Qatar is a sprawling socio-economic haven for expats. Declared the richest country in the world by Forbes in 2013, Qatar deservedly plays a leading role in human development. Amazingly, 500 expats gravitate to Qatar on a daily basis for a motley of reasons.The flexible immigration policy of the Qatari government, coupled with the robust growth rate of the country’s economy are great incentives for expats, as frequently reported in bulletins of Qatar expat legal news. With Hukoomi, Qatari interior ministry’s eportal, expats are able to keep track of their legal visa application process with greater ease.

• The Requisites For a Qatari Business and Work Visa
• The Requisites For a Family and Visit Visa
• The Requisites for a Tourist Visa
• The Requisites For a Residence Permit
• The Gauntlet of Medical Checks
• The Possible Language Constraints
• Exit Visas

The Requisites For a Qatari Business and Work Visa

The acquisition of a Qatari business or work visa usually entails obtaining an invitation from a Qatari company that sees to the execution of the application process. But the expat must provide a “Certificate of Good Conduct”, which is the expat’s home  country’s police clearance. The legal visa is valid for one month, with an option to renew for up to two months

The Requisites For a Family and Visit Visa

Foreign workers with a work visa and residence permit can bring their family over, although this process takes time. It usually requires the established foreign worker visits the Expatriate Affairs and Unified Services Centers with relevant documents such as an approval letter from employer, bank account showing six month salary, birth certificates, and passport photos.

The initial visa expires after one month, although spouses and children can extend their visa validity for up to six months, and other relatives can extend theirs for up to three month.

The Requisites for a Tourist Visa

Expats from some 33 countries and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) can visit the country as tourists and obtain tourist visas after arriving the country. Tourists from countries excluded from this list must process their tourist visa application at a Qatari foreign mission.

Tourists whose country of origin is excluded from the list are required to have a passport valid for six months after their arrival date, and a savings account with a minimum of 5,100 QAR. A return ticket may even be required.

Generally, tourist visas expire after a month, and tourists who desire to elongate their stay must apply for a residence permit.

The Requisites For a Residence Permit

According to numerous Qatar expat legal news reports, it’s common for visitors to become enchanted and long for a life in the breathtaking cities of Qatar. But permits are issued only to expats with a supporting company or family member whose income is above the minimum benchmark.

Expats can remain within the shores of the country while their work visas and residence permits are being processed, as long as they obtained an entry visa first. Employers are usually responsible for filing for a foreign worker’s permits. But the foreigner must provide relevant papers such as birth certificates, police clearance, and passport photos. The process usually takes between four to eight weeks.

To ensure that expats are not vectors of any communicable disease as they enter into the country, expats pay for and undergo a comprehensive medical check up. This can be done before or after arrival, depending on the expat’s home country.

The Possible Language Constraints

In the wake of a booming multinational expat population, English is increasingly becoming the preferred language for business. This development paves the way for more expats to join the country’s workforce, as recently seen in numerous Qatar expat legal news reports.

Exit Visas

An exit visa is required of any expat who wants to leave the country. Expats must obtain permission from their employer, and take care of debt either personally or through a guarantor before leaving. Exit visas are as easy to obtain as legal entry visas. However, women and children supported by their husbands or fathers do not need an exit visa to leave the country.