Qatar – also known as the State of Qatar located in the Middle East and is one of the fastest growing countries in the gulf region and has gained popularity among other countries for the past years. Qatar has the world’s largest per capita production and proven reserves of both oil and natural gas. In 2010, Qatar had the world’s highest GDP per capita, while the economy grew by 19.40%, the fastest in the world.
In the recent years, Qatar has been one of the top destinations of overseas employment of various nationalities. I think that maybe because beside the booming economy, there is no single threat of peace or any sign of turmoil that may happen.
I decided to blog list of types of visa in Qatar to give an idea how the immigration works in the country. While I understand that visa subject is a complex topic, let me give you a summary of everything.
Types of Visa in Qatar and the respective Regulations
No | Visa type | Period | Fees | Authority | Special conditions |
1 | Visit visa for family members | One month renewable for a maximum period of five months for immediate relatives and two months for other relatives | -220 riyals for each visa -50 riyals for each companion in the passport-220 riyals for each month of renewal | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | ____ |
2 | Visit visa for wives and children | One year or more | -520 riyals for the wife-120 riyals for each companion in the passport | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | ____ |
3 | Work visa under the sponsorship of companies and institutes | One year or more | 220 riyals | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | Approval of the Permanent Committee of Recruiting |
4 | Work visa under personal sponsorship(servants and others..) | One year or more | -220 riyals for Qataris -1020 riyals for non-Qataris | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | Approval of the Permanent Committee of Recruiting |
5 |
Return visa |
____ |
-220 riyals 50 riyals for each companion in the passport | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | The visa visit should be valid for a period longer than the person’s stay abroad. |
6 |
Tourist visa | Two weeks renewable for two more weeks | -50 riyals for each two weeks – 20 riyals for each companion | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | – two-way ticket on the Qatari Airways-either the presence of immediate relatives in Qatar or booking at a hotel– an amount of 5000 riyals or its equivalent |
7 |
Business visa | Two weeks renewable for two more weeks | 50 riyals for each two weeks | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | Issued at the entry on condition that there is a deputy from the company or institution |
8 | Visa for GCC residents | Two weeks renewable for another two weeks | – 50 riyals-20 riyals for each companion | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports | Valid residence permit in one of GCC countries for at least three months |
9 | Visa for companions of GCC nationals | One month renewable according to the request of the sponsor | 100 riyals for each month | Directory of Residents Affairs in the General Directory of Passports |
____ |
10 | Work visa | Six months or less | – 100 riyals for each month if the sponsor is a company or an institute– 20 riyals for each month if the sponsor is a person | The Permanent Committee for Recruiting |
____ |
11 | Lorry drivers’ visa | – five days and can be extended– three months for a number of travels | – 100 riyals for each month– visa fees obtained abroad + fax fees | – The Directory of Residents Affairs-Qatari missions abroad-The directory of Passports of Entries | The lorry should be Qatari licensed or owned by one of GCC nationals and loading goods from GCC countries |
12 | Multi-visit visa | – not exceeding six months-not exceeding one year | – 300 riyals+50 riyals for each companion-600 riyals+50 riyals for each companion | Directory of Recruiting Affairs | Issued for employees, technicians, and workers with short-term contracts and employees of foreign companies that have branches in Qatar whose residence in Qatar is for a short period. |
1. Visas of companions of the nationals of GCC countries:
These are issued for servants, drivers, nurses and wives accompanying the sponsors or their families. They are issued for a period of one month that can be extended. The fees are one hundred riyals.
2. Visas of sailors’ transit: these are issued to sailors of Qatar Navigation Company or Qatar Petroleum to board or unboard ships in Qatar’s regional water. They are issued at the land or air entries to the sea entry and vice versa for a period of 48 hours. The fee is 120 riyals.
3. Tourist and business visas: These are for 33 countries, namely, USA, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, The Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The visas are issued directly without special conditions.
4. The joint Qatari-Omani tourist visa is issued to the citizens of the above mentioned 33 countries without any special conditions for a period of three weeks through Qatari missions abroad for a fee of 70 riyals or through the country’s entries for a fee of 55 riyals. The visa is extendable for one week through the Directory of Residents’ Affairs for a fee of 70 riyals.
Please note that these list of visas in Qatar are subject to change.
Is there a family status provided for a profession like business executive in Qatar??
Hell, i ma in Uganda, Can you please explain to me about the Work visa under personal sponsorship, i want to know whether i am eligible