Companies and individuals will no longer have to pay to obtain exit permits to leave Qatar, the Ministry of Interior has announced.

All expats employed in Qatar are required to get permission from their employer to leave the country, whether for vacation or permanently.

This is also the case for Qataris under the age of 18 and unmarried female nationals under 25 years old, according to Hukoomi.

However, expats on family visas such as sponsored children and spouses do not need to secure exit permits.

In a statement yesterday, the MOI said it will now be issuing all “leave certificates” for free. The process will now also be entirely paperless, so that no paper receipt is required.

Employers can approve exit permits electronically instantly through the Metrash2 app, MOI’s website or Hukoomi.

Multiple exit

The cost of exit permits are nominal, at QR10 a person, and usually shouldered by the employer.

It remains unclear, however, whether multiple-exit permits are now free.

These cost QR500/year and allow expats to leave Qatar more than once without seeking permission from their employer each time.

Last month, new labor reforms took effect that were supposed to automate the exit permit process under the MOI.

Instead, authorities decided to keep the procedure in the employers’ hands.

Officials said yesterday however that exit permits have been made free as part of efforts to facilitate travel for residents.

Recently, e-gate services were also made free for all expats over the age of 18 years old, to speed up immigration procedures at the airport.

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