Family Residence Visas allow foreign workers to sponsor their immediate family members to live in Qatar for a longer period of time, such as their wives and children. Qatar requires individual Residence Visas for every member of a family, including infants.
Sponsorship of family members by expat residents is subject to certain eligibility requirements, including the profession, income, and accommodation of the sponsor.
The applicant must also submit attested documents, such as bank statements, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and birth certificates. In this article, we will cover the requirements, documents, fees, and step-by-step process for applying for a Qatar Family Residence Visa.
If you want to travel to Qatar and want to check your Visa status online. You can easily check the status of your Visa through MOI Qatar Visa Check.
Qatar Family Visa Requirements
An expatriate sponsoring his family must meet the following requirements:
Sponsors are required to have a residence permit
In order to apply for a residence permit, the applicant (the sponsor) must have a valid residence permit. It is important that you prepare your Qatar ID / Residence Card before applying for a residence visa on your family’s behalf.
Profession requirement
It is recommended that the sponsor’s occupation on the Qatar ID be technical or specialized (non-labour). No matter how much they earn, drivers, delivery boys, cleaners and others in the labour category may not be able to sponsor their families.
In Qatar, there is a minimum salary requirement for family visas
Private sector employees in Qatar must earn at least QR 10,000 to qualify for a Family Residence Visa. An employer who provides free housing to the family is also eligible (if the employer pays for family accommodation).
Approvals were only given to those earning QR 15,000 or more until July 2023. August 2023 seems to have been a time of relaxation for this.
It is necessary for the sponsor to meet salary requirements so that he can support his family’s expenses including housing and food.
Qatar Family Visa Process
If you need assistance with the application process for the Family Residence Visa, you may be able to get it from your employer. In some cases, employers handle the process of obtaining Family Residence Visas as part of their employee policies, but this is not a mandated practice.
The Qatar Family Residence Visa Process consists of the following steps:
Step 1: Submit an application for a Family RP Entry Visa (online or offline)
Step 2: Enter Qatar with family members
Step 3: Obtain a medical examination
Step 4: Get your fingerprints taken
Step 5: Obtain a Qatar ID
Applying for Family Residence Visa through Metrash
Applicants can submit their documents via the Metrash2 mobile app to the Qatar MOI, making the application process easier.
1. Select the “Visa” icon on Metrash after logging in.
2. On the following screen, click on “Issue Visa”.
3. On the next screen, click the “Family Visit” icon.
4. On the next screen, click “Family Resident Application.”.
IMPORTANT: By default, if you choose the family visa option, you will be informed that this is a family visit visa application. Below you can see where the Residence Visa selection needs to be changed:
5. Click the “New Application” button in the bottom right corner of the screen.
6. Fill out the form with the details of your family member. Click the “Validate” button to validate.
7. The next screen will ask you to verify the details. Make sure the checkbox next to “I accept the data validity” is checked. Clicking “Next” will allow you to continue.
You can edit any mistakes by clicking “Back”. If there are any mistakes in the application, the visitor may be prevented from entering the country. Make sure to review the data before confirming.
8. You will then be able to upload documents from the next screen. Upload scanned copies or photos of the documents by following the instructions on the screen.
- It is essential that documents are scanned/photographed in a clear and readable manner.
- JPG images are the only ones accepted by Metrash. It is not possible to accept PDF files.
- Combining two pages of a document into one JPG file (side by side) is a good idea for files with multiple pages.
9. Confirm your submission by checking the box next to “Yes”.
10. You will receive an application number once you have completed this step. Using the arrow on the right, you can check your request’s status. As soon as the submission has been submitted, it will be marked as “Under Process.”. As soon as the submission has been reviewed, it will be marked “Under Review.”.
Applying for Qatar ID through Metrash
In order to avoid visiting the MOI Service Centre, you must select this option. Following the receipt of a fingerprint approval message, follow these steps:
- Metrash2 should now be open
- The “Residency” section can be found there
- You can issue a residence permit by selecting “Issue Residence Permit”
- Complete the form by entering the required information
- A passport-sized photo with a blue background should be uploaded
- You can take a picture and upload the signature of a relative. The name of the child should be written on a piece of paper and uploaded as their signature.
- QPost delivery charge of QR 20 is added to QR 500.
Get Detail guidance about your Qatar Id from Moi Qatar ID Check.
How should you proceed if your family visa application is rejected?
A visa might still be denied to you even if you meet all the requirements. Such a situation should be reported to the Gharaffa Immigration Office’s visa approval committee.
The original receipt of your visa application will be kept with them, so make a copy of it. The meeting date will be noted on the copy they give you.
A visa approval committee appointment date will be given if there are no serious problems with your submitted documents.
Qatar ID Fee
There is a first-year fee of QR 500 for the Residence Permit.
It will take only 5 minutes for the Qatar ID to be printed once the fee is paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was rejected for a family visa. What should I do?
A family visa approval committee meeting can be requested at the Gharafa Immigration Office if your application is rejected.
How do I renew the Residence Permit for my family?
Family members can renew their residence permits (QIDs) using Metrash2. QPost will deliver the item after payment has been made online.
Would extended family members be able to obtain a residence visa?
It is generally only spouses and children who are granted family residence visas in Qatar. It is possible for parents to be sponsored in exceptional circumstances.
