visit visa’s expiry date will result in a fine of 200 Qatari riyals per day.

Al Quwari also advised travelers to check their status through the Metrash mobile application before traveling. He said this includes checking for outstanding traffic fines, overstay fines, or other arrears that could affect the travel process.

Al Quwari added that residents who wish to transfer their residence permit to a new passport can complete the process through the Metrash app.

Source: Gulf News