MOI extends grace period for expats to correct their legal status

Feb 24, 2022

The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior has issued a reminder on the extension of the grace period till 31^st March 2022 for correcting the status of expatriates violating the Law No. 21/2015 regulating the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence.

This is a part of the Ministry of Interior's keenness to consider the interested of business owners and expatriate workers to benefit from the 50% reduction in the violation settlement amount.

Therefore, all violating expatriates or employers shall submit a request for settlement of violations of the abovementioned law to the Search and Follow-up Department, or to any of the following service centers in Umm Salal, Al Rayyan, Mesaimeer, Al Wakra and Umm Sunaim that receive ir from one employer to another, or approach any requests for transferf of the service centers in Al Shamal, Al Khor, Al Daayen, Umm Salal. Other centers at the The Pearl, Onaiza, Soug Waqif, Al Rayyan, Umm Sunaim, Al Shahaniya, Mesaimeer, Al Wakra and Dukhan receive requests for settlement and issuance and renewal of residency under the existing employer.

Categories that can benefit from this grace period include:

Expatriates who violated the residency rules (companies)
Expartriates who violated the work visa rules

Accordingly, please visit the above-mentioned department or centers, during the said period. from 1.00PM until 6.00PM. The Ministry of Interior urges the employers and expatriates to adhere to this time frame to benefit from the settlement to legalize their status and avoid legal procedures against them for not legitimizing their status.

It is requested to follow SOP's and maintain social distancing when you visit.