Immigration

Qatar | Grace period for residents and entry visa violators

Summary

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has announced a grace period for violators of the Law No. (21) of 2015, regulating the entry, exit and residence of expatriates.

The detail

In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Interior declared a three-month grace period to facilitate the departure of the residence permit and entry visa holders violators, effective on 9 February 2025.

The grace period applies to individuals who have violated the provision of the Law No. (21) of 2015, related to the residency or have overstayed their approved period in the country under an entry visa.

To avoid violations in general, Qatar residents and visa holders should comply with the following regulations:

• Expired residence permit: if the residence permit is not renewed within 90 days of its expiry, a fine of QAR 10 (approx. USD 3) is imposed per day.
• Cancelled Residence permit: once a residence permit is cancelled, the individual will have 30 days to leave the country. Overstaying beyond the 30-day period will result in a fine of QAR 10 (approx. USD 3) per day.
• Overstaying on a work entry visa: a fine of QAR 200 (approx. USD 55) per day is imposed for each day overstaying beyond the entry visa expiration date.

What this means

Those who have overstayed their visas in Qatar, will have until 8 May to complete their departure procedure within the specified three month grace period. The Ministry stated that violators can proceed to Hamad International Airport for departure or approach the Search and Follow-up Department, located at Salwa Road.

It is essential for both the employers and expatriates to adhere to the Government timelines to avoid penalties and ensure compliance with the Immigration residency and visa regulations.

How we can help

Our team has extensive knowledge and expertise navigating Qatar’s Immigration landscape. We can support your team in navigating Qatar’s rules and regulations to ensure compliance and prevent any violations.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner

Antoine Salloum
Senior Manager, Qatar Immigration Lead

Marilyn Serrao
Senior Associate, Middle East Immigration

Contact us on the following address  –  me-immigration@vialto.com

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