The Ministry of Interior yesterday announced a three-month amnesty for illegal residents to leave the country without facing legal consequences.
Amnesty will be in force from September 1 to December 1, the ministry said on its Twitter account.
“The Ministry of Interior announces the grace period for those residing in the country, violating the provisions of the law regulating the entry, exit and residency of expatriates, in order to exit from the country without the legal consequences, in accordance with the law (No. 4 of 2009),” said the statement.
All those staying in the country illegally have been asked to approach the Search and Follow Up Department to complete the exit procedures, from September 1 to December 1.
The ministry said the move aims at easing exit procedures and granting amnesty to offenders from the consequences of violating the law.
Legal circles said this was the first amnesty announced in Qatar since the enforcement of Law No. 4 of 2009, regulating entry, exit and residency of expatriates.
The last amnesty was declared in 2004 for three months from March 21 and extended for another month and ended on July 21. About 10,000 expatriates sought amnesty, majority of whom were Nepalese, Indians and Pakistanis.
Abdelaal A Khalil, a legal consultant, told The Peninsula yesterday that the current amnesty comes ahead of the enforcement of the new law regulating entry, exit and residency of expatriates.
The law (No. 4 of 2009) states that any expatriate violating its provisions related to the purpose of his entry or residency must leave the country in 90 days. It stipulates imprisonment of up to three years and fines of up to QR50,000 or both for violation.
In case of repeat violation, the punishment will be jail for not less than 15 days or fine of not less than QR20,000.
“There could be many people in the country who have violated the law, including runaway workers, families who have come on visit and overstayed or people working illegally with other employers, who are not their sponsors.
“This is a good chance for people who have violated the law to avoid punishment. This gives a chance for the violators to leave the country in a legal away,” ,” Abdelaal said.
He said the move is connected with new laws issued recently, including the amended labour law and the law regulating entry, exit and residency of expatriates.