MORE than 90 per cent of applications for work visas to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) are being made online, it was revealed yesterday.

The LMRA target rate for online applications was originally set at 60pc, but the rate has been increasing steadily, said chief executive Ali Radhi.

“About 91pc of total new visa applications were submitted online last month,” he told the GDN.

“This is very encouraging. This also shows that the e-visa training programme conducted by LMRA for clearing agents is paying off.”

The total weekly inflow of new visa applications reached more than 5,000 last month, said Mr Radhi. The weekly outflow was more than 4,400.

“The total weekly inflow of renewal reached 2,799 at the end of last month. The weekly outflow was 2,814,” he said.

“More than 94pc of the weekly new visa applications are within the 10-day target.

“It means that only six per cent of the visa applications take more than 10 days for completion.”

Mr Radhi said about 89pc of the new visa applications meet the three-day public target for LMRA operations.

“About 94pc of new visa applications are within the five-day public target set by the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence,” he said.

Mr Radhi urged all employers to renew their employees’ work visas before they expired.