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17 hours ago
A contentious bill that could fundamentally alter how Expat ID cards are issued has put lawmakers and authorities at loggerheads, as parliament prepares to debate the measure on Tuesday. If passed, the amendment would stipulate that “in all cases, the ID card for a non-Bahraini shall be valid for a period not exceeding the duration of his residence in the Kingdom of Bahrain”—effectively tying the card’s validity strictly to the holder’s lawful residency. The Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has already urged MPs to reject the proposal in principle, underscoring deep divisions ahead of the debate. Supporters argue the change would strengthen controls on overstays, curb access to ID-linked services and transactions, and increase fee revenue. The government, however, dismisses the proposal as redundant, stressing that ID cards are already automatically deactivated once residency expires, immediately cutting off access to government services, banking and other dealings that require an active card. The Ministry of Interior added that individuals leaving Bahrain are granted a 30-day grace period to settle their affairs before their ID cards are deactivated. It also warned that tying card validity to residency periods would create operational complications, as residence permits vary widely in length, […]
2 weeks ago
The Makkah police arrested five expatriates for engaging in acts contrary to public decency and morality at a massage parlour in the holy city. They were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary legal procedures. The Makkah Mayoralty has completed the necessary procedures to take punitive measures against the parlour for violating the municipal regulations. The arrests were made in coordination with the General Directorate for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking. READ MORE: Afghan National Arrested for Harassing Women in Makkah
3 weeks ago
Oman has tightened pre-entry requirements for expatriate workers under its professional accreditation system, requiring expatriates to verify their academic and professional qualifications before entering the country, while warning of strict penalties for forged certificates, local media reported. Zaher bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, Director of the Department of Professional Standards at the Ministry of Labour, said the measures are aimed at regulating the labour market, curbing credential fraud and raising workforce quality across key sectors. Under the system, expatriate workers seeking employment in regulated professions, including engineering, logistics and accounting, must have their qualifications assessed and approved by accredited sectoral skills units before arrival. A work practice licence is issued only after verification, and entry permits are granted solely once the licence has been approved. The ministry said it has detected cases involving the forgery of professional classification certificates and work practice licences, describing such acts as a clear violation of Omani law. It stressed that employees and companies are responsible for obtaining licences exclusively from authorised bodies and for verifying their authenticity. Sanctions for violations include fines, licence cancellation, deportation and referral to the courts, with liability extending to employers who facilitate or overlook breaches. The reforms form part of […]
3 weeks ago
Expatriate residents in Kuwait will no longer be permitted to remain outside the country for more than six months, under new restrictions introduced as part of updated residency regulations. The measures were set out in a ministerial decision issued by the Ministry of Interior, local media reported. The decision forms part of the executive regulations of Kuwait’s residency law and is intended to regulate residents’ status and ensure compliance with legal requirements. It applies to all categories of residency permits, with specific exemptions outlined for certain groups. According to Ministerial Decision No. 2249 of 2025, expatriate residents will no longer be allowed to remain outside Kuwait for more than six months. The rule applies to all types of residency permits, with exemptions granted to children of Kuwaiti women, property owners and foreign investors. The decision forms part of the executive regulations of the residency law and is aimed at regulating residency status and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Separate provisions apply to domestic workers. Under Article 20, domestic staff may remain outside Kuwait for a maximum of four months, unless the sponsor submits an approved leave request through the relevant residency affairs departments or via the Sahel application. The Interior Ministry […]
3 weeks ago
Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has rolled out two new electronic services designed to streamline the issuance and transfer of Article 18 residency permits, Kuwait’s news agency, KUNA, reported. The services, launched by the ministry’s General Department of Information Systems in coordination with the General Department of Residency are now available through the Interior Ministry’s official website. They are aimed at simplifying procedures for employees in the civil sector who fall under Article 18 of the residency law. According to a statement carried by KUNA, the new e-services allow users to issue, renew and transfer Article 18 residency permits electronically. They also enable the transfer of a civil sector employee’s residency status from worker residency to temporary residency under Article 14, removing the need for multiple in-person visits. The initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens, save time and effort for service users, and accelerate the transition towards an integrated e-government system. The ministry also seeks to improve efficiency, enhance user experience and ensure faster processing of residency-related transactions.
2 months ago
Oman has announced a major change to its residency regulations, extending the validity of the expatriate residency card from three to 10 years. The decision, issued by Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shuraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, amends the executive regulations of the Civil Status Law, according to a report by Atheer newspaper. Under the new rules, residency cards will now be valid for up to 10 years. Cardholders must renew their IDs within 30 days of expiry. The regulation also sets the issuance and renewal fees at five Omani rials per year, with a replacement fee of 20 rials for lost or damaged cards. Previously, in a decision issued last August, residency cards were valid for one, two, or three years only.
2 months ago
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced the suspension of biometric fingerprinting procedures at all border crossings—including air, land, and sea—to reduce congestion and ease travel delays, Al Anba newspaper reported. New procedure for citizens and expatriates Under the new directive, Kuwaiti citizens must complete biometric fingerprinting before travel at Personal Identification Centers of the General Department of Criminal Evidence or at National Identity Centers. Expatriates can complete the procedure exclusively at Personal Identification Centers across all governorates. Decision aimed at reducing crowding The ministry said the decision follows repeated reports of crowding at border checkpoints, particularly at Kuwait International Airport, where travelers who had not completed their biometric registration in advance caused long wait times and disruptions. Ministry urges early registration The Ministry of Interior emphasised that the change is part of ongoing efforts to streamline travel procedures and ensure smoother experiences for all passengers. Citizens and residents are being urged to complete their biometric registration well ahead of scheduled trips to avoid delays or complications.
3 months ago
From November 1, 2025, several new financial rules in India will come into effect, impacting banking, Aadhaar, GST, and credit card services. Indian expats should take note, as these updates could affect how you manage your Indian accounts, send money home, or shop online. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and tips for NRIs: Bank nomination rules Effective November 1: Amendments to the Banking Laws Act are streamlining the bank nomination process to help avoid ownership-related disputes. What’s changing: Amendments to India’s Banking Laws Act allow account holders to: NRI tips: Aadhaar Updates The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has revised the fee structure and simplified the online update process. New fee structure: NRI tips: GST slabs changes Effective November 1, the indirect tax structure is being simplified with a major change to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) slabs: NRI tips: Paytm UPI Update for NRIs In a major move for the Indian diaspora, Paytm now allows UAE NRIs (and those in 11 other countries) to use UPI with international mobile numbers linked to NRE or NRO accounts. How to get started: Benefits for UAE NRIs: Supported countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Australia, Canada, France, Hong […]
4 months ago
The Omani Ministry of Labour has announced new rules granting expatriate workers greater freedom to change jobs if their employers fail to register valid employment contracts after work permit renewals, the daily Arabian Stories reported. In a notice to both individuals and businesses, the ministry cautioned that when a work permit is renewed without an active contract uploaded to the system, the employee will automatically gain the right to transfer their services to a new employer after 30 days. Officials said the measure aims to protect workers’ rights and ensure transparency in the labour market. The ministry urged employers to comply promptly with contract registration to avoid losing staff and to support Oman’s wider labour reforms.
4 months ago
The Omani Ministry of Labour has announced new rules granting expatriate workers greater freedom to change jobs if their employers fail to register valid employment contracts after work permit renewals, the daily Arabian Stories reported. In a notice to both individuals and businesses, the ministry cautioned that when a work permit is renewed without an active contract uploaded to the system, the employee will automatically gain the right to transfer their services to a new employer after 30 days. Officials said the measure aims to protect workers’ rights and ensure transparency in the labour market. The ministry urged employers to comply promptly with contract registration to avoid losing staff and to support Oman’s wider labour reforms.
7 hours ago
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