• All newcomers wishing to work and live in Qatar require a Work Residence Permit (commonly referred to as an RP- Residence Permit) for which they will need a Qatari employer(company or individual) to make their application.
• It is typically the responsibility of the employer to handle all paperwork required to obtain the Residence Permit on behalf of the expatriate.
• When expatriates first enter Qatar, their employer will arrange for a temporary visa/ work which is then converted to a Work Residency Permit (RP) – a process that typically takes 2-4 weeks and sometimes longer.
• Used as a kind of stepping stone, a work visa – sometimes called a temporary work visa – is used as a pathway to allow overseas workers to gain their residence permit. But, in order to apply for a work visa, you first have to receive a job offer from a Qatari employer.

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Step 1 Obtain a temporary visa

1. The first step in obtaining a Residence Permit (RP) in Qatar is obtaining a temporary visa (work visa) to enable you to be present in Qatar during the application process. One cannot apply for a Residence Permit when residing outside Qatar.
2. For you to get a temporary visa (work visa) you need to get an employment offer in Qatar. The Qatar work visas are arranged by the employer and are valid for 1 – 3 months. This is most applicable to employees who are intending to work for a Qatari employer for a period of time.
3. To apply for a work visa, the employee must have a valid employment contract in place that must be approved by the Ministry Of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs.
4. To obtain the work visa, several medical tests must be conducted, including a blood test, fingerprinting, health check and a chest X-ray.
5. Once you obtain the work visa you can legally enter and work in Qatar. You may use the temporary visa (work visa) for two to four weeks (and sometimes longer) before the residence permit is issued.
6. However, you should not leave the country during this period of visa-to-permit conversion.

Step 2 Apply for Residence Permit

1. The application process for obtaining an RP is handled by the employer, who is offering sponsorship. However, before the application for the residence permit is lodged, you first have to undergo a local medical test. This involves a blood test, a blood grouping test and a chest X-ray.

   • More information can be obtained from “Qatar - Request Medical Examination for Residence Permit” on our Wikiprocedure website.
   • Senior members of staff may have the option of attending a private medical facility to undertake this medical test, while everyone else will have to attend a government-run medical facility.

2. After that, you will have to have your fingerprints registered with the Ministry of Interior, and then provide legalised, notarised and attested education certificates to your employer for the application.

   • It’s best to sort out these certificates before arriving in Qatar.

3. With all the correct paperwork in order, your Qatari employer will lodge the application for the residence permit. This is done by making an application to the Expatriates Affairs Department of the Ministry of Interior.
4. The Qatari employer can do this for by visiting the Expatriates Affairs Department offices in person. Here will be issued with a “First Time Residence Permit Application” form to fill and submit. This form can also be downloaded from the Ministry of Interior MOI Website or it can be downloaded from the following link : First Time Residence Permit Application

   • This form should be completed within one week of the applicant’s arrival in Qatar. All the applications formalities must be completed within 90 days of the date of entry
   • The form should be typed in Arabic (except the name, which should be typed in Arabic, and English as written in the passport)

5. The employer should then take the application form for a new residency permit, to the labour department and the information and identity card department to be verified and stamped.
6. The employer should then make the required payments for the residence permit application.
7. The employer should then attach the acknowledgement receipt and required documents to the application form and submit them to the Expatriates Affairs Department Offices of the Ministry of Interior.
8. Department’s officials will go through your application and if everything is in order, they will begin processing the Residence Permit.

   • All the required condition should be met before submitting the application form.
   • The department will not be responsible for any delay resulting from failure to meet these conditions.

9. The application process may take a period of two to four weeks (and sometimes longer) before the residence permit is issued.
10. Once ready the applicant will be notified to visit the Expatriates Affairs Department Offices to be issued with the residency permit.
11. After your residence permit has been issued, you will be able to apply for a residence card. This replaces the old system of passport residence stickers. As a Qatari resident, you now have access to a range of services and can sponsor family members to come to Qatar.

    • The identity cards will be valid for the period of the residence permit.

12. If you choose to stay and work in Qatar, your Qatari employer must renew your residence permit as required, every one to three years.

Note:

• Government employees with foreign contracts will be excepted from residence permits fee (but not identity card fees) along with their wives and children below 18 years of age

A) Requirements for RP on Personal Sponsorship

1. Print the residence permit application form and sign it by the sponsor
2. Submit the original passport of the employee
3. Photo of the employee
4. Blood group certificate
5. Photocopy of airport pass ( if relevant)
6. Photocopy of Qatari driving license (if relevant)
7. Photocopy of sponsors valid ID
8. Medical test certificate

B) Requirements for RP on Company Sponsorship

1. Labour contract attested by Labour Department
2. Print the residence permit application form and sign by the sponsor
3. Submit the original passport of the employee
4. Copy of company's establishment ID
5. Photo of the employee
6. Blood group certificate
7. Photocopy of sponsorship valid (Government, Corporations, Companies, others).
8. Medical test certificate

General Directorate of Passports - Head Office
Ministry of Interior
Address: Doha, Qatar
Phone: +974 2367111
Phone: 2366666
E-mail: info@moi.gov.qa
Website:MOI Website

Metrash2 App

• Qatari employers (company or individual) are eligible to make the application for their employees.
• To apply for a residence permit, you must have a Qatari sponsor (usually your employer), and you must be living and working in Qatar at the time of application.
• You cannot apply for a residence permit outside of Qatar, which means arriving in Qatar first on a temporary visa.

Personal Sponsorship

• Work permit fee: QR 100 annually.
• Residence permit fee: QR 300 annually
• QR 100 for ID card (as per the validity of residence permit).
• Fee for obtaining a residence permit or renewing it for those who are on parent sponsorship, accompanying persons, those who got separate residences permits and newborn babies including additions and deletion in passports: QR 400

Company Sponsorship

• Work permit fee: QR 100 annually
• Residence permit fee: QR 1000 annually
• QR 100 for ID card (for the period of residence permit).

• It is valid for one year or three years depending on the application.

• First Time Residence Permit Application

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• Two to four weeks

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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• The form should be typed in Arabic (except the name, which should be typed in Arabic, and English as written in the passport)
• A residence permit will be stamped in a passport containing the entry visa issued by the relevant authority
• This form should be completed within one week of the applicant’s arrival in Qatar. All the applications formalities must be completed within 90 days of the date of entry
• All applicants for new residency permit must have the form stamped by the labour department and by the information and identity card department
• The residency permit cannot be issued while the person concerned is outside the country
• Dependents over 12 years old (male) and over 16 years old (female) are required to be fingerprinted at the criminal evidence and information department.
• The identity cards will be valid for the period of the residence permit.
• Government employees with foreign contracts will be excepted from residence permits fee (but not identity card fees) along with their wives and children below 18 years of age
• All the previously mentioned condition should be met before submitting the application form. The department will not be responsible for any delay resulting from failure to meet these conditions.

1. Employees particular ( Name of applicant, Sex , Nationality, Passport Number,Passport expiry date, Date of Birth,Last Date of Entry / Last Date of Exit, Occupation, Academic qualification, Relation with host-for family members)
2. Sponsors particular ( ID Number, Name of applicant, Relation , Profession, Company ID , Company name , residence address of sponsor)
3. Declaration

• A residence permit allows visitors from overseas to stay and work in Qatar over a longer period of time, providing them with access to a range of important services.
• With a Residence Permit, one can access many other services, apply for further permits and licenses, sign a rental accommodation agreement, apply for a loan, and the list goes on.
• Another key benefit of the Residence Permit is that it allows the holder to personally sponsor their immediate family members (spouse, sons, daughters) to join them and live in Qatar
• Residence Permits are renewed each year by the expatriate’s employer.

• All newcomers wishing to work and live in Qatar require a Work Residence Permit (commonly referred to as an RP) for which they will need a Qatari employer(company or individual).
• It is typically the responsibility of the employer to handle all paperwork required to obtain the Residence Permit on behalf of the expatriate.
• When an expatriate first enters Qatar, their employer will arrange for a temporary visa which is then converted to a Residence Permit – a process that typically takes 2-4 weeks and sometimes longer.
• Applicants may not leave the country during the period of visa-to-permit conversion.

• The document is used for identification purposes.

• Expatriate Affairs
• Getting work permit in Qatar

Family Residence Visa – permission for your family to stay

• Expatriates can sponsor their immediate family members. Every family member, including infants, must have an individual Family Residence Visa. The Visa can be purchased for a period of 1-5 years and is stamped in each family member’s passport.
• Applicants are required to submit a number of documents, including authenticated marriage and birth certificates, no-objection letter and salary certificate from their employer.