The Cabinet approved a draft law on the permanent residency identification card. According to the provisions of the bill, the minister of interior may grant a permanent residency ID to a non-Qatari if they meet the conditions specified in the law.

Also, a decision by the minister of interior may grant this ID to the children of a Qatari woman married to a non-Qatari as well as those who offer valuable services to the country and people with special capacities that the country needs.

The permanent residency ID carries some privileges for its holder as they receive the same treatment as Qataris in education and healthcare at government institutions, and are given priority behind Qataris in holding public, military and civil jobs.

In addition, holders of that ID have the right to own property and practice some commercial businesses without the need to have a Qatari partner, in line with the executive decisions that shall be issued by the Cabinet according to the provisions of the law.

A permanent committee shall be established at the Ministry of Interior under the name of the Permanent Residency ID Granting Committee in order to review requests of granting permanent residency ID in line with the provisions of the law.

Moreover, the Cabinet took the necessary measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of Decree Law No 14 of 1993 on passports, after the Cabinet reviewed the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the draft law.

The amendment stipulates that Article 12 of Decree Law No 14 of 1993 shall be replaced by the following text:”A decision by the minister of interior shall specify the applicable fees to obtain normal passports, travel documents and transit tickets as well as their renewal and amendment. And a decision by the foreign minister shall specify the applicable fees to obtain diplomatic, special and mission passports as well as their renewal and amendment.”

Source: Qatar Tribune