MoI suspends decision allowing violators to rectify status

On Thursday, shortly after taking office, the new government suspended the decision, taken just last week by the Ministry of Interior (MoI), to allow residency violators who entered the country before 2020 to legalize their status and pay the prescribed legal fines.

The new decision, which marks a potential shift in the approach towards expatriate residency violators by the new government, effectively ends this practice. Sources at MoI reiterated the ministry’s commitment to its previous policy of expelling residency violators from the country, and added that security campaigns to address residency violations will continue vigorously.

The now-suspended decision aimed to cancel Resolution No. 288, which was implemented in 2020 during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resolution 288 called for the deportation of residency violators who entered the country before 2020, and allowed only those violators who arrived after 1 March 2020 to rectify their status.

However, with the latest suspension, the fate of expatriates who violated residency laws prior to 2020 remains uncertain. The move suggests a potential recalibration of policies aimed at dealing with residency violators, possibly indicating a stricter approach in the future. The move also signifies a commitment to reinforcing law and order and ensuring the integrity of the country’s residency system.

The suspension could also indicate that the authorities are devising alternative methods to tackle the long-standing issue of residency violations in the country. As the situation continues to develop, it is essential for expatriates and residents to stay updated on any potential changes in residency rules and regulations to avoid any unintended violations.