An official said the earlier 30-day grace period has been cut to 14 days.
Expats whose residence permits are cancelled in Qatar will now be required to leave the country within 14 days of the cancellation date, or face financial penalties, a Ministry of Interior official has said.
Captain Ali Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari of the Airport Passports Department said the post-cancellation grace period has been reduced from 30 days to two weeks, according to an official webinar organised by the ministry’s Public Relations Department.
“Previously it was 30 days, but it is now two weeks,” Al Kuwari was quoted as saying. He added that anyone staying beyond the 14-day grace period would be fined QR10 per day of overstay.
The official also advised visitors to carefully verify the validity and permitted duration of stay shown on the visa stamp in their passports.
He warned that overstaying a visit visa would incur a penalty of QR200 per day. Al Kuwari further urged travellers to use the Metrash mobile application before travelling to check their status, including any pending traffic fines, overstay charges, or other dues that could impact travel procedures.
He also encouraged passengers to use the electronic gate system at Hamad International Airport to speed up immigration procedures and reduce waiting times. The Airport Passports Department currently operates 76 e-gates across arrival and departure terminals.
He added that residents who need to transfer a residence permit to a new passport can complete the process via the Metrash application.
On newborn procedures, Al Kuwari said residents must report births to the passport authorities and obtain the required residency documents. He explained that a child born in Qatar must be placed under the father’s sponsorship after securing the necessary paperwork from the relevant embassy.
He further stated that without a valid residence permit, a newborn would not be allowed to re-enter Qatar after leaving the country.
