Qatar Visa Centre launched in Sri Lanka

From left: National Integration, Reconciliation and Official Languages State Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, MP Ravi Karunanayake, Qatar Ambassador Dr. Rashid bin Shafea Al Marri, Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister Ravindra Samaraweera, Qatar Labour and Social Affairs Ministry Asst. Undersecretary Mohammad Hassan Al Obaidly, and Qatar Consular Affairs Department Manager Muhammed Abdullah Al Subaei - Pic by Lasantha Kumara

• Visa process cut down to 48 hours
• All processes under one roof
• First centre opened in Sri Lanka ahead of other countries
• Aims to strengthen ties between countries by facilitating expatriates via speedy and secure visa delivery

By Ruwandi Gamage

The first-ever Qatar Visa Centre was opened at Rajagiriya yesterday, as a means of facilitating and speeding up the recruitment procedures for Sri Lankan expatriates migrating to the State of Qatar. 

As opposed to the one-month process that existed prior to the opening of this centre, expatriates seeking employment in Qatar can now get their visa process handled within 48 hours. 

Upon securing work placement, all applicants are required to obtain a visa reference number from the Qatar’s Ministry of Interior and book an appointment online prior to coming to the Visa Centre.

At the reception, after the identity of the applicant is verified and required documentation checked, a token will be issued. Then the applicants will be able to view their employment work contract and digitally sign to approve work placement. 

Following this the applicant will provide their biometric data and undergo the required medical tests, for which all facilities are provided within the centre.

A subsidiary of Biomet Services Ltd. in Singapore, Biomet Visa Services Lanka Ltd., provides the visa processing and biometric enrolment facilities at the centre.

This centre is the first to be opened as part of a project by the State of Qatar Ministry of Interior to open Qatar Visa Centres in several countries, including India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Tunisia, to name a few. 

“As part of Qatar’s keenness to facilitate the work process and protect the rights of expatriates, Qatar Visa Centres will be opened in a number of countries, starting with the Republic of Sri Lanka,” State of Qatar Ministry of Interior Department of Visa Support Services Director Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said. 

The centre is now open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., for those seeking employment in the State of Qatar in the labour field. Within a month’s time the services will be extended to other expatriates and later to all visitors to the State of Qatar from Sri Lanka. 

“In the framework of the ongoing cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Sri Lanka, in order to achieve the common interest and strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, I’m pleased and honoured to attend the inauguration of the Qatar Visa Centre,” the Ambassador to the State of Qatar Dr. Rashid bin Shafea Al-Marri said. 

The centre was opened to the public by Ambassador to the State of Qatar in the presence of State of Qatar Ministry of Interior Department of Visa Support Services Director Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Biomet Services Business Head Suhail Shaikh and other dignitaries.