Expats - Gulf Insider

7 months ago

Kuwait Simplifies Visa Issuance And Residency Transfers For Expatriates

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.

8 months ago

Oman Expat Residency Card Validity Extended To 10 Years

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.

8 months ago

Kuwait Suspends Biometric Fingerprinting At Border Crossings

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.

8 months ago

New Rules From November: What Indian Expats Need To Know

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 […]

9 months ago

Oman: Switching Jobs Eased For Expats Without Registered Employment Contracts

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.

9 months ago

Oman: Switching Jobs Eased For Expats Without Registered Employment Contracts

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.

10 months ago

How Indian, Pakistani Expats Can Get Oman Golden Visa For 10 Years

Oman recently launched a 10-year golden residency programme designed to attract foreign capital and skilled professionals, offering long-term stability to investors and their families as part of the country’s Vision 2040 reform agenda. The announcement was made at the ‘Sustainable Business Environment’ forum in Salalah. The programme, officials said, reflects a strategic push to deepen private sector growth, accelerate job creation, and encourage knowledge transfer. Under the scheme, investors who meet a minimum threshold of 200,000 Omani rials (about $520,000) qualify for renewable decade-long residency permits covering their spouses, children, and first-degree relatives, without restrictions on age or number. Two types of Oman golden residency The Oman golden residency programme is divided into two tiers. A tier one visa, valid for 10 years, requires an investment of not less than 500,000 Omani riyals in a limited liability company, public joint-stock company or government bonds; or, aspirants can buy a property worth 500,000 riyals in the sultanate; or establish a company employing a minimum of 50 Omani nationals – specification of company capital not required. The visa costs 551 Omani riyals and can be extended. A tier two visa, valid for five years, requires an investment of not less than 250,000 […]

10 months ago

Expatriates Make Up 78% Of GCC’s 24.6 Million Workers

Expatriates make up over 78 per cent of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s workforce, according to figures disclosed at a high-level labor meeting in Kuwait. Speaking at the opening of the 11th meeting of GCC labor undersecretaries, Marzouq Al Otaibi, acting director general of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to advancing joint labor strategies and tackling shared challenges. The agenda, he said, included programs for private-sector employment, nationalization, social protection, labor development, and women’s participation in the workforce. The GCC Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Development Affairs, Khaled Al Sunaidi, described labor policy as a cornerstone of sustainable growth. He said the meeting aimed to harmonize labor regulations, improve work environments, and strengthen the Gulf’s competitiveness at regional and global levels. Al Sunaidi revealed that the GCC labor market employed 24.6 million people as of the second quarter of 2024, including 19 million expatriates. He urged governments to maintain a balance between hiring nationals and benefiting from skilled foreign labor, warning that global economic shifts demand continued cooperation. He also highlighted the pressures of digital transformation, noting that studies predict nearly half of traditional jobs could be disrupted within 20 years due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. That, he […]

11 months ago

India Announces Major New Passport Rules From September 1

India has announced new rules for passport applications, with updated requirements set to begin on September 1, 2025. Indian expats in the UAE applying for passports need to meet strict International Civil Aviation Organisation photography requirements, announced the Indian Consulate in Dubai. The ICAO sets international requirements for passport photography standards. India passport applications for UAE expats The consulate advice follows directives from the Ministry of External Affairs and enforces rules around the quality and accuracy of photographs on passport applications. The Indian consulate highlighted new passport photo rules, and explained the updated rules. The important announcementwas made on August 25, with enforcement tobegin on September 1, 2025. New India passport rules According to the Consulate General of India in Dubai, the complete passport photograph guidelines as per ICAO standards to be adhered to photograph are: The Consulate added that photographs must

11 months ago

Oman Introduces Flexible 1-3 Year Expat Residence Cards, Extends Omani ID Validity To 10 Years

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has announced major changes to the validity and fee structure for expatriate residence cards and Omani personal identity cards, aiming to provide greater flexibility and streamline renewal procedures for residents. Under Decision No. 78/2025, issued by Lieutenant General Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, Inspector-General of Police and Customs, expatriate residents can now choose from three validity options for their residence cards — one, two, or three years — with corresponding fees of 5, 10 and 15, riyals, respectively. Replacement of lost or damaged cards will incur a fee of 20 riyals. The decision also extends the validity of personal identity cards for Omani citizens from the previous term to a full 10 years, aligning it with the duration of the Omani passport. The issuance, renewal, or replacement fee for Omani ID cards remains 10 riyals. In addition to the new validity periods and fees, the amended regulations require all residence and ID card holders to renew their documents within 30 days of expiry to remain compliant with the law. “These amendments are designed to ease administrative processes and provide residents with flexible options to suit their needs,” the ROP said in a statement. Oman is […]

Search Here

Recent Posts

Qatar Confirms Three Injured, Including Child, After Interception Debris

World’s First Commercial Nuclear-Powered Satellite Set For Launch Aboard SpaceX Rocket

Oman ranked second safest country in the world

Driver attested for reckless driving in Oman

Search Here

Kuwait Simplifies Visa Issuance And Residency Transfers For Expatriates

Oman Expat Residency Card Validity Extended To 10 Years

Kuwait Suspends Biometric Fingerprinting At Border Crossings

New Rules From November: What Indian Expats Need To Know

Oman: Switching Jobs Eased For Expats Without Registered Employment Contracts

Oman: Switching Jobs Eased For Expats Without Registered Employment Contracts

How Indian, Pakistani Expats Can Get Oman Golden Visa For 10 Years

Expatriates Make Up 78% Of GCC’s 24.6 Million Workers

India Announces Major New Passport Rules From September 1

Oman Introduces Flexible 1-3 Year Expat Residence Cards, Extends Omani ID Validity To 10 Years

Recent Posts

Qatar Confirms Three Injured, Including Child, After Interception Debris

World’s First Commercial Nuclear-Powered Satellite Set For Launch Aboard SpaceX Rocket

Oman ranked second safest country in the world

Driver attested for reckless driving in Oman

US-Iran war: What UAE residents should do when emergency alerts sound

UAE air defences intercept missiles and drones amid ongoing threats

Useful Links

Subscribe to our mailing list

Online Magazine