Qatar: Revised Family Residency and Visit Visa Requirements for Sponsoring Principals

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has clarified requirements for principals sponsoring the entry of dependents on family residency or visit visas. For a family residence permit, where the principal works in government or semi-government sectors, they must be given family housing through their employer or maintain a monthly minimum salary of QAR 10,000 (approximately USD 2,750). If the principal works in the private sector under certain categories (such as technical or specialized professions), they must either be given family housing through their employers and maintain a minimum monthly salary of QAR 6,000 (approximately USD 1,650), or, without housing, they must maintain a monthly minimum salary of QAR 10,000 (approximately USD 2,750).

Further, family visit visa applications rules have been clarified. First, principal applicants are required to work in a non-labor profession (specialized or technical professions) and they must maintain a minimum monthly salary of QAR 5,000 (approximately USD 1,373). Additionally, there are no age restrictions for family visit visa dependents and family visa applicants must be a direct relative of the sponsoring applicant (a parent, sibling, sibling-in-law, child, spouse, or parent-in-law, subject to the approval of the MOI). Furthermore, all family visit visa applicants must now be covered by health insurance for the entire duration of the dependent’s visit in Qatar and must provide proof of health insurance as part of their visit visa application. Previously, health insurance was only required for those dependents over the age of 60. The government has not yet confirmed if only Ministry of Public Health-registered insurance packages will be accepted. These clarifications and new rules should help facilitate the entry process for family members of residents.