Member News

Saudi Arabia

08 August 2023 –E-Visa for Tourism Expanded to More Nationalities

Effective immediately, Saudi Arabia expanded the eligibility of the Electronic Visa (e-visa) for tourism to nationals of the following eight countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Eligible individuals can apply for the e-visa for tourism through the official e-visa portal and the visa is issued in as little as 30 minutes. The e-visa for tourism is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for one year with a maximum of 90 days per stay. Foreign nationals must pay a fee of approximately SAR 525 (approximately USD 140), which includes the fee for mandatory health insurance. These foreign nationals can also apply for a visa-on-arrival for tourism at a port of entry; however, they are advised to apply for the e-visa in advance as the visa-on-arrival can involve a lengthy process on arrival. This expansion of the e-visa for tourism follows an announcement earlier this year expanding the eligibility of the e-visa for tourism to certain United Kingdom, United States, European Union and Schengen Visa holders and permanent residents.

14 August 2023 – Electronic Visa Waiver Program Launched

Effective immediately, Saudi Arabia has launched an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) for nationals of the United Kingdom, which can be used to enter the country for tourism, business, study or medical treatment. However, it is currently unclear which business activities and study programs are permitted under the EVW. UK nationals can apply for the EVW as early as 90 days but no less than 48 hours before planned travel to Saudi Arabia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unified visa platform. On the platform, applicants are asked to provide their biographical information, occupation, purpose of visit and contact details for their stay in Saudi Arabia. The applicant will receive approval via their registered email address within 24 hours of submission. The EVW costs SAR 150 (USD 40), it can only be used for a single entry, and it is valid for 90 days from the date of approval for a maximum duration of stay of 180 days in Saudi Arabia. It is expected that the government of Saudi Arabia will expand the EVW to other countries in the coming months.

24 August 2023 - New Policy Requiring Companies to Disclose Training Data

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) approved a policy mandating private sector companies that employ 50 or more workers to disclose their training data annually through the Qiwa platform. These companies will have to disclose data on training hours and trainee counts, training plans, activity reports, trainee numbers and the budget allocation for training for the following year. Affected employers should review the procedural details related to the new policy and expect to start reporting their employees’ training data at the end of the year. They will receive a reminder to complete submission of the data through the MHRSD’s platform. Noncompliant employers will be subject to fines ranging from SAR 5,000 to SAR 15,000. The MHRSD aims to use this data to develop incentives and policies to improve the quality and efficiency of training programs.

30 August 2023 - Electronic Educational Certificate Attestation Process Implemented for Select Foreign Nationals

The Saudi Arabia Cultural Attache (SACA) is now permitting select foreign nationals to attest their non-Saudi degree certificates electronically through a government online platform, Mosadaqa. Previously, foreign nationals had to obtain an in-person attestation from SACA as the first step in the attestation process. The platform allows foreign nationals to electronically attest their educational certificates, including college diplomas (two-year higher education degree), bachelor’s degrees, higher diplomas (post-graduate diplomas), master’s degrees and PhD degrees, from institutions in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Palestine. The platform is expected to be expanded to individuals with certificates from additional countries in the near future. To submit a request for certificate attestation through the Mosadaqa platform, applicants must create an account and fill out an online request including their biographical and educational data. Applicants will then need to submit a scanned copy of their passport, national identification card, official certificate (authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the degree issuing country), and transcripts. They must then pay a fee for the service online using either a Visa or Mastercard credit card. However, these eligible foreign nationals should note that they must still complete the second step in the attestation process, where they manually attest their degree at the Saudi Embassy in the degree-issuing country once the electronic attestation has been completed by SACA.

Qatar

23 August 2023 - Mandatory Health Insurance Scheme Comes into Effect for Holders of Multiple Entry Work Visa

Effective immediately, the Qatari government has expanded the mandatory health insurance scheme to holders of multiple-entry work visas. Foreign nationals applying for multiple-entry work visas must obtain a health insurance policy from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) website, in order for their visa to be issued. These foreign nationals may buy this health insurance policy before the visa is issued or at the time of approval, and the policy should be valid for up until the visa expires. Foreign nationals who already hold a multiple-entry work visa may be required to obtain the same type of health insurance policy prior to or upon arrival at any Qatari port of entries, at the border authorities’ instruction. Since this policy only came into effect in August 2023, it is expected that

there may be some delays in visa issuance as it can take several days for the Ministry of Interior to receive confirmation that health insurance was purchased from the MoPH, which they must have in order to issue the visa.

Kuwait

15 August 2023 - Sports Cultural and Social Activities Visa Announced

The government of Kuwait has introduced a new entry visa category for individuals participating in sports, cultural, or social activities. The visa application must be filed with the General Department of Residency by a sports club, cultural institution, or accredited social club or association in Kuwait. The visa permits a three-month stay which can be extended for up to one year. It is currently unclear if it is a single- or multiple-entry visa. Although the visa is now available according to the Official Gazette (where the laws are published) and media reports, official guidelines regarding the application process, fees, and the entry visa validity have yet to be released.

31 August 2023 - New Requirement for Foreign Nationals to Pay Certain Fines and Bills Prior to Travel

Effective immediately, foreign nationals must pay their traffic fines in order to leave Kuwait and as of September 1, 2023, the same will apply to water and electricity bills. Without payment, these foreign nationals will not be allowed to leave the country. This change came about as part of a cooperative effort between the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of Kuwait, the General Traffic Department and the Ministry of Electricity, Water (MEW) and Renewable Energy to ensure collection of debts owed to the government by foreign nationals. Foreign nationals must pay their traffic-related fines online through the Sahel mobile application or the MOI’s electronic platform. Payments can also be made in person at one of the traffic departments in Kuwait or at collection points at the Kuwait International Airport and other land and sea ports. Foreign nationals with fines related to speeding or the unauthorized use of handicapped parking spaces must settle them in person at designated traffic department offices. The fines cannot be resolved through online channels. Foreign nationals must settle their electricity and water bills online through the MEW-PAY or Sahel mobile applications or at the customer service office at the T4 terminal of Kuwait International Airport. The same service will be added to all other ports including land and sea borders at a later date.

Oman

10 August 2023 - New Labor Law in Effect

The government of Oman issued a new labor law which is in immediate effect and replaces regulations originally issued in 2003. The new law applies to all employers and employees, except those whose work is regulated by special law or regulations. Notable changes include a reduction of minimum weekly working hours, new mandatory employment contract terms, new possible forms of employment, the ability to change employers, and new rules surrounding Omanization, among others. The law is expected to promote transparency in workers’ rights while maintaining a balanced and beneficial employment relationship for both employers and employees.

Egypt 

03 August 2023 - Delays Expected in the Processing of Work Permit Applications

The government of Egypt announced that government workers in select agencies will work remotely every Sunday until the end of August in order to reduce the electricity load in Egypt, effective immediately. The Ministry of Manpower, which processes work permits, is part of this select group of agencies and, as a result, work permit application processing is expected to slow down. In order to mitigate these circumstances, employers are urged to submit work permit applications in advance and be prepared for possible delays until the end of August, which may affect employees’ start dates and entry to Egypt.

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