Other Types of Visa

Newborn Visa

Residents of Qatar whose babies are born in their home countries will need to request a free Newborn Visa on arrival. This applies when bringing newborn babies under 6 months old into the country for the first time. The Newborn Visa is a temporary 3-month visa that allows the child into the country in order for their residence permit to be processed. If you are bringing a newborn to Qatar, you will require:

• A valid passport for the baby, or have the baby included on your passport;
• The original, attested birth certificate of the baby;
• And, both parents will need to have valid residence permits.

Once you have entered the country, you will need to start the child’s residency application as soon as possible (as per the guidance in the Residence and Work Permits article). A fine of 10 QAR per day is charged if the temporary visa is exceeded.
Babies born in Qatar, to residents of the country, will need to have a valid residency permit. To obtain a residence permit, parents of the newborn baby must first acquire a birth certificate and a passport for their child. The residence permit can be applied for, as per the guidance in the Residence and Work Permits article, once the birth certificate and passport have been obtained. The permit must be obtained within two months of the baby’s birth. There is a fine of 10 QAR per day if the two month period is exceeded.
If you need to apply for official documents for a child born in Qatar, read these articles on:

• Birth Certificates
• New and Replacement Passports and Visas.

Student Visa

If you have secured a place at an approved educational institute in Qatar and you do not hold a valid Qatar Residence Permit, you can apply for an Educational Residence Visa. The visa application process can be undertaken online, via the associated college/university website. When completing the application, you will need to submit all of the documents required by the college/university. The required documents will include, but are not limited to:

• A letter of acceptance from the associated college/university;
• Proof that all of the relevant fees have been paid and financial sponsorship is secured;
• A police clearance certificate from your home country/the country you currently reside in;
• Medical clearance (a medical test needs to be undertaken and passed);
• A copy of your passport.

On arrival to Qatar, you must hold a valid passport (valid for a minimum of 6 months).

Investor Visa

If you invest in selected business ventures in Qatar, you can apply for an Investor Visa. This long-term visa allows investors to live in Qatar without sponsorship. To qualify for this visa, you will be required to submit:

• The appropriate application form (downloadable from the MOI website, to be completed and translated into Arabic);
• Relevant proof of ownership documents (i.e. letter from the Ministry or concerned Authority of the State);
• A valid passport (with a minimum validity of six months);
• A police clearance certificate (from your home country or from the country you reside in);
• Authenticated medical records.

Investor visas are issued at a cost of 200 QAR. Applications can be processed at any one of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Service Centres in Qatar. However, there are a number of consultancy firms based in Qatar that can, for a fee, help investors to navigate through the processes of investing and applying for visas.
Family members (spouse/children/mother/father) may also be granted a Visa at a cost of 100 QAR. For each family member, a copy of the Investor Visa Application Form must be completed and the relevant documents submitted. Police clearance certificates must be provided for children above the age of 18 years.

Real Estate Visa

If you invest in real estate in Qatar, you can apply for a Real Estate Visa. This long-term visa (five years) allows investors to live in Qatar without sponsorship. To qualify for this visa, you will be required to submit:

• The appropriate application form (downloadable from the MOI website, to be completed and translated into Arabic);
• Relevant proof of ownership documents;
• A valid passport (with a minimum validity of six months);
• A police clearance certificate (from your home country or from the country you reside in);
• Authenticated medical records.

Investor visas are issued at a cost of 200 QAR. Applications can be processed at any one of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Service Centres in Qatar. However, there are a number of consultancy firms based in Qatar that can, for a fee, help investors to navigate through the processes of investing and applying for visas.
Family members (spouse/children/mother/father) may also be granted a Visa at a cost of 100 QAR. For each family member, a copy of the Investor Visa Application Form must be completed and the relevant documents submitted. Police clearance certificates must be provided for children above the age of 18 years.

Return Visa

Return Visas are issued via the MOI for a variety of reasons, including:

• For an expat resident who has stayed out of the country more than 6 months;
• For an expat resident who lost their passport whilst they were outside of the country;
• For visitors who entered the country on a Family Visit Visa and they would like to exit the country and return during the validity of their Visit Visa.

Return Visas may be applied for through any one of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Service Centres, or online via Metrash2 (residents only) or the MOI E-Services portal (MOI e-services are only accessible online in Qatar). To apply you will need to submit the following documents depending on your circumstances:

• More than 6 months outside of Qatar:
  • The appropriate application form (downloadable from the MOI website, to be completed and translated into Arabic);
  • A copy of your passport;
  • A copy of your sponsors ID, or establishment card if the sponsor is a company;
  • 500 QAR for visa issuance.
    
• Lost passport:
  • The appropriate application form (downloadable from the MOI website, to be completed and translated into Arabic);
  • A passport lost certificate (once the passport has been reported ‘lost’ a passport lost certificate is generated);
  • A copy of your old (if possible) and new passports;
  • A copy of your sponsors ID, or establishment card if the sponsor is a company;
  • 200 QAR for visa issuance.

If you have lost your passport while in Qatar and need to apply for a new one, read this article on New and Lost Passports.

• Exit and re-entry under a Family Visit Visa:
  • The appropriate application form (downloadable from the MOI website, to be completed and translated into Arabic);
  • A copy of your passport/visa;
  • A copy of your sponsors ID, or establishment card if the sponsor is a company;
  • 200 QAR for visa issuance.

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