Qatar Announces Visit or Residence Visas Good News for People
The Ministry of Interior in Qatar has recently instigated substantial revisions to the regulations and procedures governing the entry of residents’ families for visit and residency purposes. This strategic maneuver is a crucial component of a broader initiative aimed at elevating the overall quality of services provided, aligning seamlessly with the state’s overarching approach.
Key Advantages of the Revisions:
These updates offer significant advantages to:
- Residents seeking to reunite with their families in Qatar.
- Expatriates exploring job opportunities with family sponsorship options in Qatar.
- Families planning extended visits to Qatar.
Sponsoring Families: Fresh Criteria and Guidelines:
Under the revised procedures, sponsoring families hinge on specific provisions outlined in the employee’s electronic work contract, with a primary focus on salary and accommodation details.
- Government and Semi-Government Sector Employees: Obligated to secure family housing through their employer or maintain a salary not less than QAR 10,000, as validated by an employment contract.
- Private Sector Employees (Technical/Specialized Fields): Required to meet a salary threshold of not less than QAR 10,000 or QAR 6,000 along with family housing, as stipulated in the employment contract.
Family Sponsorship Criteria and Conditions:
In family sponsorship cases, certain conditions must be fulfilled. Children should not exceed 25 years of age, and daughters must be unmarried. Sponsors must provide health insurance covering the entire duration of their family’s stay, effective from the date of entry into the country. For children within the mandatory education age bracket (6-18 years old), enrollment in licensed schools within the country is mandatory. Alternatively, evidence of education enrollment outside the country can be provided through the educational platform supervised by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. This requirement is considered essential during the issuance or renewal of the residence permit.
- Salary and Accommodation Requirements: Linked to the employee’s e-work contract.
- Government & Semi-Government Employees: Must secure family housing through an employer or have a salary of at least QAR 10,000.
- Private Sector Employees: Must hold a technical/specialized profession with a QAR 10,000 salary, or QAR 6,000 with verified family housing.
- Age Limit for Sponsored Children: 25 years old (daughters must be unmarried).
- Mandatory Health Insurance: Covering the entire stay duration.
- School Enrollment for Children (6-18 years): Required in licensed Qatar schools or proven enrollment abroad.
Family Visit Guidelines:
For family visits, sponsoring residents must belong to non-labor sectors, with a minimum salary of QAR 5,000. Accredited family housing is also a prerequisite, overseen by relevant authorities. Visitors can be relatives within permissible degrees of relation to the sponsoring resident, without specific age restrictions. However, mandatory health insurance covering the visitor’s entire stay in Qatar is imperative.
- Sponsor’s Profession: Must be non-labor, with a minimum salary of QAR 5,000.
- Family Housing: Accredited by relevant authorities.
- Visitor’s Relation: Within permissible degrees, no age limit.
- Mandatory Health Insurance: For the visitor’s entire stay.
Implementation and Digital Accessibility:
The Ministry underscores that these revised procedures and regulations are now operational. To ensure public convenience and ease, the General Directorate of Passports offers all its services electronically through the Metrash2 app and the Ministry of Interior’s official website. These changes exemplify the Ministry’s concerted effort to streamline and elucidate the processes associated with family entry, ensuring adherence to established criteria while leveraging digital platforms for accessibility and efficiency.