Qatar Employers Face QR 25,000 Fine for Passport Withholding
The Qatar Ministry of Interior (MOI) has issued a formal warning regarding Qatar passport withholding, stating that employers who retain expatriate documents without consent face heavy fines.
Strict Penalties for Document Retention
During a recent webinar, Major Saud Hamad Alburaidi, Head of the Detention Section at the Search and Follow-Up Department under the General Directorate of Passports, clarified that employers are strictly prohibited from holding workers' passports once residency permit (RP/QID) issuance or renewal procedures are complete.
Employers found in violation of this regulation face fines of up to QR 25,000 (approximately USD 6,850 or INR 5.7 lakh). The Ministry emphasized that an individual's passport is their own property and cannot be held by employers or recruitment agents unless a mutual, signed legal document explicitly authorizes such an arrangement.
Other Major Violations and Penalties
The Ministry also outlined severe consequences for other breaches of residency and visa regulations under Law No. 21 of 2015:
- Illegal Visa Trading: Violators face up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of QR 50,000, which can rise to QR 100,000 for repeat offenses.
- Residency Renewal Failures: Failing to renew a residency permit within the 90-day grace period can result in fines of up to QR 10,000.
Seeking Assistance
Expatriate workers who find their passports being held against their will are encouraged to seek assistance through the relevant MOI channels. This crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the practice of passport retention, which some sectors have used as a control mechanism despite recent reforms to the exit permit system.