Qatar Work Permit Visa

Types of Qatar Work Visa and Permits

The following section categorizes work visas and permits in Qatar. 

Qatar work visa types

Here are several types of work visas in Qatar depending on employment situation:

• Qatar work visa: This is the most common employer-sponsored work visa type in Qatar, with a validity of one to three months. 

• Qatar business visa: This work visa is designed for short-term business trips, such as attending meetings or conferences, and is valid for two weeks to a month.

• GCC resident visa: This one-month work visa in Qatar is for residents of countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) who hold approved professions. The GCC member countries include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Qatar work permit types

A work permit in Qatar combines two critical aspects for foreign workers:

• Work visa: This authorizes work in Qatar legally for a specific employer.
• Residence permit: This allows residing in Qatar for the duration of your employment and is linked to a work visa. ‍
• Exit permit: Even though Qatar has removed the exit permit requirements under the present kafala (sponsorship) system, companies in Qatar can request permission to designate up to 5% of their foreign staff as holding "critical positions." Typically, workers in these roles must get employer approval to leave the country.

Requirements for a Qatar Visa & Work Permit 

Qatar simplifies hiring foreign talents with its two-step process of securing work visas & residence permits. Here's a breakdown of the requirements for each:

Qatar work visa requirements

• Kafala system (employer sponsorship): You must initiate the visa application after extending the job offer and prior approval from the Ministry of Labour.
• Metrash online application system: You can log on to the Metrash system managed by the Ministry of Interior (MOI). This will involve submitting the following documents and tracking the application status: 
  • Valid passport with clear copies
  • Passport-sized photographs
  • Educational certificates and qualifications 
  • Letter of employment acceptance
  • Medical certificate proving good health
  • Police clearance certificate from home country

Qatar work permit requirements

• A prerequisite for a Qatar work permit visa is a valid work visa.
• As an employer, you must facilitate the residence permit application by supplementing the following documents: some text
  • Sponsored and valid work visa in Qatar
  • Copy of the company's Commercial Registration
  • Copy of the employer's immigration card
  • Medical certificate (same as work visa requirement)

How to Apply for Qatar Work Visa and Permits

Here’s a step-by-step process for applying for work visa in Qatar: 

Work visa in Qatar 

1. Visit the MOI portal.
2. Navigate to MOI Services -> E-Services and log on to the portal using employer details.
3. Select User Privileges, select the Company from the dropdown, and then click on Visa Services. 
4. Go to Issue visa. 
5. A new entry form is opened with six tabs. 
6. Fill in the data appropriately and follow the on-screen instructions to save & submit the application. 
7. Further, track work visa status through MOI portal-> Inquiries -> Visa Services -> Visa Approval Tracking

Note: Qatar does not offer remote work visas to working individuals.

Work permit in Qatar 

Here’s a step-by-step process for applying for a Qatar work permit visa: 

1. Visit the MOI portal.
2. Navigate to MOI Services -> E-Services and log on to the portal using employer details.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to apply for a residence permit. 
4. Alternatively, you can navigate to MOI Forms and download residency permit forms for offline submission.
5. Further, track work permits through the MOI portal-> Inquiries -> Residency Permit Inquiry.

Application processing time

Determining how many days it takes to process a working visa in Qatar is difficult. At the same time, there isn't a definitive official source, and a processing window is two to four weeks after the application is considered complete.

Looking to Hire in Qatar? Skuad Can Help

You can leverage Skuad’s expertise in hiring a global talent pool and build high-performing, geographically distributed teams.

With Skuad as your Employer of Record (EOR) partner, you can streamline employee onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, labor law compliance and work permits and visa services in over 160 countries. This eliminates your need to establish a local entity, saving time, resources, and administrative headaches. 

Start your demo to explore the potential of your global dream team.

FAQs

Q1. Is it hard to get a work visa in Qatar?

A1. No, it is not hard to get a work visa in Qatar. Over the years, Qatar’s labor laws have evolved to favor more foreign hiring in the private sector.  

Q2. How to get a Qatar work permit?

A2. To get a Qatar work permit, individuals must secure a job offer with an employer who will sponsor their application. Typically, the process for a work permit is initiated online through the Metrash system. 

Q3. How much is a work permit in Qatar?

A3. A work permit in Qatar includes an employment entry visa cost of QAR 200 and an additional QAR 500 to obtain a residence permit. 

Q4. How long does it take to get a Qatar work permit?

A4. Getting a work permit in Qatar involves an employer-sponsored work visa application, which may take 2 to 4 weeks. Upon receiving a work visa, employers must assist their foreign employees in securing residency permits, which may take another week.