The exit permit (travel notification) for government and semi-government sectors that are not subject to the Labour Law with the exception of 5% of the workers determined by the employer, will be abolished with effect from March 19, 2020.
Major Abdullah Khalifa al-Muhannadi, Director of the Visa Support Services Department at the General Directorate of Passport, said that according to this decision, temporary or final exit during the period of valid work contract is permissible without exit permit for the employees in the ministries and other government agencies, public bodies and institutions, workers in the oil and gas sector and its subsidiaries, employees of sea and in territorial waters, workers in agriculture and irrigation, and those working in private offices as well.
He explained that a category (5%) of workers in the establishment will be excluded as they must submit an application to their employer for obtaining a final or temporary exit permit. He pointed out that HR departments have been informed in the relevant sectors to inform them of the required procedures and steps.
The Director of the Visa Support Services Department said these procedures were activated through Metrash2 and the website of the Ministry of Interior since March 5 to enable the authorities in the relevant sectors to add the employees included in the excluded category before the implementation of the decision begins.
A text message will be sent to those who are included in the category informing them the necessity of submitting an application in case they want to leave the country temporarily or permanently.
