Qatar Family Visa Requirements and Full Guide 2023

Qatar Family Visa Requirements 2023: Foreign workers can sponsor their family members instantly with a family residence visa. The members of his family are his wife and kids. Qatar is a great place to stay for a long time. All family members need a residential visa to stay in Qatar after the process. To sponsor a family, a foreign employee must meet some specific requirements.

You must submit attested marriage certificates, birth certificates, salary certificates, and tenancy agreements. This blog contains a complete guide. Here, you will discover what documents are required, how visa fees work, and how to apply for a family residence visa. After reading this article, you will have a complete understanding of how to obtain a Qatar family residency visa. You are also able to check the status of MOI Qatar Visa easily.

What is a Qatar Family Residence Visa?

Foreign workers may sponsor their immediate family members, such as their wives and children, for long-term residence in Qatar by applying for a Family Residence Visa. Qatar requires each member of the family, including infants, to possess an individual Residence Visa.

Expatriate residents must meet certain requirements for sponsoring their family members, such as profession, salary, and accommodation.

In addition to submitting an attested marriage certificate, birth certificate, education certificate, and bank statement, applicants must submit several documents. We provide a step-by-step guide to applying for a Qatar Family Residence Visa, including eligibility requirements, required documents, visa fees, and what you will need to do.

Also Read: Qatar Visa Types

Qatar Family Residence Visa Latest News

28 September 2023 Updated News

Based on available information:

Family Residence Visa: 

It appears that there has been a relaxation of the salary requirements for employees of the private sector and that Family RPs have resumed being processed. August was a good month for applicants with salaries exceeding QR 10,000.

Private sector RPs, however, are still not permitted to be followed up by Gharaffa Immigration. A September return date was recommended for those who visited.

Using the Metrash app, you can still submit family RP applications online.

There has been a return to normal processing for Family Visit Visas. By using the Metrash app, applicants can submit their applications online. There is now an average processing time of 1-2 weeks for a family visit visa. Spouses and children are allowed to extend their visas for a maximum of six months each.

Applying for a Family Residence Visa through Metrash

Metrash2 mobile app provides the following steps for applying for Family Residence Visas:

Step 1: Click on the “Visa” icon once you’ve logged into Metrash.

Step 2: On the next screen, click on the “Issue Visa” icon.

Step 3: In the next screen, click on “Family Visit”.

Step 4: On the next screen, select “Family Resident Application”.

Step 5: Select “New Application”.

Step 6: Ensure you provide all the information about your family member on the form. To validate, click the “Validate” button.

Step 7: On the next screen, verify the details. Please select “I agree that the data is valid”. Continue by clicking “Next”.

Step 8: On the next screen, placeholders will be provided for uploading documents. Upload the scanned copies or photos of the documents according to the instructions on the screen.

• A clear and readable scan or photo of a document is required.
• Images can only be uploaded to Metrash as JPGs. Files in PDF format will not be accepted.
• You should combine two separate JPG files for documents with multiple pages (side by side).
• There should be no more than 500 KB of space in the merged JPG document. You will need to resize any document over 500 KB in order to upload it.
• The bank statement should be printed on one or two pages with minimal details as it is intended for the RP application.

Once you have uploaded all the documents, click “Next ”.

Step 9: Click “Yes” to confirm your submission on the next screen.

Step 10: You will receive your application number after completing this step. If you would like to check the status, click the arrow sign to the right. The document will be marked “Under Process” once it has been submitted. In the future, it will be changed to “Under Review”.

If an application was rejected on this page, you will find notes explaining why the application was rejected.

Qatar Family Visa Conditions and Requirments

The following conditions must be met for a foreigner to receive funding for his family:

Requirement for Sponsorship Residence Permit by the Sponsor

An applicant (the sponsor) must hold a valid Qatari Residence Permit before they can apply for a Qatari residence visa. Before applying for a family residence visa, make sure you have your Qatar ID or Residence Card ready.

Profession Requirement

Applicants must have a technical or specialized (non-labor) profession on their Qatar ID to sponsor their families. A person classified as a laborer, such as a driver, delivery boy, cleaner, etc., cannot sponsor their families.

Qatar Family Residence Visa Minimum Salary Requirements

Qatar requires employees in the private sector to have a minimum salary of QR 15,000 to obtain a Family Residence Visa. Despite this, some public sector employees were approved based on their salaries between QR 10,000 and QR 15,000.

Previous Family Sponsorship Eligibility Criteria

In the past, individuals with salaries between QR 10,000 and QR 15,000 were eligible to sponsor their families. As an additional benefit, employees who earned a minimum salary of QR 7,000 and were provided with free housing were also eligible.

As a result of these salary requirements, sponsors will have sufficient money to support the expenses of their families, including housing and food.

Housing Requirements

You may be required to provide an attested tenancy contract if you have rented a house or apartment independently. The Metrash online system does not require a tenancy contract for applications for the Family Residence Visa.

The employer must provide family housing in addition to your salary as part of your employment contract if it provides such accommodation. In this document, the employer outlines the accommodations they have made for you and your family.

Also Read: How to Check Fine on Qatar ID?

Qualification for Getting a Permanent Residency

It is necessary to meet the following criteria to qualify for permanent residency in the country:

• A candidate must not be involved in any pending criminal cases or have been convicted of any crimes;
• It is required that they carry evidence that they have sufficient income to support themselves and their family in Qatar, the minimum value of which will be determined in the near future by the Qatari government.

Documents and Details Required For Family Visa

At the time of application, applicants must carry the following documents:

• An official copy of your passport
• A copy of the Qatari identity card
• A copy of each family member’s passport
• Attested copies of your marriage certificate from your country’s embassy in Qatar, as well as the embassy in Qatar of your country.
• Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Qatari embassy in your country must attest to the authenticity of the birth certificates
• The NOC must be in Arabic, dated within the last 3 months, and must specify your profession and salary. A copy of the employment contract stating your profession and salary.
• Ensure that the tenancy contract is attested and that your employer confirms you will be provided with family accommodation by providing an attested copy of your tenancy contract.
• Bank statement for the last six months, stamped by your bank
• Card of company registration or QID issued by the employer.
• A copy of an attested educational certificate

It will be necessary to translate documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and diplomas if you do not have copies in English or Arabic. A number of private companies provide attestation and translation services in Qatar. In case you have adopted children, you will be required to provide a statement of adoption and the reasons for the adoption.

Qatar Family Visa Process 2023

Make sure your employer is able to assist you before beginning the application process for Family Residence Visas. Some companies include this process in their employment policies, even though employers are not required to process or pay for Family Residence Visas.

The Qatar Family Residence Visa Process can be summarized as follows:

Step 1: You can apply for an entry visa for your family through Metrash or by mail

Step 2: Enter Qatari family members enter

Step 3: Take a medical test

Step 4: The fingerprinting process must be completed

Step 5: Get a Qatar ID by applying online

Applying for a Qatar Family Residence Visa Directly Offline

In order to apply offline, you must complete the application form and provide the supporting documents mentioned above. This application form can also be filled out by any typing center. You can download the form from here (Download).

Go to Al Gharafa Immigration Department and submit the required documents. 

The receptionist will give you a token number, and you will have to wait until your turn arrives. Follow the instructions on the screen and go to the counter to submit your documents. Upon receipt of satisfactory documents, they will accept your application and notify you.

Payment of the visa fees (QR 200) can be made online via Metrash2 or at the Immigration Office if the visa is approved.

Qatar Family Visa Shows “Null” Status

It has been reported that some of our readers have received acknowledgment receipts with “null” in most fields after submitting their applications. It is normal for all applicants to experience this. The purpose of this document is only to acknowledge receipt of your application. There will be a record of your application in the system.

Family Visa Application Status (Under Process & Under Review)

Changes in the status of a family visa application are often confusing for applicants. Before getting approved, most applications go through the “Under Process” and “Under Review” stages multiple times.

These are the steps of a visa application and what they mean:

Steps	Metrash Status	What This Means
1st step	Under Process	The application has been submitted.
2nd step	Under Review	A junior officer is reviewing the file at the moment. It may take several days or even weeks for this stage to be completed. An application may be rejected if the sponsor fails to meet eligibility requirements. A notification will be sent to the sponsor if any documents are missing or do not meet the requirements. The file will proceed to the next stage once eligibility and documents are confirmed
3rd step	Under Process	Final approval is required from a senior officer (usually the captain). There is very little chance of rejection at this stage.
4th step	Visa number issued, under process	We have received approval from Duhail Immigration. The file has now been cleared by CID. The application is usually approved within a week. There is no point in visiting Duhail. It is not necessary to obtain CID clearance for children under 15 years of age. There will be a status of “Ready To Print”. It is, however, only after the mother’s application is approved that the visa can be printed.
5th step	Ready to print / Visa approved	The sponsor will receive an approval SMS once the CID clearance has been completed. Now that the visa has been approved, it can be used. It is possible to print the visa after paying QR 200.

NOTES:

• In the process of being reviewed or approved, it means that it is almost finished.
• Captains (superior officers) at Gharaffa Immigration are the only ones capable of converting an application from Under Review to Under Process. Captains can move Stage 1 applications directly to Stage 4 even if they are still in Stage 1.
• If the child is under 15 years old, the approval will be direct, after the third stage (It does not need clearance from CID). It is only after the approval of the mother’s application that the visa can be printed.
• The status of your application does not change if it goes from Under Process to Under Review. Usually, a change of status will result in approval of the application within a few days.
• Depending on the system, the status of our Metrash may differ from the status of theirs.

What Should I Do If My Application For a Family Visa is Rejected?

Despite meeting all the necessary requirements, your visa application may be rejected. A visa approval committee meeting can be requested at the Gharaffa Immigration Office if your visa application is rejected.

The immigration office will retain the original receipt for your visa application, so remember to bring a copy. The meeting date will be included on the copy they provide you.

You will be scheduled for an appointment with the visa approval committee if there are no significant issues with your submitted documents.

Your qualifications and profession may be discussed by the committee during the meeting. In case they request a review of your education certificates, we recommend that you bring the originals of all documents you submitted. The approval should be received within two days if all goes according to plan.

Family Members Enter Qatar on Entry Visas

Family members are allowed to travel to Qatar after their Family Entry Visa is approved. From the date of visa approval, visa holders typically have 180 days to enter the country. An entry deadline will be specified on the visa, and this must be followed.

From the date of entry into Qatar, the entry visa is valid for 90 days. It is important to complete certain essential steps during this time, such as medical testing and fingerprinting, etc.

You may choose to pay the visa fee if your family members currently have a visit visa in Qatar, and then proceed with the process and requirements.

Medical Test for a Residence Permit

Visa holders must undergo a medical examination in order to obtain a Residence Permit. Testing is conducted to prevent the spread of new diseases and ensure the health of the population. Health exams are conducted by the Medical Commission in Qatar.

For the medical test, the following documents are required:

• Family member’s original passport copy
• Copy of the Residence Visa 
• A copy of the sponsor’s Qatari identification card
• For fee payments, debit/credit cards are accepted

It costs QR 100 per person to take the Medical Test.

The officer should be informed of the conversion during the process if you are converting from a visit visa to a residence visa. Depending on the circumstances, they may not require you to take a medical test again if you have already undergone one for your visit visa extension.

Medical examination results are electronically transmitted to the Ministry of Interior’s residency system. Two to three days after the test, you’ll get the results on your Metrash app or via SMS. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) also has a web page where you can check the results.

Medical Tests for Children

Medical tests are not generally required for children under the age of 15. The sponsor’s Metrash app should be checked upon the child’s arrival in Qatar to ensure the “Issue Residence Permit” option is available.

It is necessary to pay QR 100 at the Medical Commission if the option is not available on the app. We would appreciate it if you could provide a copy of your passport and visa at the time of this visit. As soon as the status in the system is updated, it will be updated by the Medical Commission.

Digital Fingerprinting Process

An adult must submit a digital fingerprint following the medical test to the Ministry of Interior (MOI).

MOI Service Centres, with the exception of Gharaffa, are currently available to take fingerprints.

Fingerprinting requires the following documents:

• MOI Service Centers may not require the fingerprint application form, which may be obtained from a typing center.
• The family member’s original passport
• A copy of your passport
• Obtain a copy of the residence visa
• A copy of the Qatar ID of the sponsor
• A receipt for medical care

A progress update will be sent via SMS or the Metrash2 app once fingerprinting is complete.

Applying For a Qatar ID Card

To complete the process, you must apply for a Qatar ID or Residence Permit Card. You can either apply in person at an MOI Service Centre or online through the Metrash website.

Steps to Apply For Qatar ID at MOI Service Centre

Here are the steps you need to follow if you decide to apply for your Qatar ID directly at an MOI Service Center:

1. Download and fill out the application form: You can download and fill out the application form at a typing center. Ensure that the information you provide is accurate and up-to-date.
2. To submit these documents to the MOI Service Centre, gather the following documents:
   • Passport of an original family member
   • Qatar ID of the sponsor
   • A passport-sized photo of a family member (35 x 45 mm) with a blue background
   • On the form, write the child’s name near the photo instead of their signature
3. The next step is to take all the necessary documents to an MOI Service Center near you. Please present the MOI officials with the completed application form and supporting documents.
4. You’ll be guided through the process by MOI officials and they may ask for extra information.
5. You will receive further instructions or updates regarding your Qatar ID application status once you submit the application.

Qatar ID Fee:

For the first year, it costs QR 500 to obtain the Qatar ID (Residence Permit).

Payment of the fee will result in the Qatar ID being printed within approximately five minutes of receiving the payment.

Steps to Apply for Qatar ID Through Metrash:

You can also apply for Qatar ID through the Metrash2 app if you do not want to visit the MOI Service Centre. The following steps should be followed once you receive a message confirming the fingerprinting process has been successful:

1. Launch the Metrash2 app.
2. Click on “Residency”.
3. You can issue a residence permit by selecting “Issue Residence Permit”.
4. As prompted, enter the required information.
5. An image with a blue background should be uploaded as a passport photo.
6. Taking a photo of the family member’s signature and uploading it is easy.
7. The required fee is QR 500. In addition, QPost delivery charges are QR 20.
8. Your Qatar ID card can be tracked using the Qatar ID number provided by the sponsor on the MOI website.

Qatar Family Visa Fees

In order to obtain a Qatar Family Visa, the following fees must be paid:

Qatar Family Visa Fee (per dependent)	QR 200
Medical Commission Test Fee (per dependent)	QR 100
Residence Permit Fee (for one year)	QR 500

In order to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information about visa fees, please contact the relevant authorities.

Document attestation and typing center services (if necessary) are charged in addition to the regular visa fees. There may be a difference in fees depending on the type of documents and services requested.

There is also an additional charge of QR 500 per person if you are transferring a visit visa into a residence visa without exiting the country.

Fees are subject to change, so it’s advisable to check with the relevant immigration department or authorities for the latest fees.

Registering For National Address

Once the Qatar ID (QID) has been printed, it is important for the new QID holder to register his/her National Address. By using the Metrash mobile app or any Ministry of Interior (MOI) service center, this can be done conveniently.

The steps for registering the National Address are as follows:

1. Open the Metrash mobile app or visit a MOI service center.
2. Select the appropriate section for registering your National Address.
3. Ensure that all details, including residential address, contact information, and other relevant details, are provided accurately.
4. Submit the registration request after verifying the information provided.
5. QID holders’ profiles will be updated with the National Address once registration is complete.

In addition to ensuring that the residential address of the QID holder is properly documented, registering their National Address is also a vital part of their official record.

If your residential address changes, please update the National Address information as soon as possible, in order to ensure smooth communication and effective service delivery.

Rules For Sponsoring Adult Children

If you apply for a visa, you need to note that male children under 25 years of age cannot be on either parent’s visa. Daughters are not restricted by age as long as they are not married.

If a child is over 18 but does not yet have a QID, the parents may sponsor them for one more year until they find employment, in order to allow them to find a job the following year.

Child and Spouce Work Permits

To work while under family sponsorship, dependent spouses and children over 18 must obtain a special work permit. You can also apply for this work permit using the Metrash app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

It may seem difficult to navigate Qatar Family Visa requirements, but with the right information and guidance, it becomes more manageable. Following the guidelines and completing the necessary steps will enable you to reunite with your loved ones and begin a new chapter in Qatar, a welcoming and dynamic nation.