Employers Must Re-Submit Work Permit Applications for Foreign Workers by December 14

The situation

The Ministry of Labour in Equatorial Guinea has issued an order that requires companies to re-apply for work permits for all foreign nationals in their employ by December 14, 2018.

A closer look

• Reapplication process. Employers must apply for a new work permit for foreign nationals under their employ by December 14, 2018 by submitting a standard work permit application and supporting documents to the Ministry of Labour. There is no fee for the new work permit application.
   
• Pending applications. Work permit applications that are pending on or after December 14, 2018 will be processed and do not require the employer to re-apply.
   

Impact for employers

Employers who fail to submit new work permit applications for all foreign employees by the deadline will be deemed to be employing illegal foreign nationals and may incur fines.

Impact for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals without new work permits by December 14 will be considered illegal workers and will be issued deportation notices or face fines. 

Foreign nationals may not work while the work permit is under consideration. It is unclear how long it could take to process the re-submitted work permit.

Background

This initiative was implemented to allow immigration authorities to ensure that work permits were issued according to standard immigration regulations. The government in Equatorial Guinea undertook this same initiative in May 2015.

Looking ahead

The Ministry of Labor may issue additional information about this requirement in the near future. Fragomen will report on further information as it becomes available.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].