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Visas | Residence Permits | Work Permits | Driving Licences | Customs Documentation

Passports are required for all foreign nationals entering Qatar. However, visas for short-term stays are not required of fellow Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) country nationals. This includes citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, only. Holders of Israeli passports and anyone whose passport shows evidence of travel to Israel will be denied entry to Qatar.

Anyone applying for visas, permits and/or medical examinations in Qatar should know a few things beforehand. Expect long waits. All ministries and offices that need to be visited are known to be crowded. In order to avoid anxiety, try not to schedule appointments during the morning you intend to visit these offices. Bringing a light snack or drink in case you cannot leave for lunch is also a good idea. Also, note the office hours of these places, from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., which is likely to be different than to what you are accustomed. Arriving early is always best, and try to be at your destination by the time it opens.

The procedures for obtaining visas and other permits can be confusing to newcomers, but do not let your disorientation allow others to take advantage of you. Do not let others get in front of you in line. If you do not understand an instruction given by an immigration authority, ask him or her to repeat it. Bringing an Arabic-speaking friend or colleague may prove helpful. Most companies have an Arabic-speaking employee whose job is to arrange visas and other formalities. It is extremely useful to take this person along for any bureaucratic dealings.

Visas
Anyone intending to stay in Qatar on a residence visa must have a health examination, which includes HIV and tuberculosis tests and an X-ray. Foreign nationals sponsored by a company need an exit permit in order to leave the country.

Visa applications are judged by country of passport, country of birth, job status, current demographics of nationalities within Qatar and status of applicant Qatari company.

FAST FACT:
Tourist visas are processed by the Immigration Department, whilst all other visas and permits go through the Ministry of the Interior.

Tourist Visas
Visas for tourists to Qatar are issued only by the hotels in which guests will stay whilst in the country. Therefore, the visas expire once the travellers check out of their hotels. Applications require proof of return travel tickets at the end of the trip. Tourist visas are difficult to have extended and are not practical for use by foreign nationals planning to live and/or work in Qatar.

Visit and Business Visas
Visit visas allow their holders to enter Qatar once and stay there for any time from two weeks to three months. This visa may be extended, but it is known to be a difficult process. It might be easier to simply leave the country briefly and return with a new visit visa. Those coming to Qatar on a visit visa may not work in the country.

Business visas are available for persons planning to stay in Qatar for seven days, but it may be extended for up to four weeks. This visa can be processed very quickly, in only about two or three days, but this is possible only with close co-ordination between the sponsoring company in Qatar and the visa application offices. This is particularly true of visas being processed from Qatari embassies overseas.

Once the business visa application process has been completed, the visa is kept at the airport of arrival by the sponsor, whilst a copy is sent to the visitor. The traveller presents his or her copy to the immigration authorities at the airport, who then stamps the visitor's passport with a visa valid for one week. Anyone coming to Qatar on a business visa must do so within three months from the date of issue.

Multiple-Entry Visas
All of the above visas allow their holders to enter Qatar only once whilst the visa is valid; re-entry into the country requires a new visa. However, those wishing to come and go from Qatar without constantly filing for visas should consider applying to a multiple-entry visa. This visa allows its holder to leave and return to Qatar as often as he or she likes within the space of a year. Visits are short and limited by the terms specified on the visa, usually no more than one or two months. Those who have successfully applied for multiple-entry visas once should have little trouble getting them renewed.

Exit Permits
Those who hold business or visit visas to Qatar, as well as heads of household with residence permits, require exit visas in order to leave the country. A sponsoring company may do this on its employee's behalf, or the visa holder may apply for the permit at the main airport's exit visa procurement counter. The latter issues these permits at any time, day or night. However, processing may take up to a few hours, so allow ample time to obtain the permit before departure. This is submitted to passport authorities upon departure from Qatar.

Residents or visitors to Qatar that foresee frequent travel from the country may find it easier to have a multiple-exit visa. This document allows unlimited exits for up to a year, and is renewed easily.

Useful Addresses
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 250
Doha
Tel: [974] 441-5000

Ministry of Information & Culture
PO Box 1836
Doha
Tel: [974] 483-1333

Ministry of the Interior
PO Box 2433
Doha
Tel: [974] 433-0000

Ministry of Labour, Housing & Social Affairs
PO Box 201
Doha
Tel: [974] 432-1934

Residence Permits
The process of obtaining a residence permit begins with the sponsoring company applying for a residence visa on behalf of the expatriate worker. Like the process for the business visa, a copy of the residence visa is sent to the applicant, who has the document approved by immigration officials at the port of entry.

FAST FACT:
Only foreigners who have been issued employment permits can receive permits for legal residence in Qatar.

The officials do not convert the residence visas to residence permits just yet. Before that occurs, the applicants must complete formalities of health examination, fingerprinting and verification of their credentials. Expatriate applicants must submit the original certificates of their education and professional qualifications with their applications. All certificates need to have been verified by the foreign national's embassy in Qatar.

Professional certificates are not the only documents that must be obtained. Married couples must provide their original marriage certificates, and birth certificates must be submitted for all children coming to Qatar. Extensive paperwork may be necessary when sponsoring stepchildren and adopted children for residence permits, but it can be done. Applicants must also show proof of arrangements for housing in Qatar, usually in the form of a lease or residence agreement.

The process of obtaining residence permits for the sponsored employee and his or her dependants can be lengthy; therefore, it is advisable to apply well in advance of the moving date. An employee being sponsored by a local company may wait up to three months after arrival to receive his or her residence permit. Only then can he/she sponsor his/her spouse and dependants, a process which may take up to another three months.

FAST FACT:
Large corporations operating in Qatar, such as oil companies, may be able to expedite the application process for their expatriate workers. Some foreign nationals have been known to receive their permits in as little as three weeks.

Once obtained, residence permits are valid for one to three years and may be renewed if requested by the sponsor. Permit holders may make trips abroad from Qatar as often as they like, as long as they are not out of the country for more than six months at a time. Anyone holding a residence permit who resides outside of Qatar for more than six months will lose his or her permit and the privilege to live in Qatar. The head of household (sponsored expatriate employee) must obtain an exit permit for each departure, but his or her dependent family members do not need such permission.

Work Permits
Once the employer has had the employment contract approved by the Department of Immigration in Qatar, the foreign national can begin the process of obtaining a work permit. This must be done in Qatar, either by the expatriate employee or by his or her local employer. Regardless of the circumstances, the following documents must be submitted by the applicant

• Valid passport
• Four passport-sized photographs
• Satisfactory health evaluation
• Proof that the applicant has no criminal record

(This last document is usually in the form of a declaration by the expatriate's home police or security bureau.)

Once the documents submitted by the applicant have been received by the Department of Immigration, the visa takes about six to eight weeks to process.

Health Requirements
All foreigners residing in Qatar for more than 30 days must have a physical examination. This includes an HIV test and another test for tuberculosis. An X-ray is also required. Assuming that all of these produce satisfactory results, there are no further requirements, such as tests or vaccinations.

Driving Licences
Most expatriates residing in Qatar under residence permits will qualify for Qatari driving licences without needing to take driving tests. This includes expatriates who hold licences from Australia, Canada, the European Union or the United States. Those for whom this rule applies are required only to undergo visual examinations and demonstrate their familiarity with some basic Qatari road signs. Others will need to satisfactorily complete road test accompanied by examiners.

All foreign nationals in Qatar under a residence permit are required to get Qatari driving licences if they intend to drive during their stay. Female expatriates wanting to drive in Qatar may do so once they get national driving licences. However, that process could take longer for them because the licensing office is open to women only one day a week.

Once obtained, driving licences are valid for five years. They may be renewed by passing further vision and road sign tests.

Vehicle Registration
Any vehicle driven on Qatari roadways must be registered with the traffic police office in Medinat Khalifa. Third-party insurance coverage is required in order to get the car registered. Once that is done, proceed to the traffic police office to fill out the appropriate paperwork. This is when it will be useful to bring an Arabic-speaking friend or colleague with you, since much of the personnel at the traffic office may not speak English. Once the vehicle has been registered, proof of registration must stay with the vehicle at all times, to be produced upon demand by authorities.

Although the process for driving legally in Qatar may seem simple, it is best for foreign nationals to leave the paperwork to their employers or sponsors. The same goes for vehicle registration. Such organisations usually have the means and the know-how to expedite the process.

Customs Documentation
Customs Department
Ministry of Finance, Economy and Commerce
PO Box 81
Doha
Tel: [974] 441-4333
Fax: [974] 441-4959

Household Items
All shipments of household goods must be accompanied by the appropriate bill of lading, inventory lists with approximate value of the goods and the owner's documentation (such as passport and residence permit). There is no significant import duty on personal belongings brought into Qatar. However, items that are taxed are done so according to their C.I.F. (cost, insurance and freight) value, but at a rate of only four percent.

Motor Vehicles
Considering the cost to ship and import motor vehicles into Qatar, it may be easier and more economical for foreign nationals to leave their cars at home. Many different types of vehicles are available locally at reasonable prices. However, those that decide to import their vehicles should enlist the help of qualified shippers. The expatriate owners may be required to provide their passports and residence permits upon the arrival of their vehicles. There is a four percent import tax based on each vehicle's C.I.F. value.

Pets
All cats and dogs brought into Qatar must be accompanied by valid International Health Certificates, along with the original rabies certificates, issued within 10 days before entrance into the country. All vaccinations should be current and in full effect by the time of travel. Rabies inoculation must have been administered within 30 to 180 days before the pets travel. Although import licences are required for all pets being brought into Qatar, there is no reliable information available on where to obtain this document; it is best to inquire with a pet import specialist before planning the move.

FAST FACT:
Only cats and dogs are allowed import into Qatar. All other animals are prohibited.

Some dog types are considered dangerous and are not allowed entry. These are Rottweiler, Pug, Bulldog, Boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, Shar Pei and Japanese Akita. Other large dogs can be refused entry at the airport upon inspection by the vet and the police. If in any doubt, it is best to have a letter arranged by the government veterinarian at the Ministry of Agriculture in Qatar for the import of the animal.

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