Choosing Qatar for your international studies offers numerous benefits. You can enjoy a rich cultural immersion in this beautiful Arab world. You’re also in for the country’s cosmopolitan cities, where you can meet people from different cultural backgrounds. English is the second widely spoken language here, so you won’t have difficulty communicating with the locals.
Besides its oldest university, Qatar University, you can also apply to other international universities in the country. These institutions offer high-quality education aligned with global standards. Ultimately, completing your degree in Qatar opens work opportunities in its robust industries, letting you enjoy its growing economy.
Before you can stay in Qatar for your studies, you’ll have to acquire a student visa, also known as an educational residence visa. This allows you to enter the country legally. Read below to know more about how to get a student visa in Qatar.
Steps on Applying for a Qatari Student Visa
Step 1: Submit Application for University Admission
Before you can apply for a student visa through the Qatar embassy or consulate in your home country, you will need to receive admission from an institution in Qatar. Some of the popular universities in the country for international students are: Qatar University, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Weil Cornell Medine-Qatar.
Most of the universities on the list are branches of US-based universities. After applying and receiving your admission letter from these universities, you can lodge your student visa application. On the other hand, if you are looking to apply to Qatar University, you will need to process the visa application along with your university application. You also need to prepare an approval letter from your guardian to study at Qatar University to get a residence permit if you’re an undergraduate applicant, and finally complete the student declaration form. The visa application results with the admission result, making it more convenient for international students.
Pro tip: If you apply for a Qatar University Scholarship, you don’t have to apply for a student visa. However, it is ideal to apply for a student visa in case you did not get the scholarship and want to continue at Qatar University as a fee-paying student.
Step 2: Learn More about Student Visa Applications through the Embassy
You can contact the Qatar Embassy in your country to learn more about applying for a Qatar student visa or an educational residence visa.
Step 3: Start Online Application through the Ministry of Interior (MOI)
To proceed with your online application, you need to visit the Ministry of Interior e-service website. From there, make sure to choose the Visa Services options then click on “Issue Visa.” After that, click on Apply for Educational Residence Visa.
You’ll need to enter your information, such as complete name, birthdate and place, phone number and address, and passport details. Make sure to enter your email address if you opt to receive an electronic visa application receipt.
After completing the online application, click on the submit button and print the confirmation page. You will submit this along with the other requirements at the embassy.
Step 4: Submit Your Application Documents
For this step, you will need to go to the Qatar student visa service center or embassy in your country. Bring the documents you will submit for your visa application. You might also need to pay for applicable fees.
| Student Visa Requirements for Qatar |
- Confirmation page from your online application
- Passport with at least one-year validity and blank pages for visa stamps
- Passport bio-page copy
- Two Passport-size photos
- Affidavit of Financial Sponsor, who will pay for your studies in the country
- Passport copy or Qatar ID card of your sponsor
- Proof of the financial capacity of your sponsor
- Health Evaluation form from a legitimate clinic or hospital in your home country
- Good conduct certificate or Criminal Clearance from an authorized government agency in your home country
- Admission letter from your host university
|
If you’ve applied for a visa through your university, it is best to confirm with the university admission team how to submit your documents. For example, successful international applicants at Northwestern University in Qatar need to apply for a residence visa through their portal.
Step 5: Track Your Online Application
Tracking your application requires visiting the website of the Ministry of Interior of Qatar. Make sure to enter your application number and application date to check your visa application status. If you’ve applied through your university, you can contact the international admissions office to get an update on your Qatar student visa application.
For example, Qatar University recommends contacting their Scholarships and International Admissions section for any queries. It is also crucial to keep your contacts, like phone numbers and email, active. In some cases, Qatar University contacts the applicant to ask for additional supporting documents.
Step 6: Print Your E-Visa
Once your application is approved, print your student visa for Qatar on the MOI website. Similarly, the university where you applied for a visa will also send you an electronic visa that you can print for travel to Qatar.
Step 7: Apply for a Resident Permit
Upon arrival in Qatar, ask for assistance from your host university regarding your resident permit. You have two weeks to one month to apply for this, depending on your university. To complete your resident permit application, you will need to undergo a medical examination, and fingerprinting at the Criminal Evidence and Information Department and finally submit a certificate of blood type.
While waiting for your residency permit card, you’re not allowed to leave Qatar. Conversely, the applicant must leave Qatar within two days after failing the medical examination.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Qatar
How Much Money Do You Need for a Qatar Student Visa?
Applying for a Qatar student visa or Education Residence Visa is free of charge. However, you will need to prove that you have sufficient funding for your studies. This can come in the form of a sponsor from inside or outside of Qatar. You can also self-fund your studies.
For the tuition costs, a credit hour for bachelor studies costs around $220 to $270. Meanwhile, graduate studies cost $590 per credit hour. You’ll also have to pay an application fee of around $55.
It is also crucial to prepare for the living costs during your stay in Qatar. Accommodation can cost around $220 to $590 per month. Fortunately, many accommodations already include some furnishing, meals, laundry facilities, and hosted events. If you choose a fancier lodge, you might have access to gyms, computer laboratories, and a TV room, too.
If you need to go out, you can use the campus shuttle or pay less than $3 for the bus fare. You can also purchase a monthly transportation ticket for $28 to $55. It is also vital to have an active mobile phone subscription during your stay in Qatar. These plans can range between $82 to $193 per month.
Following the above steps to the core has a higher percentage of starting you out in Qatar as a student. Despite the difficulty, getting a student visa for Qatar should not be a nightmare. Start early preparations, get your documents in order, and apply as early as the windows open.
We hope that this article on how to get a student visa in Qatar was helpful! If you’re interested in studying abroad make sure to check out the Study in Qatar and Available Programs for International Students pages for more informative articles.
