The escalating economy of Qatar has made it appealing to foreign companies, laborers, and investors to establish their businesses in Qatar. Specifically, the low living cost and thriving economy have attracted a number of individuals globally, and every year, thousands of professionals make their way to Qatar for work. However, if you’re planning to move to Qatar for work, you’ll need to get a Qatar Work Visa for that.
Today, we’ll walk you through how to apply for a Qatar Work Permit, its eligibility criteria, and how much it’ll cost you. So, let’s get started.
Requirements of Qatar Work Visa
While applying for a Qatar Work Permit, you’ll need to have the following things:
Documentation of Work Permit: The first step is to apply for a work permit, and you must present your identity proof and any other documents that might be needed.
Application Form: You must fill out the application form from the Ministry of Labour (MoL). You can get the form from the MoL website.
Passport Copy: Make sure to upload/attach a copy of your passport.
Educational Certificates: Make sure to attach all the educational certificates that might be asked including degrees, transcripts, diplomas, and certificates.
Employment Visa: You must upload/attach a copy of the employment visa in which your employer has permitted you to work in Qatar.
Employment Contract: An employment contract is necessary stating your salary, position, duration of work, and other included benefits, and it should be notarized as well.
Medical Certificate: You must attach a medical certificate approved by the Qatar Medical Authorities.
Passport Size Photographs: Make sure to upload passport-size photographs with a white background (as per Qatar authorities).
Company Registration Details: Immigration card numbers and company registration details should be provided by your employer.
Biometrics: You must provide your biometrics (fingerprints and eye scans).
Understanding the age limits applied to the Qatar work permit is crucial. While there’s no certain age restriction in the private sector, it does apply to the visa transfers and contracts procedure.
Public Sector Retirement Age: The normal retirement age in the public sector is 60 for both Qatari nationals and expatriates working in Qatar. Once the expats turn 60, their contracts and work visas get terminated. However, extension is given to only those individuals who are extremely talented, and it’s hard to find their alternatives.
Private Sector: There’s no retirement age for the private sector. Individuals can work as long as they’re fit to perform their duties. However, labor-intensive jobs may need younger workers as they’ll be more efficient in carrying out their duties.
If you want to apply for a visit visa, you can apply it at the Qatar Visit Visa Guide and in case you want to take your family with you as well then you can apply for a Qatar Family Visit Visa.
Validity of Work Visa in Qatar
Initially, you’re allotted the Employment Visa to enter Qatar’s premises, valid for 30-90 days. Once you’re in Qatar, your employer must apply for your Qatar Work Permit, which will be valid for 1-3 years.
How Much Does a Qatar Work Visa Cost?
Let’s have a look at the cost of the Qatar work permit.
Qatar Employment Visa: 200 QAR
Qatar Work Visa: 500 QAR
Your employer is responsible for paying these fees.
While working in Qatar, you’ll need to renew your work permit. Let’s have a look at the eligibility criteria and its procedure.
Eligibility Criteria for Work Permit Renewal
The following must be fulfilled to be eligible for Qatar work permit renewal.
The individual must be under 60 years of age.
A proper medical check should be done, and an updated health card should be obtained.
Your contract and employer should be the same.
Your passport’s remaining validity must be over 6 months.
Process for Qatar Work Permit Renewal
Your employer should renew your work permit 3 months prior to your work permit’s expiry date.
Your employer must have a Qatari Smart Card to log in to the MOI Portal.
Supporting documents such as passport, passport size photographs, nationality, date of birth and all such details should be uploaded on the MOI portal.
Once renewed, your employer will hand over the renewed documents.
The fee for renewing the work permit varies depending on the sponsorship:
Personal Sponsorships: 300 QAR
Family Sponsorships: 500 QAR
Company-Based Sponsorships: 1000 QAR
FAQs
You’ll need the following things to get a work visa in Qatar:
Employment Contract
Employee’s passport
MOI Filled Qatar Application Form
Medical Certificate
Normally, it takes about four to six weeks for the work visa in Qatar to be approved.
Yes, you can convert it in case the company applies for your work visa. Meanwhile, your visit visa will still remain valid as well.
Summary
A complete guide on how to apply for a Qatar Work Visa along with the Qatar work permit requirements, eligibility criteria, and what documents you need to apply for it. Make sure to follow the procedure carefully and let us know if you counter any error.
Sheikh Suleman is an SEO Expert and Legal Services Consultant who has lived in various countries of Gulf since 2018. He’s providing services related to ID and Visa.
He has started this website in order to provide information on ID and Visa Services to all the people who are living in Gulf or wishing to relocate to there.
