MoI unveils sample of Permanent Residency card

DOHA: Releasing a sample of Permanent Residency card yesterday, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced that preparations were under way to implement the law pertaining to granting permanent residency.

The sample card (pictured) was released at a press conference organised by the MoI to explain the Permanent Residency Law No. 10 of 2018 and the procedures for granting the permanent residency card.

“The applications for permanent residency will be received through MoI website or one of its electronic applications,” said Brigadier Salem Saqr Al Muraikhi, Director of Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry.

He said that the applications will be subjected to legal review and compliance to meet all legal requirements and other conditions by legal auditors of the Committee.

“Then the applications will be submitted to the Committee which will issue its recommendations on such applications. In case of approval, the applications will be referred to General Directorate of Passports to issue Permanent Residency card,” he added.

He pointed out that specific and clear criteria will be set up by the authority concerned to implement these standards to ensure the implementation of the law to achieve its purpose and provide more facilities and services to residents who have a Permanent Residency card.

“The Ministry of Interior relies on providing its services through an electronic system. Therefore, an electronic network has been built to implement new law for granting PR to expatriates and has been tried and tested,” said Brigadier Mohammed Al Ateeq, Director General of Passports.

“A committee has been formed based on this law, which will decide on these applications, receive them, discuss them and issue the relevant decisions,” he said.

Brig. Al Ateeq pointed out that a working team was formed to implement the mechanisms that will receive the applications and hand over the cards in the event of the completion of their procedures. As well, a PR card application form has been prepared with all required data, he added.

Brigadier Salem Saqr Al Muraikhi, Director of Legal Affairs Department said that the idea of Permanent Residency Card has been underway for some time, and was not the result of any specific event.

“The importance of the Permanent Residency (PR) Card lies in its appreciation and recognition of some categories of long-term residents whereas it is an extension to fundamental constitutional concepts as it appears clearly in the speeches of H H the Amir when the citizen are paired with the residents,” he added.

He also noted that this initiative will increase the investment and attract more capital leading to the economic growth in the country while the State can benefit from the persons of special competencies as well.

He said that the new law aims at providing better services to the resident who is competent and doing great service to the country. “There are categories that are of interest to the state, such as the children of Qatari women.”

Explaining the measures taken to implement the Law by the Ministry of the Interior, he said: “A working group has been set up to prepare the implementation of this law through the preparation of the necessary decisions to implement it and to select the headquarters and arrange the necessary human and technical resources and electronic programs.”

He added that several meetings were held with different law enforcement authorities, namely the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Economy and Trade; the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment as part of implementation.

Explaining the conditions for granting PR card, Brig. Al Muraikhi said: “The applicant should have a continuous ordinary legal residency in Qatar for 20 years if born outside and 10 years if born in the country, provided that the period of residence is consecutive and prior to the date of applying for a PR permit.”

He said that the clause of continuous stay is not undermined by the applicant staying outside the country for 60 days in a year. In all cases this period shall be deducted from the time calculated as residency in the country.

He said that the applicant should have enough income to meet his needs as well as his dependents. The applicant should enjoy good conduct, and reputation, and have not been convicted by a final ruling inside Qatar or outside Qatar in crimes that undermine honesty, trust and fame unless he was reinstated to his former status. The applicant should be fluent in Arabic language.

Some categories are exempted from the above conditions such as children of a Qatari woman married to a non-Qatari man, non-Qatari husband of a Qatari woman, non-Qatari wife of a Qatari man, children of Qataris by naturalization, individuals who have done great services to the country and individuals with special competencies needed by the country.

Speaking about the rights and privileges of the PR card holder, Brig. Salem Al-Murakhi said: “The PR card holder will receive treatment and education in government institutions within the State in accordance with the conditions and regulations.”

He said that the spouse of the cardholder and his/her children shall enjoy the privileges granted to the PR cardholder pertaining to residence, health and education until the age of 18 years.

“The holder of the Permanent Residency card shall have the right to invest in the activities of the national economy sectors without a Qatari partner. The establishment of the company shall be in accordance with the law governing the law of commercial companies. The PR cardholder may own the real estate for housing and investment according to the conditions and regulations,” Al Murakhi added.

He said that the cardholder may leave the country and return to it during the period of its validity without obtaining any consent or permit.

By Sanaullah Ataullah I The Peninsula

تحدث خلال المؤتمر العميد/ محمد أحمد العتيق مدير الإدارة العامة للجوازات، والعميد/ سالم صقر المريخي مدير إدارة الشؤون القانونية، وذلك بنادي الضباط بالإدارة العامة للدفاع المدني.

وأشار العميد سالم صقر المريخي، مدير إدارة الشؤون القانونية في بداية المؤتمر الصحفي، إلى أن فكرة الإقامة الدائمة جاءت في إطار الحرص على تقديم خدمات أفضل لكل من يعيش على أرض قطر من المواطنين والمقيمين، كما جاءت تقديرا لبعض الفئات من المقيمين لفترة طويلة على أرض الدولة، وذلك لمنحهم عددا من الامتيازات والحقوق التي تُخوّلها بطاقة الإقامة الدائمة.

وأضاف المريخي أن من يحمل بطاقة الإقامة الدائمة يُعامل معاملة المواطن في العلاج والتعليم في المؤسسات الحكومية داخل الدولة، كما تمنحه البطاقة حق الاستثمار في أنشطة الاقتصاد، وتملك العقارات للسكن والاستثمار (وفق شروط وضوابط).

كما تحدث في المؤتمر الصحفي العميد محمد أحمد العتيق مدير الإدارة العامة للجوازات، معددا الفئات التي تمنح لها بطاقة الإقامة الدائمة والتي تشمل أبناء القطرية المتزوجة من غير القطري، وفقا للقانون، أبناء القطريين بالتجنس، زوج القطرية غير القطري، زوجة القطري غير القطرية، كما تمنح البطاقة الدائمة للذين أدوا خدمات جليلة للبلد وذوي الكفاءات الخاصة من المقيمين الذين تحتاج إليهم الدولة