Updated July 2023
Do you want to move to Qatar and gain residency in this dynamic and quickly rising country? If this is the case, understanding the application process for a residence visa is critical.
Qatar residence visa updates
Qatar Visa Centres (QVCs) based abroad have streamlined the employment process for workers from many countries. These QVCs currently only provide work visa services, but they plan to expand their business to cover family visit visas, multiple entrance visas, and family residency visas in the near future.
Prior to their arrival in Qatar, the General Directorate of Passports issued an order to investigate the possibility of executing procedures such as fingerprinting, collecting biometric data, conducting medical tests, and signing job contracts in the expatriates’ home countries. This effort entails creating visa centres overseas in partnership with appropriate agencies in Qatar to expedite these processes.
Qatar residence visa
A Qatar residency visa is a document that permits foreigners to lawfully live and work in Qatar.
In Qatar, there are several sorts of residency visas available, each catering to a different set of circumstances and goals. Each visa category has its own set of eligibility requirements, benefits, and duration, giving applicants a variety of options for meeting their personal residency requirements in Qatar.
Work residence visa
Most expatriates receive a Qatar work residency visa after being engaged by a Qatari employer. The employer serves as the employee’s sponsor and applies for the visa on his or her behalf. Before receiving the visa, the employee must pass a medical check, fingerprints, and security clearance.
Family residence visa
This visa allows expats in Qatar to support their spouses and children for an extended period of time. To qualify, the sponsor must have a valid work residency visa, work in a technical or specialised occupation, earn a minimum monthly salary of QR 10,000, and have adequate housing arrangements.
In addition, the sponsor must produce a confirmed marriage certificate, birth certificate, educational certificates, bank statements, and medical reports.
Real estate residence visa
Qatar real estate residence visa allows foreign nationals to purchase property in Qatar and obtain resident rights. The property must be located in one of Qatar’s specified zones and have a minimum value of QAR 730,000. The real estate residency visa holder is allowed to live in Qatar as long as they own the property.
Qatar residence visa requirements
Work residence visa
The following are the documents that employees must provide to get a residence permit:
- a valid passport
- two passport photographs of the employee
- the employment visa
- a copy of the company’s Commercial Registration
- a copy of the business’s immigration card
- the employee’s medical certificate
Family residence visa
You will need the following documents in order to apply for a Family Residence Visa in Qatar:
- an application completed (only while applying offline)
- Qatar ID card copy
- passport copy (front page with name, photo and other identification)
- passport copies of all the family members entering Qatar.
- attested copy of Marriage Certificate
- certified copy of Birth Certificates for all the children
- attested copies of all your diplomas.
- No Objection Letter from your organization specifying your qualification and income (written in Arabic and dated within the last three months.)
- Company Registration Card / Employer QID Copy
- rental agreement copy certified by Municipality or proof from company
- a six-month stamped bank statement to confirm your salary rate.
- employment Contract stamped by the Ministry Of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.
Real estate residence visa
Below is the list of required documents that you need to obtain a real estate residence visa:
- copy of valid passport.
- letter from concerned authority mentioning investment.
- good conduct certificate of the application and children above certified by the concerned authorities.
- proof of passing the medical examination outside the country as per the mechanism specified by the concerned authorities.
Qatar residence visa application
Work residence visa
Employees/workers merely need to submit their documents to their employers to receive a work residency visa or permission.
The following are the processes that employers must do in order to apply for their employees’ visas:
- Register with the Ministry of Interior’s Immigration Department by submitting many documents, including a copy of their trade licence. Upon registration, they will be provided an Immigration Card as well as a Representative Card.
- Apply for a work permit for each employee they intend to hire. The application materials must be supplied in Arabic and must include the worker’s job title and nationality. They will then receive permission from the Ministry of Labour. Employees who have got a work permit may travel to Qatar.
- lodge an application for the employees’ residence permit within seven days of their arrival by submitting the necessary documentation to the Ministry of Labour.
Workers may begin working solely for the company that issued their visas after receiving their residence permits. Employees and workers should keep their ID and applicable visas on them at all times, since government officials may conduct random checks.
Family residence visa
Online application
The visa application can be conveniently completed online by the following steps:
- first, make sure to download and register on the Metrash2 (iOS, Android) application on your mobile phone.
- open the Metrash2 application and log in to your account.
- select the “Visa”, icon that appears on the screen.
- then, click on the “Issue Visa” icon followed by the “Family Visit” icon.
- select “Family Resident Application” from the drop-down menu.
- click on “New Application”, and fill up the personal details of the visitor including Gender, Relation, Date of Birth, Passport Details, etc, accurately.
- select the ” I agree on validity of data” option to proceed.
You will receive a notification within a few days to proceed with the fee payment once the application has been approved and verified.
Offline application
The Qatar family visit visa can be applied offline by following the steps given below:
- the Family Residence Visa application form can be downloaded from here.
- fill up the form and take all the above mentioned documents to the Al Gharrafa Immigration Department (Google location)
- get your virtual number from the reception and wait for your turn.
- once your turn comes, submit all the documents to the department manager.
You will receive a notification within a few days once the application has been approved and verified. You must then proceed with the fee payment.
Real estate residence visa
Below are the steps that you can do to obtain your real estate residence visa:
- to apply for a residence visa for a real estate owner, you need to visit the General Directorate of Passports at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) office.
- download the application form here.
- complete the form with the necessary information, and make sure you have all the documents in hand that are listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
- after filling out the form, attach the documents mentioned in the required documents section below with the completed application form.
- Check the application form and then submit it to the respective officer in the general directorate of passports in the Ministry of Interior (MOI) office.
- the authorities will verify your application and validate the submitted documents.
- after the verification process, your residency visa will be approved.
General Directorate of Passports Qatar address
General Directorate of Passports – Head Office
Ministry of Interior
Address: Doha, Qatar
Phone: +974 2367111
Phone: 2366666
E-mail: info@moi.gov.qa
Official website
Qatar residence visas validity
Work residence visa
The work residency visa is typically valid for one to five years, depending on the length of the contract. Once the employee has a work residency visa, they can sponsor their family members for a family residence visa.
Family residence visa
The family residence visa’s validity and duration span from one to five years, depending on the length of the sponsor’s contract.
Real estate residence visa
The real estate residency visa is valid for five years and can be extended if the property is well-maintained.
Qatar residence visas cost
Work residence visa
The cost of a Qatar work residence visa varies according on the period of the visa and the number of entries into Qatar. The employment entrance visa costs QAR 200 (USD 55) and there is an additional price of QAR 500 (USD 138) to convert this to a Work Residence Permit. Your company, on the other hand, will normally pay for it on your behalf.
Family residence visa
The visa costs for the entire family residence visa application procedure are as follows:
- Qatar Family Visa Application fee (online and offline): QAR 200 (USD 54.86)
- Qatar ID card (for a one-year period): QAR 500 (USD 137.15)
- Medical Test: QAR 100 (USD 27.43)
Real estate residence visa
To qualify for real estate residency in Qatar, the property’s value must be greater than QAR 730,000 (USD 200,239), which is equivalent to 730,000 Qatari riyals. To be eligible for permanent residency with additional benefits, the property must be worth more than QAR 3,650,000 (USD 1,001,195). QAR 200 (USD 54.86) is the application fee.
Qatar residence visas status check
To track the visa approval status of your Qatari visa for residency from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website, follow the steps given below:
- visit the MoI website
- click “Visa Services”, and then choose “Visa Approval Tracking”
- enter your “Application Number”.
- select “Residency” from the “Visa Type” column.
- enter either your “Application Date” or the “QID Sponsor/ Person In Charge”
- enter the Captcha displayed on the screen accurately.
- click on ‘Submit’.
The screen will now display the visa approval tracking status of your Qatari visa for residency.
Qatar residence visas print
You can take a printout or hardcopy of your Qatar visa through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website. To take a printout of your Qatar visa through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website, follow the steps given below:
- visit the MoI website (Ministry of Interior)
- select ‘Visa Services’
- select ‘Visa Inquiry & Printing’
- you can choose to check using your visa number or passport number
- select your nationality and input the verification code
- click on ‘Submit’, and you will be able to check the status of your visa
- after this, click on “Print”
FAQs :-
What is the minimum salary for family residence visa in Qatar 2023?
As of 2023, a minimum salary of QR 15,000 is required to be eligible for sponsoring your family in Qatar.
How long does it take to get a residence permit in Qatar?
The process of getting a Residence Permit usually takes between two to four weeks, however, it can take longer. Once you (or the employed person) get the RP, then you (or they) can sponsor your family to live in Qatar.
Is family visa open in Qatar now 2023?
Reviewed June 2023 One such visa is the Qatar family visit visa which allows expatriate residents in Qatar to bring their family members to Qatar on a short-term basis. The visa is mainly issued to immediate family members. However, it can now also be issued to other relatives of the expatriates.
How much is Qatar resident visa?
What Is The Cost For The Qatar Work Visa For Indians? For Indians, the Qatar Work Visa costs about 19,500 (INR). This includes the fee for both the Work Visa and the Residence Permit, which you will need to work in Qatar.
Who is eligible for permanent residency in Qatar?
According to Article No. 1 of Law No. 10 of 2018 on Permanent Residency, the State of Qatar grants permanent residency to non-Qataris if four main terms are met: Residence period of no less than 20 years in the State of Qatar for non-Qatari born outside Qatar and 10 years for applicants born in Qatar.
What is the maximum age to work in Qatar?
Qatar work visa age limit While the national retirement age for Qatar public sector employees is 60, there is actually no retirement age for private sector employees. However, expatriates are not allowed to renew visas or change sponsors if they are over 60 years old.
