Latest immigration restrictions across the Mideast

By Eudore R. Chand

DUBAI 22 March 2020: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus is being monitored closely by public health agencies around the world, and governments in many jurisdictions – including the Middle East – have taken immigration-related measures in order to contain the spread of the virus.

According to immigration specialists Fragomen, as of Thursday, the following restrictions had been imposed in the region:

United Arab Emirates:

Issued entry permits, visas on arrival suspended

Expats with valid visa cannot return for two weeks

Bahrain

Entry and transit ban: For foreign nationals who have visited Austria, Belgium, Mainland China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom or United States in the 14 days prior to travel to Bahrain (this does not apply to nationals of Bahrain and other GCC countries, foreign residents in Bahrain as well as military personnel and those with a special approval from the Ministry of Interior).

Restrictions:

  • No visa-on-arrival issued to nationals of all countries effective 3:00 am on 18 March; this does not apply to diplomats;
  • Border crossing at the King Fahad Causeway, linking Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, has been closed.

Quarantine:

  • For nationals of Bahrain and other GCC countries who have visited or transited through Austria, Belgium, Mainland China, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom or United States;
  • For foreign residents in Bahrain who have visited or transited through Mainland China, Egypt, Hong Kong SAR, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand.

Travel ban: For nationals of Bahrain travelling to Iran.

Egypt

Entry ban: For Qatari nationals.

Restrictions: Suspension of all commercial flights to/from Egypt from 19 March until 31 March.

Iraq

Entry ban:

  • For nationals of Mainland China and Iran;
  • For foreign nationals who have visited Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macau SAR, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand in the 14 days prior to travel to Iraq.

Restrictions:

  • Suspension of movement between Iraqi Kurdistan and Federal Iraq from March 14 to 28 for Iraqi and foreign nationals, excluding diplomats, medical personnel and security forces;
  • No travel to Iraq from Iran from March 17 to April 1;
  • Closure of all government agencies in Basrah until 22 March, and suspension on issuance of security passes until further notice.

Quarantine: For nationals of Iraq and foreign residents in Iraq who have visited Mainland China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macau SAR, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand in the 14 days prior to travel to Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdistan

Entry ban:

  • For nationals of Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom;
  • For foreign nationals who have visited Bahrain, Mainland China, France, Hong Kong SAR, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Macau SAR, Singapore, Spain, South Korea or Thailand on or after January 1, 2020.

Restrictions:

  • Visa issuance stopped for nationals of Albania, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Mainland China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom;
  • Closure of all government agencies and suspension of all immigration processes until March 26 (the government announced public holidays for private and public sectors from 11 March until 26 March);
  • Suspension of movement between the governates in Iraqi Kurdistan and between Iraqi Kurdistan and Federal Iraq from March 14 to 28 for Iraqi and foreign nationals, excluding diplomats, medical personnel and security forces;
  • No commercial flights until March 28.

Quarantine: For no less than 30 days for nationals of all countries, including nationals of Iraq.

Jordan

Entry and transit ban: For foreign nationals who have visited Mainland China, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Spain, South Korea or Syria in the 14 days prior to travel to Jordan (this does not apply to nationals of Jordan, their spouses and children, official delegations and diplomats).

Restrictions: Closure of all land, sea and air borders for all passenger traffic from 17 March.

Kuwait

Entry ban: For all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Kuwaiti citizens, immediate relatives of Kuwaiti citizens and foreign residents in Kuwait.

Restrictions:

  • Closure of all government agencies until 29 March;
  • Suspension of all commercial flights to/from Kuwait until further notice.

Concessions:

  • Expired work and residence permits for foreign nationals outside Kuwait can be renewed by employers in Kuwait;
  • Validity of all categories of visit visas has been extended by additional two months;

Lebanon

Entry and transit ban: For all travellers (regardless of nationality). This does not apply to nationals of Lebanon and those who have a valid residence permit for Lebanon.

Restrictions: Closure of all government agencies until 29 March.

Morocco

Restrictions: Suspension of all commercial flights to/from Morocco from 15 March.

Oman

Entry ban:

  • For all foreign nationals travelling by air (regardless of nationality) effective 12:00 pm on March 17. This does not apply to nationals of Oman and other GCC countries, as well as foreign nationals with valid residence visa for Oman who will be subject to a quarantine. Passengers transiting through the airports in Oman are allowed to continue their journey, provided that have valid documents for their next destination;
  • For nationals of GCC countries, including nationals of Oman, travelling with their national identity card (they must use their passport for entry).

Restrictions: Suspension on the issuance of all visit visas for tourism, including visa-on-arrival effective 15 March.

Quarantine: For passengers arriving from Japan or Singapore (this does not apply to nationals of Mainland China, Iran and Italy who are not allowed to enter).

Pakistan

Entry ban: For all travelers seeking entry to Pakistan’s region of Balochistan directly from Iran (the border between the two countries has been temporarily closed).

Quarantine: For Chinese nationals for 14 days after entry to Pakistan.

Qatar

Entry ban:

  • For all foreign nationals (regardless of nationality) effective immediately. Qatari nationals may enter Qatar but are subject to a 14-day quarantine. Passengers transiting through the airport in Doha are allowed to continue their journey, provided that have valid documents for their next destination;
  • For nationals of GCC countries, including nationals of Qatar, travelling with their national identity card (they must use their passport for entry).

Restrictions:

  • No new entry visa applications (i.e.: work visa, business visa, family visa) are processed for applicants of all nationalities in Qatar Financial Centre Free Zone (QFC);
  • No new residence permit applications are processed for applicants of all nationalities in Qatar Financial Centre Free Zone (QFC);
  • All Qatar Visa Centres are closed until further notice;
  • Suspension of all in-person immigration applications submission.

Saudi Arabia

Entry ban: For all travellers (regardless of nationality) other than Saudi citizens until March 31.

Restrictions:

  • Closure of all government agencies except those related to public health and security as well as the military sector until March 31;
  • Suspension of all commercial flights to/from Saudi Arabia until March 31;
  • Border with Jordan is closed for all passenger traffic;
  • Border crossing at the King Fahad Causeway, linking Bahrain with Saudi Arabia is closed;
  • Entry into and exit from Qatif governorate (from Saihat in the South to Safwa in the North) is temporarily suspended. Residents who are currently outside of the governorate will be allowed to return to their homes. Work of all government departments and private institutions in Qatif governorate is suspended;
  • Saudi visa applications for nationals of select countries, including China, Iran and Yemen are currently suspended;
  • Applicants with visas issued by Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Yemen must cancel their visa before they apply for a visa for Saudi Arabia;
  • Suspension of processing of all categories of visa applications at many consular posts, including Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates.

Concessions:

  • Foreign nationals whose residence permit and / or exit-re-entry visa expired while being outside Saudi Arabia are expected to be able to renew their permits through one of the electronic portals Absher or Muqeem (this option is currently unavailable but expected to be activated shortly);
  • Foreign nationals whose visit visa expired while being in Saudi Arabia, including visas for business and for tourism, can renew the visa through one of the electronic portals Absher or Muqeem.

Travel ban: For nationals of Saudi Arabia and foreign residents in Saudi Arabia travelling to Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

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