Qatar Family Residence Visa: Complete Guide 2024
What is Qatar Family Residence Visa?
Qatar provides family residence visas to the family members of foreign workers and expatriates, allowing them to quickly join their loved ones and live together in the country. An expatriate can invite his family (like his wife and children) for a long-term stay on a Qatar family residence visa. Keep in mind that each family member must have an individual residence visa to stay in Qatar.
Obtaining a Qatar Family Residence Visa is not challenging, if you fulfil requirements such as holding an eligible occupation, accommodation, and having a minimum salary of QAR 15,000. Moreover, applicants have to submit required documents like marriage certificates, attested education documents, birth certificates, and bank statements. Let’s dive into the details about the Qatar Family Residence Visa.
Qatar Family Visa Requirements (Residence)
There are no such high requirements for getting a Qatar Family Visa, you just need to meet the basic criteria. The following are the fundamental requirements to get a Qatar Family Residence Visa:
Qatar Family Visa Residence Permit Requirement
The sponsor must have a valid residence permit to fulfil the first requirement. Ensure you have a Qatar ID / Residence Card before applying for a residence visa for your family in Qatar.
Qatar Family Visa Profession Requirement
To sponsor a family residence visa in Qatar, the sponsor must hold a specialized, technical, or high-salary job. Workers in lower-paying professions like cleaners, delivery drivers, and office assistants are not eligible to sponsor their families due to their lower income.
Qatar Residence Visa Salary Requirement
The salary requirement is significant for a Qatar family residence visa because it ensures that the sponsor can easily manage the expenses of his/her family through salary. For private sector employees in Qatar, the minimum salary required to sponsor a family ranges from QAR 10,000 to QAR 15,000.
However, if free accommodation is provided, employees with a salary between QAR 7,000 and QAR 10,000 may also be eligible to invite their families.
Age Limit
Please note that there is no age limit for the spouse on a Qatar family residence visa. However, the son must be under 18 and the daughter must be single for a Qatar family residence visa.
Family Residence Visa Qatar Procedure
Everything is available online. Before applying for a family visa in Qatar, you should do some research. There are a few companies that bear the visa fee of your family but most companies do not give such privileges. It is better to ask your employer so that you can save some pennies.
Following are a few steps for a Qatar Family Visa Residence Permit:
- Apply for a Family Entry Visa Online or physically
- Family Members enter Qatar on entry visas
- Undergo the Medical Test
- Undergo the Fingerprints Process
- Apply for Family Residence Permit Card
Let’s discuss these steps one by one:
Apply for a Family Residence Visa Qatar Online or Directly
There are two ways to get a family residence visa in Qatar. First, You can apply directly for a family residence visa by providing all the required documents to get the visa approved. Further formalities can be cleared after reaching Qatar.
Another Step to getting a family visa is you can apply for a family residence visa in Qatar and then can change into a family residence visa by paying an additional QAR 500. You will need the same documents as you provided for the visit visa.
Most importantly, Those who are working in private companies are required to provide a six months bank statement.
Apply for Family Residence Visa through Metrash
If you want to apply for a Qatar residence visa through the Metrash app, you need to prove your relationship with your relative. You will need to read the following documents when applying for a Qatar family residence visa through Metrash application:
Note that documents such as marriage certificate, birth certificate etc., must be in English or Arabic. If these documents are not in Arabic or English, translate them.
For the attestation of required documents, go to the Qatar Embassy and Qatar Ministry of Affairs in your country. Moreover, you can attest your documents through some agents or private companies.
Qatar Ministry of Interior (MOI) has streamlined the online application process through the Metrash app. Below is a step-by-step process with images for applying for a family residence visa on Metrash application:
- Download the Metrash mobile app.
- Login into the Metrash2 application.
- Click on the “Visa” icon.
- Click on the “Issue Visa” option.
- Click on the “Family Visit” option.
- Tick mark on “Family Resident Application”.
- Press the “New Application” option.
- Enter all the required details in the form.
- After filling up the details, tap on “Validate”.
- Verify the details select “I agree with the validity of the data” and click on the “Next” button.
Upload the required documents.
To upload documents, you will find the placeholder. Follow the given below instructions about documents:
- Scan or photograph the documents.
- Documents must be readable and clear.
- Documents must be in JPG not in PDF.
- Combine multiple pages of documents into one JPG and size less than 500KB.
- Afterwards, click on the “Next” button.
Once your visa application is submitted, it will be “Under Process”. Later application status will change to “Under Review”. If your application is rejected, the reason will be mentioned.
Qatar Family Residence Visa Price
If your visa is approved, you have to pay the Qatar family visa fee online through the Metrash app or by visiting the immigration office. QAR 200 is the fee for a Qatar family visa.
Apply Family Residence Visa Qatar through MOI
If you are applying through the Ministry of Interior (MOI), you have to prepare a complete list of documents. Download the application form and fill it out completely. Below is the complete requirement list:
After submitting documents, you can see your Qatar family residence visa status. If your visa gets approved, pay the QAR 200 visa fee through the Metrash app or by visiting the immigration office. You can download your visa through MOI QATAR under Visa Service.
Apply for Family Residence Visa Qatar Directly
If you want to directly apply for a family residence visa in Qatar, you can visit the immigration office to submit your visa application. Download the Qatar family residence visa application form and bring together all the above mentioned documents. This application form is available in English as well as Arabic.
What to do if Family Residence Visa for Qatar is Rejected?
Sometimes, your Qatar family visa can be rejected although you meet all the requirements. Following are the steps to reapply for the Qatar visa:
- Review the Rejection Reasons: You can visit the immigration office to ask why your Qatar family residence visa was rejected. This will help you to understand the reason for rejection and make improvements.
- Reapply for your Visa: If you thought that your Qatar family visa was rejected without any reason, you can reapply for a visa.
- Seek Legal Assistance: If you have difficulty processing the visa application, you can seek assistance from the immigration office or visa consultant.
- Get a Meeting date: When your visa problem is solved, you will get an appointment date. They will ask general questions from you. If your application gets clear, you will obtain a Qatar family residence visa in two working days.
Family Members Enter in Qatar
Once the authorities approve the family residence visa, the visa holders are allowed to travel to Qatar. Visa holders must have to enter Qatar within 180 days (the validity maybe 90 days or 1 year). You can check your visa validity by counting the days from the issue date to the expiry date. If you cannot travel to Qatar within the validity period, you can extend your visa up to an additional 180 days but you will need to pay QAR 200.
Undergo a Medical Test for a Qatar Residence Visa
If you are planning to obtain a residence visa in Qatar, you may need to undergo a medical test as part of the visa application process. The medical test is aimed to ensure that you are healthy and not harmful to the local community.
The medical test typically includes a blood test, chest X-ray, and a medical examination by a licensed physician. The tests are designed to detect diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV as well as other medical conditions that could affect public health.
List of Documents for Medical Test
General medical test documents are required for a residence visa. Sometimes it depends on the circumstances of the visa and medical test center. However, the following documents are usually required:
- Passport: Original passport as well as a copy of the front and back page of the passport.
- Visa Application: A copy of your Qatar Visa Application or Residency permit application.
- Photograph: Two passport-size pictures.
- Medical History: A brief history of your previous medical report.
- Payment: Medical Fees may vary depending on the type of test and medical centre. You have to pay for it.
Medical test is conducted by the medical commission department which is located at Al Muntazah Street, off the E-Ring Road. Their working hours are from Sunday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Medical Test Fee For Family Residence Visa
The cost of the medical test in Qatar is QR 100 per person. Children are exempted from taking the test but their passport and visa copies must be presented to the Medical Commission. A payment of QR 100 is required to register them as healthy in the system
It is recommended that contact the medical centre before going there because requirements vary according to medal test centres.
Must inform the immigration department if you convert your visit visa into a residence visa.
How to Check Family Residence Visa Medical Test Reports
To check the medical test reports for a family residence visa in Qatar, follow these steps:
- Visit the official website of the Qatar Government’s Ministry of Public Health (MPOH) at https://eservices.moph.gov.qa/.
- Click on “Health E Transactions” and select “Inquiries” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose “Visa Medical Report” and enter the QID number of the person for whom you are to check the report.
- Enter the CAPTCHA code and click on “Search”
- Preview your medical report now.
You may also check your medical test report from the Metrash mobile app after 2-3 days of the medical test.
If you are unable to access the report online, you can also visit the Medical Commission office in person to obtain a copy of the report. It is important to note that medical reports are only valid for a limited time, maybe for 3 months. So make sure to check the expiration date.
Undergo the Fingerprinting Process for Family Visa Qatar
Once, you have done the Medical test. You are supposed to provide fingerprints digitally to the Ministry of Interior. You need to follow these steps:
- Prepare all the required documents such as the Sponsor’s Passport and Qatar ID copy, Blood Group report, and two passport-size pictures with blue backgrounds.
- Book an appointment with the Qatar Visa Center (QVC).
- Visit them on appointment day.
- Provide your biometric information and fingerprints which will be scanned electronically.
- Proofread your information, If it is accurate proceed next.
- Pay the fingerprint fee, if applicable.
- QVC will forward your biometric information to the Qatar authorities for processing.
You should have a blood type / Blood Group Certificate for a residence permit from a local clinic. It will cost you around QR 30 to 50.
CEID collects fingerprints for all Qatar residents. Get the fingerprint application from CEID and keep the receipt after the session for future purposes. CEID headquarters is located after the Industrial area flyover on Salwa road
Apply for Family Residence Permit Card
To apply for a family residence Permit Card in Qatar, you will need to follow these steps:
- Prepare necessary documents, you need to gather all the required documents, which typically include the following
- Fill out the application form
- Copy of your passport and family member’s passport.
- Copy of your Qatar ID card and your family member’s Qatar ID cards if applicable
- Proof of your relationship with family such as marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc
- Copy of your employment Contract and salary certificate
- Proof of accommodation.
- Medical Certificate for each family member.
- Police Clearance Certificate for each member over the age of 18
- Submit your application: you can submit your application and supporting documents to the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Passports and Expatriates Affairs. You can also apply online or physically in any of the ministry service centres.
- Pay the Fees: You will need to pay the application fee. This depends on the number of applicants.
- Waiting for the Approval: Your Application will be reviewed by the authorities and you will be notified about the decision. This may take weeks or months.
- Collect your residence permit: If your application is approved, you will need to collect your residence permit card from the Ministry of Interior’s service centre.
Fee for Residence Permit card
See the below table for the residence permit card fee:
| Qatar Residence Permit Fee ( For One Year) | QR 500 |
| Qatar Family Visa Fee ( per Dependent) | QR 200 |
| Medical Commission Test Fee ( Per Dependent) | QR 100 |
National Address Registration
Once you receive your printed QID, you must register your national address. You can register via the Metrash mobile application or through the MOI service center. If you want to register your children’s national address, you can use the sponsor’s Metrash mobile app. Moreover, the wife will require a sim card with her own QID to register her national address.
Remember that before renewing a resident’s QID you must register your national address.
Work Permit For Spouse & Children
Dependent spouses and children must be at least 18 years old if they want to work. They have to apply for a special work permit through the Mestrash mobile application.
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