The Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs will facilitate entry of foreign workers in the professional or skilled categories from June 4.
Similarly, entry of foreign workers in the labour category will also be facilitated soon after quarantine facilities have been identified and approved by the health ministry.
As per the public notification issued by the Department of Immigration yesterday, entry of all foreign workers will be based on certain conditions to mitigate the risks of transmission and spread of COVID-19 in the country.
For the entry of foreign workers in the professional or skilled categories, employers or Foreign Worker Recruitment Agency will have to submit the applications to the Department of Labour for approval. If approved by the Department of Labour, the Department of Immigration or Regional Immigration Office will assess the application and submit its recommendations to the COVID-19 Task Force in Phuentshogling.
Based on the merits of the case, the COVID-19 Task Force would grant or deny the entry. If approved by the COVID-19 Task Force, visa or entry permit will be issued to the foreign worker.
However, for the re-entry of foreign workers already holding valid work permit, employers can directly submit applications to the Department of Immigration or Regional Immigration Office. Again, the entry will be granted by the COVID-19 Task Force based on the merits of the case.
Upon arrival in Bhutan, without any exception it will be mandatory for all foreign workers to undergo the 21-day quarantine at a designated facility. The employer or the foreign worker will have to bear all costs relating to quarantine, testing and medical treatment.
The Department of Immigration had suspended the issuance of E-permit/E-visa and re-entry of all foreigners in the country from March 6 following the detection of the first coronavirus case in the country.
Passang Dorji
