Member News

United Arab Emirates

18 September 2024 - Longer Durations for Visas-on-Arrival

The UAE government has increased the permitted duration of stay for visa-on-arrival holders to 90 days for nationals of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Most of these nationals were allowed stays of up to 30 days, except Brazilian nationals, who were allowed a stay of 90 days within a year. There is still some uncertainty regarding whether the permitted duration of stay applies per single entry, within a 180-day period or annually. Fragomen will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates about further developments.

01 October 2024 - Temporary Suspension of Online Services for General Pen-sion & Social Security Authority

The General Pension & Social Security Authority (GPSSA) online system will be temporarily suspended starting October 15, 2024 until further notice as part of the transition to a new online platform called Ma’ashi. In light of this suspension, the GPSSA is encouraging employers to ensure they have performed the following actions prior to October 15, 2024: submit any necessary applications; confirm the accuracy of all company information (including pensionable salary information); settle any outstanding contribution payments before October 15, 2024 (to avoid risk of penalties for failing to make necessary payments during the suspension period); and settle any outstanding installment payments related to mergers. The new Ma’ashi platform will streamline access to GPSSA services for employers; provide regular notifications and updates; offer a centralized ‘frequently asked questions’ page; and offer real-time tracking of GPSSA service and support requests.

04 October 2024 - Two-Month Grace Period for Foreign Nationals in Irregular Status

Foreign nationals who possess a passport with at least one month of validity are now eligible to regularize their immigration status during the current amnesty period. Previously, applicants needed a passport with at least six months’ validity.

QATAR

09 September 2024 – New Requirement to Settle Traffic Fines Prior to Exit

The 50% discount (which was originally scheduled to expire on August 31, 2024) has been extended until November 30, 2024.

SAUDI ARABIA

01 October 2024 – Eased Business Registration Rules Forthcoming

According to new regulations expected to be implemented in the coming months, busi-nesses in Saudi Arabia will need to register their various Saudi-based branches under a single registration, eliminating the current practice of having separate city- or region-based registrations. Once the new rules are in effect, existing businesses with multiple branches will have five years to comply. Businesses will also have to electronically confirm their registration information annually from the date of issuance. These changes seek to reduce business registration-associated costs and complexity, while also making it easier to track compliance and increase transparency around transactions. It is unclear if listing multiple commercial operations under a single registration will affect a business’s Saudization requirements, including if such a process will result in changed quota numbers.

OMAN

13 September 2024 – List of Omani National-Only Roles Expands

The Ministry of Labor has expanded the list of professions reserved for Omani nationals, adding 30 new positions. The list now includes 250 roles. The newly-added roles include, among others: Quality Control Manager, Drilling Officer, Electrical Technician, and Marketing Specialist. Most of the added roles are now reserved for Omanis with immediate effect. Foreign nationals may remain employed in these roles for the length of their work authorization but will then not be able to renew such permits. Some positions will become reserved for Omanis at a future date, including General System Analyst and Information Systems Network Specialist (January 1, 2025); Computer Engineer (January 1, 2026); and Operations Analyst (January 1, 2027). Breaching these rules can lead to significant penalties, and employers will need to reassess their staffing strategies, and potentially restructure elements of their current workforce, to effectively account for these latest changes.

13 September 2024 – Delays in Immigration Processing Expected Due to Ad-ditional Security Checks

Following a security incident earlier this year, authorities have introduced additional information requirements and security checks as part of visa processing. Visa processing times have increased for multiple nationalities, with notable delays for nationals of countries from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as applicants from Europe and the United States, among other countries. As part of this, authorities are making further requests for clearer passport copies and more detailed information, including prior travel history and family names.

While no official announcements have been made regarding these changes, Fragomen is seeing consistent delays with submitted applications. Foreign nationals and their employers in Oman should prepare for delays in the processing of immigration applications across all categories. Fragomen will continue to monitor the situation and provide relevant updates.

19 September 2024 - 10-Day Visit Visa for Cruise Ship Passengers Now Free

Effective immediately, Oman’s 10-day visit visa for cruise ship passengers and crew members is now free. Previously, it cost OMR 5. The visa can be requested through the cruise ship’s tour agent and must be used within 30 days from the date of issuance.

KUWAIT

01 October 2024 – Temporary Suspension of Accreditation of Engineering Degrees

The Public Authority of Manpower has temporarily suspended the Kuwait Engineering Society’s right to accredit engineering degrees following feedback from engineers and businesses regarding the accreditation process. Accreditation for these degrees will remain suspended until a new accrediting authority is appointed – which is expected in the coming months. As a general rule, in Kuwait, foreign nationals who seek to obtain a work permit to work as an engineer must have their engineering degree accredited by a specific authority in Kuwait.

As a temporary exception to this rule in light of the current situation, foreign engineers can currently obtain a work permit without any accreditation by authorities in Kuwait, provided that their education qualifications are legalized by a Kuwaiti consular post in the country where those qualifications were issued. It is currently unclear if foreign workers who obtain their work permit in this way will subsequently be required to accredit their degree in Kuwait when this again becomes possible.

JORDAN

13 September 2024 – Amended Labor Law Forthcoming

Jordan is close to approving an amendment that would revise labor laws in the country, with proposals to include favoring Jordanian workers over foreign workers, boosting women’s participation in the labor market, and expanding the scope of social security coverage, among other items. The government has not yet published any details about the amendments or when they will take effect – we are monitoring and will re-port on related developments. In light of these upcoming changes, employers should be prepared to reassess their hiring practices, including incorporating an increased focus on hiring Jordanians. As part of ensuring compliance with the amended employment regulations, employers may need to consider consulting an employment law specialist in Jordan.

EGYPT

03 October 2024 – Residence Permit Application, Renewal Fee Increases

The fee for applications or renewals of residence permits has increased to USD 150 (up from USD 70). This new fee applies to both new applications and the renewal of residence permits. By increasing the immigration-related costs of hiring foreign nationals, this change may require some businesses to reconsider their foreign talent strategies.

ALGERIA

02 October 2024 – Reinstatement of Entry Visas for Moroccan Nationals

Effective immediately, Moroccan nationals must apply for an entry visa to enter Algeria, ending a two-decade exemption that had allowed Moroccans to visit Algeria visa exempt for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.

PAKISTAN

16 September 2024 - New Visa-on-Arrival Program for Many Nationals

Nationals of 120 countries traveling to Pakistan for tourism or business can now benefit from a simplified, free, electronic visa process that reduces administrative requirements and processing times. To benefit from the program, eligible travelers can obtain a visa pre-approval, called a Visa Prior to Arrival, via the Ministry of Interior’s online platform at least 48 hours before their intended entry to Pakistan. Once approved, they will be issued an electronic authorization (a copy of which must be presented upon arrival) which will allow them to travel to Pakistan and obtain an entry stamp for stays of up to 90 days with multiple entries. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates do not need to apply for a Visa Prior to Arrival and can enter without prior approval under this program for tourism, business, or Sikh pilgrimage purposes. Individuals traveling under the Visa Prior to Arrival program for business must also provide an invitation letter from a host entity in Pakistan along with copies of relevant company documents and contact details of its representatives; and proof of a hotel booking. Those traveling for tourism must present proof of a hotel booking and a confirmed travel itinerary issued by an authorized travel agency in Pakistan.

ABOUT FRAGOMEN

Fragomen is a leading firm dedicated to immigration services worldwide. The firm has nearly 5,500 professionals and staff in 62 offices located in the Americas, Asia Pacific and EMEA. Overall, Fragomen offers support in more than 170 countries.

We are structured to support all aspects of global immigration, including strategic planning, efficiency, quality management, compliance, government relations, reporting, and case management and processing. These capabilities allow us to represent a broad range of companies, organizations and individuals, working in partnership with clients to facilitate the transfer of employees worldwide.

Our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) practice also provides corporate services, including social security assistance, end-to-end corporate setup, corporate secretarial services, corporate amendments, restructuring activities and more. Our corporate services and immigration professionals have extensive experience working with multinational businesses, conglomerates, local employers, start-ups and individual investors. We have a deep understanding of the MENA region and maintain strong professional relationships with relevant authorities.

To learn more about how we can assist you, please visit our website at www.fragomen.com or contact us at [email protected].