Instructions have been issued to stop the transfer of visit visas to all types of residency visas for those who entered the country since the start of this year, Al Rai daily reported, quoting sources. The Interior Ministry gave instructions to the Residency Affairs Sector not to allow an expat in the country to sponsor any of his family members who came to the country on visit visas since the start of the coronavirus crisis. However, all types of visas have been allowed to be extended until the end of this month.
Yet it will not be permitted to transfer any visit visa into a residency visa except with the permission granted by the minister, and in very specific humanitarian limited cases.
The daily said, quoting sources that visa renewal is ongoing for those who have previously joined the family, and the new decision applies to those wishing to transfer visit visas to residency visas and this procedure falls within the framework of amending the demographic composition, especially as there are fundamental changes forthcoming under the new residency law that will be announced soon.