Is it legal in Qatar for a company to hold an employees Passport?

Aussie235
By Aussie235

Is it legal in Qatar for a company to hold an employees passport?

It was bought to my attention that a company was in control of employees passports.

I do not know the law regarding this but it does not sound as if it is fair to me.

Does anyone know if this is allowed?

By sabrang kidul• 12 Mar 2010 00:16
Rating: 5/5
sabrang kidul

It is lways good to have your passport with you at all times.

Imagine a situation when, God Forbid, mass evacuation is necessary. Such as the time of the conflict in southern Lebanon as well as the two Gulf wars.

Now let say (again hopefully it will never come to this) the tension between Iran and Israel and/or the west get out of control. Then , you would certainly want to have your passport handy.....

Cheers

SK

By c_dem2001• 11 Mar 2010 22:31
c_dem2001

It does not matter really. Without your sponsors' permittion(Exit Permit) ,you cannot leave the country.

rEGARDS,

By SANic• 9 Mar 2010 11:55
Rating: 5/5
SANic

They don't have to have your passport with them to arrange an exit permit. All they need to arrange an exit permit is your passport number, residence permit number and date of travel. And they can do it online...they don't need your passport anymore. They 'attach' the exit permit electronically to your passport. So that is not a reason for them holding it.

By steven78• 9 Mar 2010 08:39
steven78

ya good

By ashmusiclover• 8 Mar 2010 11:31
Rating: 3/5
ashmusiclover

No, it's illegal. But many companies to do still. Rules of these kinds (includin so called human rights etc etc) are of no significance in this country.

By time is running• 8 Mar 2010 00:10
time is running

no it is not legal .it was ok befor but not anymore on the last law.

By anonymous• 7 Mar 2010 21:21
anonymous

all companies hold passports, but it is inlegal

By Pinoy2005• 7 Mar 2010 15:52
Rating: 5/5
Pinoy2005

Yes it is illegal refer to new Qatar Labour law.

By anonymous• 7 Mar 2010 14:28
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

Friend

It is not legal to hold employees passport by the employer also it is not logic. Since, Qatar having exit/permit system. This is the resion most of country's in gulf region are under block list by the human law.

By msamiullah• 7 Mar 2010 13:06
msamiullah

everyone is saying the keeping the passport is illegal but can someone please give the reference that where it is written e.g in labour law or some other law and plz give the calsue number also

Thanks in advance .Please help !!!

By steven78• 7 Mar 2010 10:18
steven78

ya mybe your passport get lost

By msmsr007• 7 Mar 2010 10:09
Rating: 4/5
msmsr007

We cannot leave the Qatari territory without an exit permit, we can't roam the street without a Residence Parmit... So why do you want to carry it around, atleast its secure at the office.

By qatcoo• 7 Mar 2010 08:30
qatcoo

Before our company is the one holding our passport but a year ago they gave it back they told us its a new law in Qatar.

By anonymous• 6 Mar 2010 22:09
anonymous

It is ilegal, send me your email, i will send you regulation

By shettyps• 6 Mar 2010 14:05
Rating: 2/5
shettyps

Eventhough it is illegal , most of the companies keeping emplyoees passports with their custody ..better we can take receipt from the company so that company cannot deny their mistake / carelessness in case of lost or any damage.

By Nik_172• 6 Mar 2010 13:39
Nik_172

http://www.onlineqatar.com/692-New-Residency-Law-for-expatriates-to-be-announced-by-month-end.html

By maxx7• 6 Mar 2010 09:31
Rating: 4/5
maxx7

No it's not legal, but they do it to prevent employees from stealing from the company and/or taking huge loans and escaping the country. It's more of a leash around your neck. You totally have the right to keep yours with you at all times, but that might eventually create tension at your work (trust issues).

By aikon• 6 Mar 2010 07:38
aikon

not legal

By Kaiiria• 6 Mar 2010 01:18
Rating: 3/5
Kaiiria

This is absolutely illegal. It is against the universal human rights and it is an offense to the country of origin of the employee. This is the most common Middle Eastern form of abuse on expats that keeps them at the mercy of their employer...

By ksrehman• 6 Mar 2010 00:23
Rating: 5/5
ksrehman

yes, the company has the right to do so. but i heard that they r planning to change the Law. Even if they allow you have it, u still need permission from the company in case you wantd to use it anywhere.

By amthorpe• 5 Mar 2010 22:01
Rating: 5/5
amthorpe

Check this link under new Qatari Sponsorship law which i think came in during 2009 it is illegal and the company can be fined 10000 qr for retaining it. Though as some have said the first two to four weeks and for family residence permits and the like they will need to retain them. A lot is said about exit permits, however if you have a good position and don't take out loans you can get a multi-exit permit subject to your sponsor, but they are responsible for any debts you may accumulate.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=local_news&month=november2009&file=local_news2009112653021.xml

By anonymous• 5 Mar 2010 21:13
anonymous

Illegal act,if you complain in embassy,im sure they will fine your company.

By marycatherine• 5 Mar 2010 20:03
Rating: 5/5
marycatherine

Getting an exit permit is separate from having your passport. Yes, you do need an export permit under normal circumstances to leave the country. But in "abnormal" circumestances, you need to be able to prove your citizenship/identity. NO GOVERNMENT has the right to take your passport indefinitely. Your passport is the property of the nation that issued it.

It is the practice here in the GCC for many employers to "hold" passports of their employees (illegally). Get yours back ASAP.

By marycatherine• 5 Mar 2010 19:59
Rating: 4/5
marycatherine

No it is not legal. However, your passport is required to be given in order to have your residency permit inserted (about 2 - 4 weeks depending on MOI)

By ghazalz• 5 Mar 2010 19:36
ghazalz

My husband and I, we both are working and

we're supposed to submit our passports to

the office just after arriving here from

vacations.

By romisa• 5 Mar 2010 18:50
Rating: 5/5
romisa

no company/person is supposed to keep hold of your passport - unless it is for security reasons. If you think keeping the passport safe at your home is a problem, usually companies offer a fire-proof cabinet in which the passport is kept safely for its employees.

It is illegal to keep witholding passports. it has been a bad practise in the middle east for many years, but now im sure it is not allowed and a complaint will be considered valid.

A passport is only governments property, only a court has the right to hold passports.

By tamerelnoby• 5 Mar 2010 18:49
Rating: 3/5
tamerelnoby

No one can take your passport i am arabic Mandoub i know that.it was in the past but now sponser cant do that only if you want keep your passport in your company/sponser and they have to take letter from you said that you keep your passport with them free & you have take acopy from that letter

By chad thompson• 5 Mar 2010 15:29
chad thompson

welcome to Doha, typically employees or persons sponsored here dont have many rights at all. If you wanna question the legality thereof your employer will probably be more eager just to send you back to where you came from. Learn to adapt.

By krok• 5 Mar 2010 14:26
krok

NO IT ISN'T LEGAL!

By hanjinnel• 5 Mar 2010 12:54
hanjinnel

It is illegal to hold a employee's passport.

By macgyver426• 5 Mar 2010 11:50
macgyver426

it's company's discretion whether the passportt will be given to employees or not

By killjoy1975• 5 Mar 2010 10:14
Rating: 4/5
killjoy1975

It is illegal to hold a passport, although the company I work for allows employees to retain them with themselves or hand-over for safe-keeping!

The majority allow the company to look after them because they cannot leave without the exit permit, what is the point is keeping the passport. I, for one, keep my passport.

I am from the UK and on page 2 - Notes, section 6 - Caution it states...

"This passport remains the property of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and may be withdrawn at any time."

Therefore the passport is not even your property, it is the property of the State of issuance of the passport.

By every_mothers_nightmare• 5 Mar 2010 10:01
Rating: 3/5
every_mothers_nightmare

My passport is with me but....To be honest i dont mind my company holding my passport as i dont have to worry about loosing it and its of no use keeping it with me as i always need a exit permit incase i need to vanish :P

By SmK1361• 5 Mar 2010 01:25
SmK1361

Could you mention the name of the company please?

Because it's illegal to hold passport of an employee, the passport, it is ok to have a copy of the ID or passport but not to hold the passport, all he need to register the employee.

By andre_smarti12345• 4 Mar 2010 23:44
Rating: 4/5
andre_smarti12345

if he is a hight level ..no they should not \

but in case of helpers ..labours ..office boys ..yes

By JuliaRose• 4 Mar 2010 23:15
Rating: 5/5
JuliaRose

It might seem illegal but the passport doesn't serve its purpose even if it's in your hands. Should you need to exit or leave the country, your company still needs it in order to arrange for an exit permit. Also,it's better to let your company have it for safekeeping. There have been lots of stories or even appeals in the daily papers of people who have lost their passport while it was in their possession.

In our company, passports are stored in a fire-proof safe. The staff have the option of either keeping the passports with them or letting the company keep it. Majority prefer to keep it at the company's safe, it also guarantees that the Residence Permits are renewed on time, as it is a common practice that it is renewed a week before its expiry.

By stealth• 4 Mar 2010 22:37
stealth

It doesnt make a difference since you cannot leave the country without an exit permit

By supermanqatar• 4 Mar 2010 22:31
supermanqatar

It is illegal but normal in Qatar!

By anonymous• 4 Mar 2010 21:38
anonymous

Yo Guys..

U canot go on Fighting 4ur pasport with ur H.R., Evn its illegal, Some Companies have the tendency to keep it with dem as a security Measure.U jz cant help it.Bt U can alwz get it by telling that U got some embasssy work & u need passport for that.

By mozaah• 4 Mar 2010 20:50
Rating: 4/5
mozaah

In law of QATAR its illegal!!! all company is it not allowed to keep the passport of the employee,it written in their law...but most of them are not obeying their own law...most of the company are holding the passport of there employee and its happening, where you will go yanee!!!to complaints them!!!where and who will help you!!!for them its fair!!!QL pls...be yourself answering the question of others,maybe you may help them or giving a false hope pls...DON'T just be straight forward ok...what u know then share it bash!!!thanks and more power...

By DukebluedeviL• 4 Mar 2010 20:43
Rating: 3/5
DukebluedeviL

you should have your passport with you. Companies are required to give back the passport of their employees after fixing your immigration concerns and visa.

By Oryx• 4 Mar 2010 20:20
Rating: 5/5
Oryx

Illegal - as your passport is actually the property of your government

By fgarciaRN• 4 Mar 2010 19:36
Rating: 5/5
fgarciaRN

Your passport should be with you and not with your company.

By KHATTAK• 4 Mar 2010 19:22
KHATTAK

...... Illegal.

By aak• 4 Mar 2010 19:09
Rating: 4/5
aak

It is illegal for the company to hold the passports.

By anonymous• 4 Mar 2010 18:36
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

no this is illegal.

One should request the Passport and if not given you can go to Embassy or police. Passport is property of the country issued and illegal to be hold back other by a government authority like Police for valid reasons.. (but not a Company)

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