Doha: After the authorities have stopped sticking resident visa on passports, the identity card has become the proof of identity of expatriates and his valid residency document in the country.
Every expatriate will want to know what happens if he or she misplaces the identity card while abroad.
Ministry of Interior (MoI) in one of its social media posts explained the procedure it follows at the port of entry if an expatriate loses his identity card, while abroad.
But will the immigration department in your home country allow you to board the flight is another question. Keeping a few photo copies of the same at safe custody or scan them and keep it your phone or email will be a good idea for such emergencies.
MoI Post:
The new Residence Permit Card should be carried by the expatriate resident all the time and should be produced at the concerned authorities as and when demanded, especially while leaving the country and coming back to the country.
If someone miss it while coming back to Qatar from abroad or do not carry it while entering the country, in that case, the following procedures will be followed.
1. If the resident returning from abroad to Qatar, didn’t exceed permitted limit of six months to stay outside the country, he will be allowed to enter the country with a return visa issued directly at the port of entry without resorting to employer. His Residence Card will be marked as lost in the immigration system.
2. If the resident has exceeded six months stay outside the country, he will be required to get a return visa processed by his employer/sponsor to enter the country and the resident shall sign an undertaking not to repeat it. His Residence Card will be marked as lost in the immigration system. In this case, if the resident it not getting a return visa processed by his sponsor/employer, he will be referred to the concerned authorities for violating Residence Law No. 4/2009, and accordingly legal measures will be taken.
At any case, he should have a valid passport and validity of his residence permit shouldn’t have expired. We remind all residents on the importance of keeping your Residence Card and Passport especially while entering and exiting the country.
Source: (MoI Facebook post)
The Peninsula
