Member News

United Arab Emirates

14 November 2023 - End-of-Service Social Security Registration for Emirati Nationals Extended

Effective immediately, the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) has extended to three months the period within which Emirati nationals can merge their ‘end-of-service gratuity’ to a new employer under the Shourak program (previously, such transfer had to occur within one month).

27 November 2023 – Visa Free Entry for Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina Forthcoming

Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina will soon be able to enter the United Arab Emirates visa-free for business, short-term visit, or tourism stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. To enter visa-free, individuals must have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the United Arab Emirates, as well as valid health insurance and a return or onward ticket of travel. Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina entering the United Arab Emirates for other purposes, such as study or work, must obtain an applicable visa. The visa-free arrangement resulted from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries; however, although the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the policy development, it has not yet published the terms of the MoU, which is usually completed before the policy is implemented. Therefore, further details about the visa-free regime (including its date of commencement and permitted activities) are likely to become available once the MoU is distributed publicly.

Saudi Arabia

08 November 2023 - FBI Criminal History Report Now Required for Saudi Work Visa Processing in the U.S.; Police Clearance to be Required in Further Saudi Consular Posts in Pakistan

Effective immediately, Saudi consular posts in the United States now require an FBI criminal history report in addition to a police clearance report for any Saudi work visa application lodged in the United States, regardless of the job title. Previously, such applicants only needed to provide a police clearance report.

Meanwhile, from December 1, 2023, the Saudi consular post in Islamabad, Pakistan will require a police clearance report for Saudi work visa applications, whereas currently only the Saudi consular post in Karachi, Pakistan requires a police clearance report.

13 November 2023 –Social Security Pension Increased by 20%

Effective immediately, Social Security Pension payments will increase 20 percent, rising to SAR 1,320 (approximately USD 352) – up from the current SAR 1,100 (approximately USD 293) per month. Pension payments for dependents will increase to SAR 660 per eligible dependent (approximately USD 176) – up from the current SAR 550 (approximately USD 147) per month. Dependency payments cannot exceed the upper limit of SAR 5,000 per family (approximately USD 1,333) per month.

14 November 2023 – Electronic Education Certificate Attestation Platform 'Mosadaqa' Expanded to New Countries

The Saudi Arabia Cultural Attaché now allows applicants to use the online platform to attest educational certificates issued in the following new countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

15 November 2023 – Business Visit Visa for Investors Expanded to All Nationals

Effective immediately, the Business Visit Visa for investors has been expanded to all nationals, whereas previously it was limited to nationals of nearly 60 countries. The Business Visit Visa for investors offers a wholly online application process option for individuals who have: a valid tourist or business visa from the United Kingdom, United States, or any Schengen Area country (which must have been used at least once by the applicant); permanent residency in the United Kingdom, the United States, or any country in the European Union; or a Gulf Cooperation Council country residence permit which is valid for at least three months. Eligible individuals do not need to provide proof of a sponsor and can submit their visa applications online through Saudi Arabia’s online platform for visa applications. Individuals who do not satisfy the above eligibility requirements can still apply for the e-visa online but must submit their passport and required documents to a Saudi consular post to complete the process.

All holders of a Business Visit Visa for investors can engage in the following activities in Saudi Arabia: reviewing investment opportunities; attending meetings related to investment opportunities; and opening a bank account. Meanwhile, the following factors vary depending on the visa applicant’s nationality: fees, single- or multiple-entry rights, and the visa validity length, which can range from 180 to 3,650 days. Separately, the allowable duration of stay can vary between 14, 30, or 90 days for single-entry visas and up to 90 days for multiple-entry visas.

Business travelers seeking to enter Saudi Arabia for business purposes unrelated to investment must obtain a traditional Business Visit Visa through the appropriate channels. This requires the individual to have an invitation from a Saudi local company and attend an in-person appointment at a Saudi consular post.

14 November 2023 –Domestic Worker Levy Obligations Relaxed for Premium Residency Holders to Pay the Same Levy for Domestic Workers as Saudi Citizens

The rules regarding payment of the annual levy for domestic workers have been relaxed for premium residency holders – who are now subject to the same rules as Saudi nationals. Premium residency holders now only need to begin paying the annual government levy for domestic workers if they sponsor more than four domestic workers. The annual levy is SAR 9,600 (approximately USD 2,560) for each domestic worker sponsored. Previously, this levy obligation applied if the premium residency holder sponsored more than two domestic workers. Other foreign residents, meanwhile, must continue to pay the levy obligation when they sponsor more than two domestic workers.

23 November 2023 – Process Changes for Non-Employment Visa Applications in the United Kingdom

Applicants in the United Kingdom seeking to obtain any Saudi visa not related to employment – including business visitor visas or family residency visas – must now appear in person at the new Tasheer Saudi Visa Center, located in London. Previously, such applicants did not need to physically appear at any application center, and instead could submit their application (and supporting documents) via an authorized visa agent. Furthermore, in addition to standard application documentation (which was previously required), applicants must now also provide biometric data as part of their application. It is not yet clear whether processing timeframes or fees will change. The Saudi consular post remains responsible for final approval, as well as visa issuance and endorsement. These changes in process do not affect work visa applicants, who must apply for their visa through an authorized visa agent and do not need to provide biometric data.

Qatar

28 November 2023 – Updates to the Digital Employment Contracts Service (E-Contract System)

Qatar’s ‘E-Contract System’ now allows employment contracts generated by employers through the Ministry of Labor’s (MOL) portal to be forwarded electronically to an employee or a prospective employee for their review. Once approved on the MOL portal, the contract must still be separately registered with the MOL. Previously, after generating the contract electronically, employers were required to give a printed copy of the contract to the employee or prospective employee for their review. Generally, e-contracts must be completed and registered as a precondition for receiving a Qatar Resident permit. As an exception, nationals who must obtain a visa from a Qatar Visa Center, such as nationals of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, can generate and register a new MOL contract after they have received a residence permit (when filing for residence permit, they need only provide general contract details). By removing a significant amount of paperwork, this new approach – which further digitalizes Qatari employment processes – may expedite the onboarding process for employers of foreign nationals.

06 November 2023 – Dependent Family Residence Permit Renewals Now Require Schooling in Qatar

Children, between the ages of six to 18, must submit proof that they are registered in a school in Qatar when renewing their dependent family residence permits. Applicants must use the Metrash2 mobile application to renew such permits. If the child is not enrolled in a school in Qatar, the renewal application will only be processed in exceptional circumstances, such as if the child has an illness or disability. At this time, it is unclear how the applications of children who are home schooled or are studying abroad will be assessed and whether any exemption would be granted by the authorities for renewal of the Family Residence Permit in these circumstances. In light of these changes, employers may need to reassess work and residency arrangements for employees with young families, and should discuss these new rules with potentially affected employees.

Oman

08 November 2023 – In-Country Conversion of Visitor into Employment Visa No Longer Possible

Foreign nationals in Oman on a visitor visa can no longer change their immigration status in-country. This rule change applies to all types of visitor visa, including tourism, dependent and express visitor visas. Foreign nationals in Oman on a visitor visa who want to obtain an employment visa must now exit Oman, apply for and receive the relevant visa, and then re-enter. Previously, affected individuals could convert their visitor visa into an employment visa without leaving Oman. This change in policy – a decision of the Royal Oman Police – will delay work start dates and incur additional costs for foreign nationals as they must travel to obtain the employment visa.

Middle East

14 November 2023 – Ministers Approve GCC Tourist Visa Proposal

A unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourist visa granting foreign nationals access to all GCC Member States is likely to be implemented in the next two years, following approval of the concept at a recent meeting of GCC Interior Ministers. Implementation is subject to the visa category’s details (such as eligibility criteria, document requirements, entry conditions, validity period, and cost) being further developed and agreed between the parties. Each GCC Member State will subsequently need to establish internal legislation to give effect to the regime. The GCC member state countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This proposed visa arrangement seeks to bolster tourism in the GCC region and is part of a broader strategy of achieving greater integration between GCC countries. Currently, GCC countries each have distinct tourism visa programs, with different eligibility criteria, costs, requirements, and processes.

27 November 2023 – Changes to European Travel Requirements Forthcoming

The European Council and Parliament have taken significant strides towards reforming European immigration processes, with two separate initiatives scheduled for implementation in the near future: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and the digitalization of the Schengen Visa application process. This will have a significant impact on travelers from the Middle East region, including nationals of the United Arab Emirates.

UAE nationals will need to obtain ETIAS authorization if they want to conduct any visa-exempt tourism, business or transit activities in the ETIAS countries. The authorization is granted for a period of up to three years, or until the expiry date of the associated passport, whichever comes first. It is important to note that ETIAS itself does not affect an individual’s maximum duration of stay. Nationals of countries that have signed bi-lateral agreements abolishing visa requirements to any of the 27 Schengen Area countries, or to Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania, are typically granted under these agreements a maximum duration of stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

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