KRG visas to be extended, penalties waived for expired iqamas as lockdown lifted
Karzan Sulaiman, head of Erbil residency office’s media directorate, confirmed to Rudaw on Tuesday that visa-holders will be allowed to stay in the Kurdistan Region for another month, and holders of expired residency cards will not be fined.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) introduced a lockdown on March 14 to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the Region. Government offices were closed as well. Following five days of no new cases, the KRG reopened its offices on Monday, allowing people to do their paperwork.
Sulaiman added that foreigners who have residency cards which expired during this period will not be fined if they are renewed by June 1.
People flocked to Erbil’s residency office on Monday to issue or renew their residency cards and temporary visas. Crowds of people were seen queuing to be allowed in, leaving some with no option but to compromise coronavirus-related preventive measures.
Kamil Barzanji, head of Erbil's residency office, told Rudaw on Monday that the crowds were “expected” due to the two-month lockdown.
He said that they work for seven hours a day, from 9am to 4pm, while other government offices only work from 9am to 1pm.
Rudaw
