How to Convert Family Visit Visa to Residence Visa - QATAR

How to Convert Family Visit Visa to Residence Visa - QATAR

Are you looking for a guide on how to convert a family visit visa to a residence visa in Qatar? You're in luck because all you need to know is right here.

This is the current process/documents required to apply for a family visa:

1.?Get a salary letter from the employer - salary overall to be a minimum of 10000 QAR.

2.?Company NOC dated within the last 3 months.

3.?Copy of your passport and RP card page (carry original RP card for verification).

4.?A copy of your education certificate attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of your country and the Qatar embassy in your country. They may also demand Arabic translation attested by the MOFA of your country and the Qatar embassy in your country. If it's not in English then translation is a must.

5.?Wife's and kid’s passport copies.

6.?Marriage Certificate attested by MOFA of your country and Qatar embassy in your country. If it's not in English then the translation must be attested by MOFA and the Qatar embassy in your country.

7.?Child(s) Birth Certificate(s) attested by MOFA and Qatar embassy in your country. If it's not in English then the translation must be attested by MOFA and the Qatar embassy in your country.

8.?Rent agreement duly attested by municipality (municipality shall require another set of documents like copy of title, copy of owner QID, layout, etc. for stamping)

9.?Six months bank statement mandatory for private firms stamped by bank official (Some banks charge for that Stamp)

10.?Job Contract letter signed by both parties and stamped by?the Ministry of Labor. This will be done by your company so no need to worry about that.

Here's the complete process [Note: It's a lengthy process, be patient]

1. Extend current family visit visa for a maximum period of 6 months -?Go to the Medical Commission with the entry visas and get the medical done. The receipt will say "Visa Extension". You will be charged QAR 100, Normally for kids they don’t do medical they will just charge 100 QAR per kid and add in the report as fit.

2.?After 2 days, check the status on this?medical commission?website. The result should say fit.

3.?Go to the immigration office with the original passports and visa copies to extend family visit visas for a maximum period (up to 6 months). It's always better to go between 6 am to 9 am to extend family visit visas.

4. Prepare all the documents as mentioned in points 1-10 and go to Immigration office Gate 3 (located in Madinat Khalifa/Gharaffa). Submit all the documents. It's always better to go between 6 am to 9 am.

After 4 days, check on the MOI website for the status. Initially, the application status will appear as 'Application is under review'?and when the application is accepted, the status will be updated to 'Under Process'?without an expiry date.

Then the status will again be changed to 'Under Process'?with an expiry date. Finally, the application status is updated to?'Ready to Print'. Usually, this whole process takes 4 to 6 working days and sometimes 15 to 20 days.

5.?Once the status is?'Ready to print', go to the Immigration office again at Gate 1 with the?document submission receipt.

6.?You will be charged QAR 200 for printing each residence entry visa copy and QAR 500 for converting the current visit visa status to residence entry visa status without exiting & re-entering Qatar (you can choose to get a visa by exiting to avoid QAR 500).?This process is very important as few people think that they already got family residence visa approvals from MOI and they are safe for the next 3 months, which is not right unless you complete the transfer process by paying QR 500 you will be charged QR 200 fine from the date of expiry of current family visit visas & until you complete this process and hence please ensure you convert visa status quickly by paying QR 500 to avoid hefty fines.

7.?Go to the Medical Commission and present the paper visa and tell them you need to do a medical to convert your current family visit visa to a residence visa. You won't need to take your family with you as no medical check-up will be done again (If they are inside the country with an extended family visit visa and after completing a medical test). If they exit and enter medical tests need to be repeated for your family.

You will be charged QAR 100 again and the receipt will mention the purpose as 'Residence / Work visa'. Go to counter 64 where the officer will update his system so that the medical data will be sent to the fingerprint office.

8.?Go to the fingerprinting office at Mesaimer with all your receipts and get the fingerprints done. Make sure to collect the fingerprint receipt.

9.?After 4 days, go to Immigration office Gate 2 with all the documents and passport-size photographs. If you forgot to get the fingerprint receipt then you will be directed to fill out an application form. A counter is available in Gate 2 where a person will help you fill out the form in Arabic and give you instructions.

Also, make sure to have a blood group report with you of your wife from any medical clinic/hospital in Qatar. You will be charged QAR 500 for one year of RP. An eye scan will be required so make sure to take your wife along with you. Be at the office 6 am - 9 am.

Hopefully, this info will help whoever is planning to convert their visit visa to a residence permit.

Regards

Salman Khan

Human Resource Professional