Employer Holding Your Passport? Legal Rights & Recovery Process in GCC

A passport is the sovereign property of the issuing government and the personal custody of the individual citizen. Employers or recruitment agencies have zero legal authority to hold or confiscate a worker's passport at any time during employment.

1. The Law Across Gulf Countries

• 🇦🇪 UAE: Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 explicitly prohibits retaining employee passports with fines up to AED 20,000 per violation.
• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Cabinet Decision No. 166 fines companies SAR 2,000 to SAR 5,000 per passport seized with an immediate return order.
• 🇧🇭 Bahrain: Strictly illegal under LMRA Anti-Trafficking guidelines; police can immediately accompany workers to recover seized passports.
• 🇴🇲 Oman: Strictly banned under Oman Royal Decree No. 53/2023 with heavy financial penalties for employers.

2. Step 1: Formal Written Demand to Employer

Send a polite, written request via WhatsApp or company email:

"Dear Employer, Please hand over my original passport for personal identification and consular administrative purposes as required by official labor laws. Thank you."

3. Step 2: Filing a Police & Labor Report

If the company refuses to release your passport within 48 hours, report immediately to MOHRE (800 60 in UAE), MHRSD (19911 in KSA), Oman MoL (800 77000), or LMRA (995 in Bahrain) to obtain an official Passport Surrender Order. You may also lodge a police complaint at the nearest station.

4. Step 3: Getting an Outpass (Emergency Certificate)

If your employer claims they lost your passport or refuses court orders, your Embassy can issue an Emergency Certificate (EC / White Passport) to allow one-way flight repatriation.