Qatar: New Application Service Announced for Converting Family Residence Permits into Work Residence Permits

Through a new service on the Ministry of Labor (MOL) online portal, employers can now apply for a Work Residence Permit on behalf of foreign nationals who currently reside in Qatar under a Family Residence Permit. To qualify for this service, the employer must have offered a job to the affected permit holder. If the MOL grants discretionary approval of the application, the employer must then pay processing fees to the Ministry of Interior, after which the permit holder’s Family Residence Permit will be converted into a Work Residence Permit, and the permit holder can commence working. Previously, only the foreign national themselves could apply for conversion to a Work Residence Permit (via the MOL portal), which required proof of the permit holder’s job offer, among meeting other eligibility criteria. The new service seeks to streamline the work permit application process for foreign nationals who have a Family Residence Permit. The service is currently being further developed and may be subject to further changes.