The Ministry of Interior (MOI) calls on all Qatar’s residents to carry their identity document (ID) at all times as it is the only proof of identity and proof of valid residency.
The MOI highlighted the importance of showing the ID at the request of authorities, and if lost inside or outside of Qatar it must be reported to the General Directorate of Passports and replace lost ID card.
Brigadier Nasser Jabr Al Atiyyah, Assistant Director of the General Directorate of Passports said losing an ID card outside of the country makes it harder for the resident to return unless they issue Return Permit for Resident.
The directorate issued a circular to all concerned authorities worldwide and airlines, that the ID card is the only supported document for Qatari residents after cancelling the residency sticker on the passports, Al Attiyah added.
In addition, the residents must show their ID cards at all airports, platforms and airline desks to be allowed to travel to Qatar, where airline companies may check the validity and information of the cards through MOI’s website online.
He referred to article no.15 of the Law which states “In the event that his (resident) Passport, Travel Document, or Residency Permit is lost or damaged, the Foreign National shall inform the Competent Authorities immediately after he learns that it has been lost or damaged and obtain a copy of that which was lost or damaged.” Brigadier Muhammed Saleh Al Kuwari, head of the Residence Division at General Directorate of Passports, said that if the ID were to be lost inside Qatar, the resident of the representative from his company must head to one of the service centers to fill a lost ID form, submit his passport for verification, pay 200 Qatari Riyals (QR) for the lost report fees and issue a new card.
If the ID is lost outside of Qatar, the resident must file a report in the country where it has been lost, attest the report from the authorities in the foreign country and send a copy to the resident’s representative in Qatar to be able to issue a Return Permit for Resident, which costs 200 QR. The permit is then sent to the resident abroad to be able to enter the country. Once he arrives to the country, the resident must head to the Expatriates Affairs Department to issue a lost report and issue a new card.
All residents should always carry their Residence Permit ID Cards or proof of residence and should produce it whenever asked by authorities concerned, said Brig Nasser Mohamed Eisa al-Sayed, director, Search and Follow-Up Department.
Those who violate the rule will be fined up to QR10,000. Brig al-Sayed also said that the Ministry of Interior can transfer the sponsorship of expatriates, if they proved that they were abused by sponsors as per the Law No 4/2009.
Specifying some of the rules and regulations, the official said that the use of private vehicles as taxis was a clear violation of the traffic law. He said: “Fines will be levied upon the offenders. It may also lead to deportation as the person violates the purpose of residence permit given to him, which is a clear violation of Residence Law No 4/2009.”
He further said that sheltering workers and housemaids who abscond from their employers is a crime. He said: “Violators of this rule will be dealt with strictly to eliminate the issue of absconding. Providing shelter for absconding workers is punishable as per Qatari Penal Code with imprisonment not exceeding two years and fine of maximum QR 10,000 or any one of them.
