Qatar is particularly strict in allowing foreigners to work in their country due to the kafala sponsorship system which ties the employee to the employer. The rules governing the employment of workers are under law No. 14 of 2004 of the Labor Law administered by the Labor Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Any foreign national who wishes to work in Qatar will have to obtain a work residency permit which functions as the combination of residence and Qatar work visa. They impose tight regulations in acquiring work visas because they prefer to hire Qatari workers more than non-Qatari workers.
Thus, it is only natural for the country to have strict guidelines in accepting foreigners into their country.
Steps to Apply for a Qatari Work Visa
Step 1: Registration of Business with the Immigration Department
It all starts with the employer or the company. The first step is to register the company with the Immigration Department of the General Directorate of Borders, Passports, and Expatriate Affairs at the Ministry of Interior for the application of a Qatar work visa. Upon obtaining the immigration card, the employer is required to be the sponsor of the expatriate. Aside from the immigration card, a representative card must also be attained so the expatriate can represent the said company when dealing with the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Labor. The required documents can be inquired in the MOI Services of the Ministry of Interior website.
Step 2: Approval by the Ministry of Labor
Before hiring expatriates, the employer must apply for the approval of the Ministry of Labor for the number of work permits that will be released to these workers. A block visa application is done which the Labor Department will consider first. Documents including the completed application form in Arabic, the total number of expatriates to be employed, the position of each employee, and the nationalities of the employees should be submitted to the Ministry of Labor. This is due to the Qatarization laws that value the welfare of Qatari nationals over foreigners in terms of employment.
Step 3: Acquisition of Employment Visas
Another responsibility of the employer is to obtain employment visas for each employee they wish to hire before he/she arrives in Qatar. One alternative to get into Qatar is a visit visa. However, work must not commence until the applicant acquires his/her employment visa which must be processed by the worker’s sponsor.
To obtain the employment visa, the employer or the worker’s sponsors must submit the following documents:
| Work Visa Requirements for Qatar |
- completed application form in Arabic language
- copy of the Commercial Registration of the business
- immigration card of the business
- copy of a valid employment contract between the work sponsor and the employee
- copy of the employee’s passport
- four (4) passport-size pictures
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Once the employment visa is obtained, the employee must send a copy to their sponsor and bring the original upon arrival to Qatar. The employment visa is normally valid for one to five years.
Step 4: Processing of Work Permit
Once these are all settled, the employee ought to submit the following documents to their employer: an accomplished application form from the Ministry of Labor, an employment contract, a medical certificate, a copy of the Commercial Registration of the business, an immigration card of the business, two passport-sized photos of the employee, an employment visa, significant educational certificates and documents; and biometric fingerprints test.
Step 5: Processing Residence Permit
Aside from the work visa for Qatar, the residence permit is equally important if you want to work in Qatar. Once the employment visa and work permit are approved and the copies sent to the employee, the expatriate can now travel to Qatar to collect the visa and important documents from the airport. Also, a medical check-up and biometric scans must be taken. The residence permit application will now proceed which means the work entry visa will be converted into a residence permit.
As per Law No. 14 of 2004 in the Labor Law, the Labor Department must approve a dual language (English and Arabic) contract. The applicant’s employment documents should be submitted for the application, otherwise, other relevant documents like bank statements can also be an alternative.
To summarize to get a Qatar work visa, the employer must submit to the Ministry of Labor the following documents: an accomplished Residence Permit application (both in Arabic and English); an original medical certificate; a copy of the immigration card of the business; a copy of the Commercial Registration of the business; two passport-sized photos of the employee; an original employee’s passport; an original employment visa; and a sponsor’s passport if the employer is an individual.
Step 6: Working in Qatar
Once all of the above has been accomplished and processed, the employee may work under the employer until their contract terminates, which can be renewed every few years depending on the case.
Whether you are working for a company or planning to build a business, complying with the country’s imposed regulations is necessary to avoid inconveniences. With the huge risks you are taking in establishing a work residency in Qatar, there is also a huge return on investment and attainment of rich experiences.
We hope this article on how to get a work visa for Qatar was helpful! If you’re interested in studying abroad, check out the Study in Qatar and Available Programs for International Students for more informative articles.
