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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Qatar approved a law last month that will abolish the current exit visa requirement for foreign nationals.
What does the change mean? Employees and their sponsoring employers will no longer need to file for exit visas and seek government permission for employees leaving Qatar; however, the implementation date is yet to be announced by the Qatari government.
Background: On Sept. 6, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior announced that it has approved Law No. (13) for year 2018, which will amend Article 7 of Law No. (21) for year 2015, which regulates the entry, exit and residence of expatriates. Once the law goes into effect, the government will no longer require employers of foreign workers to notify the government and apply for an exit permit, and foreign nationals will be able to leave the country directly without producing a leave notification or permission form from their employer. The law, however, states that a company can still identify critical employees—less than 5 percent of employees in a company—who may still need permission from their employers before departing Qatar.
The government has not yet announced an implementation date, and until the law goes into effect, all males over the age of 18 need to obtain an exit permit before leaving Qatar, regardless of their sponsorship status, and the sponsoring company is required to obtain the exit permits for employees.
Analysis & Comments: The Qatari government’s approval to abolish exit permits has been received as a welcome change that will allow foreign nationals increased freedom of movement and reduce the administrative burden on sponsoring companies. Employees will be able to depart Qatar for business or personal reasons without having to go through the exit visa procedure. Additional information on the implementation date will be provided as it becomes available.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
What is the change? Foreign nationals working in engineering professions are now required to complete a written test and register with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s engineering committee.
What does the change mean? Foreign engineers who fail to register will be in violation of Qatari labor law and could face penalties, including adverse immigration consequences, up to three years in jail and fines of up to 100,000 riyals (about US$27,465).
Background: The rules were adopted to protect against fraudulent work practices and are similar to rules for engineers adopted by other countries in the region, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
BAL Analysis: Foreign engineers should complete testing and registration processes as soon as possible in order to avoid adverse immigration consequences and other penalties. Employers should be sure not to attest work contracts for engineers who have not completed registration processes as required.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our Network Provider located in Qatar. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Egypt has ended visa-free travel to the country for Qatari nationals, the latest move in the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Persian Gulf neighbors and their allies.
What does the change mean? Qatari nationals must apply for a visa before traveling to Egypt.
Background: Tensions have been building between Egypt and Qatar for months. Qatar had been closely scrutinizing Egyptian visa applications even before Egypt and more than a dozen other countries cut ties with the country last month. The countries claim that Doha sponsors terrorism and is a threat to destabilize the region. Qatar says the allegations are baseless. The countries that either cut or downgraded diplomatic ties with Qatar last month include Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, the UAE and Yemen.
BAL Analysis: Qatari nationals planning travel to Egypt should take note of the change and arrange to apply for a visa if necessary. The diplomatic crisis continues to evolve. Many of the countries that cut or downgraded ties have not imposed travel restrictions, but others have. Those planning travel to or from the countries involved in the crisis may wish to check with their airline or BAL ahead of time. BAL is following developments and will alert clients to additional changes.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates has imposed new travel restrictions on holders of Qatari Residence Visas, as the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Persian Gulf neighbors continues.
What does the change mean? Qatari Residence Visas can no longer be used to obtain visas on arrival in the UAE. Qatari Residence Visa holders will be required to obtain a visit visa before traveling to the UAE, though an exception applies for nationals who are eligible to obtain visas on arrival. Travel to the UAE remains off limits for Qatari nationals, with exceptions for those who are married to UAE nationals (Emiratis) or have first-blood relatives (i.e., parents, siblings or children) in the UAE. Special approval for such travelers will be granted at the airport.
Background: More than a dozen countries cut ties with Qatar last month, claiming that Qatar sponsors terrorism and is a threat to destabilize the region. There are no direct flights between Qatar and the UAE, meaning people have to travel through another country, usually Kuwait or Oman, both of which have stayed neutral. The countries that either cut or downgraded diplomatic ties with Qatar last month include Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
BAL Analysis: The Qatari diplomatic crisis continues to evolve, but expatriates planning travel to the UAE should take note of the change. Many of the countries that cut or downgraded ties have not imposed travel restrictions, but others have. Those planning travel to or from the countries involved in the crisis may wish to check with their airline or BAL ahead of time. BAL is following developments and will alert clients to additional changes.
Qatar’s state news agency said Saturday that authorities will allow nationals of countries that have cut ties with Qatar to remain in the country. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates set up hotlines for some families that may be affected by the dispute. Kuwait and other countries tried to mediate, but the number of countries to cut ties with Qatar continued to grow over the weekend.
According to available public statements and international media reports:
Background: As BAL reported last week, the Gulf countries leading this initiative accuse Qatar of supporting terrorist groups including al-Qaida and ISIS. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the accusations “baseless” and said the blockade had “no legitimate justification.” Qatar has maintained a rocky relationship with its GCC co-members for almost two decades, but the rift has widened in recent months over several issues. Qatar criticized the anti-Iran rhetoric following U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia; soon after, the UAE and other GCC countries cut access to media from Doha-based Al Jazeera.
BAL Analysis: The Qatari diplomatic crisis continues to evolve and may change quickly. BAL is following developments and will alert clients to any additional changes or restrictions. Those planning travel to or from the countries involved in the crisis may wish to check with their airline in advance.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney. Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP.
All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? In a signal that Qatar is facing increasing isolation from its neighbors, several countries – Bahrain, Egypt, the temporary Libyan government, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as well as the Maldives and Mauritius – have severed diplomatic and other ties with Doha, claiming that Qatar sponsors terrorism and threatens to destabilize the region.
What does the change mean? Travelers should anticipate disruptions, as Saudi Arabia has closed air travel and its land and sea borders with the small Gulf nation, and the UAE expelled Qatari diplomats and suspended flights on Etihad, FlyDubai and Emirates Airlines to and from Doha. Qatar Airways has announced it will cease all flights to and from Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will likely ban the airline from its airspace. Egypt closed its seaports and airspace to all Qatari travel. Bahrain expelled Qatari diplomats and ordered their diplomats home.
Background: The three Gulf countries leading this initiative accuse Qatar of supporting terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and ISIS. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the accusations “baseless” and said the blockade had “no legitimate justification.”
Qatar has maintained a rocky relationship with its GCC co-members for almost two decades, but the rift has widened in recent months over several issues. Qatar criticized the anti-Iran rhetoric following U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech in Saudi Arabia; soon after the UAE and other GCC countries cut access to media from Doha-based Al Jazeera. Egypt has also accused Doha of meddling in its politics, and last month Qatar began denying visas and visas-on-arrival to Egyptian nationals.
BAL Analysis: The situation is evolving and may change quickly. BAL is following developments and will alert clients to any additional changes or restrictions.
What is the change? Due to worsening political relations between Qatar and Egypt, Qatar is more closely scrutinizing Egyptian nationals for consular visas and visas on arrival.
What does the change mean? Egyptian nationals planning to travel to Qatar should not rely on visas on arrival, as they may be turned away upon entry. They may consider applying for a visa at a Qatari consulate, but should be aware that they face an increased likelihood of rejection.
Background: Relations between the two countries have long simmered due to geopolitical and regional differences, and have intensified in recent years with Qatar attempting to gain influence in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and Egypt accusing the Gulf country of meddling.
BAL Analysis: Egyptian employees should be warned of the risk of being denied entry to Qatar. Employers should consult with their BAL professional for recommendations and contingency planning in individual cases.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Qatar’s civil aviation security authorities have announced that all visitors arriving in Doha must show proof of a round-trip ticket.
What does the change mean? Visitors on business, family or tourist visas must present a round-trip ticket to immigration authorities or their entry will be denied and the airline will be responsible for returning the passenger.
BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals traveling to Qatar for business, family or tourism should be aware of the strict new rule on presenting proof of return travel and the risk of being turned away upon arrival if they fail to present such proof.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Qatar. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Qatar will implement reforms to the kafala system for companies employing foreign nationals beginning Dec. 14.
What does the change mean? The reforms loosen some of the strict control that employers exercise over foreign employees under the current system. The main changes will relax requirements that foreign employees obtain a former employer’s approval when changing jobs, prohibit employers from holding foreign employees’ passports, and allow foreign workers to apply directly with authorities for exit permits to leave the country.
Background: Qatar’s kafala system that controls employment of foreign nationals has been criticized as giving excessive control to employers over employees’ movement and job choices. Under the current system, a foreign employee who wants to change jobs must obtain a non-objection certificate from the former employer. Foreign employees must also get the employer’s approval to leave the country.
Among the key changes:
B·A·L Analysis: The reforms give greater flexibility to foreign national employees, as well as to U.S. defense contractors who are required to work with local sponsors to employ foreign workers. The new rules will relax some of the control that local sponsors currently have over defense contractor personnel. BAL will update clients as additional details clarify areas of ambiguity in the implementation of the new system.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Qatar is imposing stricter requirements on attestation of educational diplomas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work visas and employees with resident permits in senior positions. If a diploma has already been attested to by the Qatar embassy in the country of issuance and the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the additional documents are not required.
What does the change mean? In order to attest diplomas or educational certificates, the foreign national must provide the original diploma, school transcript and an authenticity letter from the university, all attested to by the Qatar embassy in the country of issuance. The documents will then be submitted to the ministry for attestation in Qatar.
Background: In addition to the new documentary requirements, the authenticity letter from the university that issued the degree or certificate must contain specific information, including the degree awarded, type of study, place of study, and dates and duration of the coursework. Degrees or certificates from online programs or distance-learning courses are not accepted for attestation at the ministry, even with the additional documents.
BAL Analysis: Employers and individuals applying for work visas should factor in the additional requirements and note that educational degrees are likely to be rejected without them. BAL can assist in the process.
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About Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP Founded in 1980, Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) provides comprehensive global immigration services from seven offices across the U.S. and from offices in Geneva, London, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. BAL manages global visa matters and customized application approaches for work permits, business visas, and residence permits in more than 100 countries. With a single cost center for worldwide operations, BAL offers centralized management with regional and local support for the complete spectrum of global immigration matters.
Source: Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP