Family Residence Visa in Qatar
A family residence visa is the type of visa that allows a foreign worker to sponsor his family members instantly. His family members include his wife and children. They can stay for a long term in Qatar. After the process, every family member must have an individual residential visa to stay in Qatar. However, some specific requirements exist for a foreign employee to qualify to sponsor his family.
There is a procedure to submit required documents, including an attested marriage certificate, birth certificate, salary certificate, and tenancy contract. You will find a complete guide in this blog. You will get details about the required documents, visa fees, and steps to follow to apply for their family residence visa. You will completely know how to obtain a Qatar family residence visa.
Requirements to apply for a Qatar Family Residence Visa
Here are some main requirements for a foreigner to be eligible to sponsor his family.
- The sponsor must have a residence permit.
- The sponsor must have his residence permit in Qatar, the first and basic requirement. You must have your Qatar ID card and residence card before applying for a family residence permit if you are a sponsor.
Professional Requirement
The sponsor should not be a laborer, driver, cleaner, delivery boy, etc. He must be a technician or a specialized professional. For example, doctors, engineers, Managing directors, or high-salary grade jobholders can apply for a family residence permit. Laborers are not eligible to sponsor their families as they have lower salary scales.
The Salary Requirement to Apply for a Family Residence Permit
The foreign employee's salary must be QR 10,000 to sponsor his family. The employees with QR 7000 salary with the family housing granted by the company can also apply. The salary scale is fixed to ensure the sponsor can support his family's living costs in Qatar.
However, MOI is now processing salaries above 15,000 QR for the person. It may be to control the higher number of applications received after the break of visa service in 2020. The salaried person between 10,000 to 15,000 may be dealt with later.
Accommodation Requirement
If you have a 10,000 QR salary or above, you must provide a tenancy contract attested by the Municipality. In another case, if you have a salary above 7000 QR and less than 10,000, you must present the employment contract if it grants your family a housing allowance or an alternative.
The Process to Apply for a Qatar Family Visa
You can apply for a Qatar Family visa by following these steps. You can also take help from your company or employer, as some companies help do this process as it is their employment policy.
Read Also: What Are The Highest-Paying Jobs In Qatar?
The steps to apply for a Qatar Family Visa Residence Permit
Apply directly or online for the family entry visa
You must submit all required documents to get a family residence visa approval. You will get a one-month visa to allow your family to enter Qatar. Some other steps, like medical tests and fingerprints, are done after arrival. There is another simple process to bring the family on a visit visa. For it, you have to pay an extra fee of 500 QAR to change the visit visa without leaving the country. Some private employees must submit a six-month bank statement to complete this process.
Documents you required for the Qatar Family Visa Application
You require the following documents to apply for our family residence visa.
- A complete visa application form
- Your passport copy with photo page and bio page
- Your Qatar ID card copy.
- Passport copies of all family members
- Copy of marriage certificate attested by Qatar's embassy in your country, your country's embassy in Qatar, and Qatar's Ministry of foreign affairs.
- Copy of birth certificate of the children. Your country's embassy in Qatar should attest to it the Qatar embassy in your country and Qatar's Ministry of foreign affairs.
- You require a no-objection letter, the NOC from your company. It is in the Arabic language and dated within the last three months. Or a certified copy of the employment contract with detail and salary
- Copy of tenancy contract attested by the Municipality. Or you can give a letter from your company to provide family housing.
- Stamped bank statement from your bank for the last six months to prove your salary credit
- Copy of company registration card or copy of the employer QID
- Attested copies of your educational degrees or certificates
- Getting marriage, birth, and education certificates translated into Arabic. The private attestation companies in Qatar help you with attestation and translation work.
Family Visa Application Process – Online
- First, download and register on your cell phone's Metrash2 (Android, iOS) application.
- Open the Metrash2 application.
- Log in to your Metrash2 account.
- Select the "Visa" button or the icon on your screen.
- After it, click on the "Issue Visa" icon followed by the "Family Visit" icon.
- Now select "Family Visa Application" from the drop-down menu.
- Then, click "New Application" and fill in the visitor's details, including Gender, Relation, Date of Birth, Passport Details, etc.
- Select the" I agree on data validity" option to move on.
- Now, you have to upload the documents. A button will be to 'Upload the Visitor's documents,' including Birth Certificate, Passport Copy, and Passport Copy (Others). Make sure that the document pictures or scans are readable and clear.
- Upload all the required scans and documents and click the 'Next.' button.
- Confirm the uploading of all your documents. It is the final step of the process.
When the application is verified and approved, you will receive an application number within a few days to proceed with the fee payment. If there are any missing documents, the department will notify the applicant.
Make the Visa Payment
The applicant must now pay the visa fees once the application has been verified and approved. You can pay from the Metrash2 application. Once the payment has been completed, download the visa copy from the Ministry of Interior website and send it to the visitor.
Family Visa Application Process – Offline
You can apply for the Qatar family visit visa offline by following these steps:
- You need the visa application form that is in Arabic.
- Please fill out this visa application form and submit it to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) service center and other required documents.
- The person at the counter can decide to accept the form or write comments asking you to meet the Officer for final approval.
- The Officer will interview you about your reason for visiting Qatar and your relationship with the sponsor. If the inquiry Officer gets satisfied with your answers, he will give a receipt.
- That receipt has a tracking number to use after working for two days to check the status of a Qatar visa online.
- When the visa gets approved, revisit the MOI center and submit your receipt.
- After submitting that receipt, you must pay the visa fee at the center or online from the Metrash 2 application.
- After paying the fee, you will get a printout copy of your family visit visa. You will book the tickets for your family members.
- You can download it from the Ministry of Interior website.
Applying for a Family Visa Through Metrash:
Metrash is an online portal the Ministry of Interior in Qatar provides to offer services such as visa applications, traffic violation payments, etc. To apply for a family visa through Metrash, you must create an account, select the visa type, and submit the required documents online. The documents required for a family visa application may vary depending on your nationality, the relationship with the Qatar sponsor, and the visit's purpose. It is advisable to check the latest visa requirements and procedures on the Ministry of Interior's website or contact the embassy of Qatar in your home country.
Cost of a 2-year Work Visa in Qatar:
The cost of a 2-year work visa in Qatar may vary depending on the visa type, the applicant's nationality, and the company sponsoring the visa. Generally, the visa cost includes application fees, visa issuance fees, and medical examination fees. Some companies in Qatar may cover the visa cost for their employees, while others may deduct the visa fees from the employee's salary. It is advisable to check with the sponsoring company about the visa cost and other expenses associated with living and working in Qatar.
Monthly Expenses for a Family in Qatar:
The monthly expenses for a family in Qatar may vary depending on the family size, lifestyle, and location of residence. Generally, the major expenses in Qatar include rent, food, transportation, utilities, and education (if applicable). According to a 2021 report by Numbeo, the cost of living in Qatar is relatively high compared to other countries in the region. For example, the average monthly rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city center of Doha is around QAR 7,500 (USD 2,058), while the cost of groceries for a family of four is around QAR 2,200 (USD 604) per month. Preparing a budget based on your family's specific needs and lifestyle is advisable.
Working for 2 Companies at the Same Time in Qatar:
As per the labor law of Qatar, an employee is not allowed to work for two different employers simultaneously unless they have written approval from both employers and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor, and Social Affairs (MADLSA). Violating this law can lead to legal consequences such as fines, deportation, or imprisonment. Additionally, it is important to note that working for two companies simultaneously may affect the quality of work and may not be feasible in practice due to conflicting work schedules and responsibilities.
How do We Know the Qatar Family Resident Visa Opening Date?
The opening date for Qatar family resident visa application may vary depending on the policies and procedures of the Ministry of Interior in Qatar. Generally, the Ministry of Interior announces visa application opening and closing dates through its official website and social media channels. You can check the Ministry's website or social media accounts periodically for updates on visa applications. Additionally, you can contact the Qatar embassy in your home country or a reputable travel agency for the latest information on visa application procedures and timelines. Applying for the visa well before your intended travel dates is advisable to avoid delays or complications.
When Applying for a Family Visa, Can My Daughter Attend School?
If you are applying for a family visa in Qatar, your daughter may be able to attend school in Qatar if she meets the eligibility criteria for school admission. Qatar has several international schools that offer education in English and follow various international curricula such as British, American, or IB. To enroll your daughter in a school in Qatar, you may need to submit her passport and visa documents along with her academic records to the school. It is important to note that the admission process and requirements may vary depending on the school and the grade level.
Additionally, you may be required to provide proof of residence in Qatar or a letter from your employer/sponsor indicating that you have a valid residency permit. It is advisable to contact the school of your choice and check their admission policies and requirements before applying for the family visa.
How can you check the status of your Qatar Family Visit Visa?
You can check your Qatar family visit visa status on the MoI website under Inquiries >> Visa Services >> Visa Approval Tracking. Fill out all the required details accurately, and you can check the status of your visit visa.
What Is The Qatar Family Visit Visa Fee/Cost?
A Qatar family visit visa fee is fixed monthly at QAR 200 (USD 55).
What Is Qatar Family Visit Visa Validity?
The validity of the Qatar family visit visa is one month. Who can extend the visa validity to six months for quick family members (wife, children, and parents) and up to three months for other relatives?
How Can You Extend A Qatar Family Visit Visa?
You can extend your one-month Qatar family visit visa in the following two ways:
- Visit the MoI Service Center or the office of the Ministry of Immigration and submit your passport and return ticket. Pay QAR 200; the renewal fee for the visit visa is QAR 200 per month for each extra month.
- You can also extend your visa from the Ministry of Interior website for the online process.
What Is A Family Visa in Qatar?
The Qatar Family Visit Visa is a short-term visa that enables settler residents to bring their father, mother, wife, children, or families to Qatar for a visit. The visit visa is issued for one month and can sometimes be extended up to six months.
Period
After submitting the fees, all Qatar visas take 7-10 days to process time. You will get an application number to proceed to pay after the application is approved. Usually, the time taken to process a family visit visa is a maximum of one week. Resuming visa applications in 2021 takes up to 4 weeks for many people.
Why Is A Family Visa Rejected in Qatar?
Family visit visa Qatar rejected the main reason for rejection is the sponsor's salary or profession. If the salary is 20,000 or above 20,000, but the RP shows you are lower than an engineer, your visa will get rejected.
Can A Wife Sponsor Her Husband in Qatar?
In Qatar, a wife can only sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit for certain professions and her salary is not less than QR10 000.
Can I Update My Qatar Residence Permit?
You can update your Qatar Residence Permit for your family by making essential changes to the Metrash2 mobile app. Further, you will need to make an online payment.
Can I Get A Qatar Residence Visa For Other Relatives?
Qatar Family Residence Visa is issued for spouses and children only. Sometimes, who can sponsor parents, but it is rather rare.
What If My Family's Qatari Residence Application Is Declined?
If your family visa application is declined, visit the Gharafa Immigration Office and relate your issue to the visa approval committee.
Arriving In Qatar Using Entry Visas
Your spouse and children can come to Qatar when you meet all the civilities. The visit visa expires after a month from the arrival date. The next courses, like dactyloscopy and health tests, should last one month. When your family arrives using a Visit Visa, it's easy to move on to the next actions.
Obtaining Family Residence Permit Card
You need to obtain a Qatar ID (a Residence Permit Card). You can visit your local Police Office with your Qatari ID card, spouse's and children's photos, and Passport copies. For the first year, the Residence Permit fee is QR 500. After paying the fees, the officers will notify you once the cards are ready for collection.
- Qatar Family Visa Fees (Per Person)
- Qatar Family Visa QR 200
- Qatar ID card (for one year) QR 500
- Health Examination QR 100
Remember that extra charges may be for document verification, Blood Group certificates, etc. Also, you will be charged extra money if you decide to transform a Visit Visa into a Residence Visa without leaving the country.
If You Are Children Above the Age with You
When bringing your family members, please note that sons 25 years and above cannot be on their parents' visas. But there is no age limit for daughters until they are married. Adult children who overstep the age limits can get a Residence Permit from their parents for one extra year to find a job during that time.
If you're a Family member, Decide To Work
If your adult children or spouse intend to work, they need to get special permission (called a Work Permit) to work legally in Qatar. It is also possible to use Metrash2 to obtain the Permit.
Read More: How Can I Get Qatar Citizenship?