How to Apply Family Visit Visa in Qatar? Steps & Guide
Interested in introducing Qatar’s unique blend of tradition and modernity to a loved one but unsure who can handle the family visit visa application? Count on us for all your needs. Perhaps you’re looking forward to something other than that long-awaited family reunion because obtaining a family visit visa in Qatar can be tricky. Multiple forms in complex legalese, requests for certified documents, appointments at the embassy… it’s enough to spoil your appetite.
Despite visa problems, we’ll have your friends and family lounging in the glamorous atmosphere of Doha sooner; continue reading.
Qatar Family Visit Visa Requirements
Having an employment or residency visa in Qatar means you can sponsor your family for a short-term visit. To do so, you need to gather the necessary documents. The sponsoring expatriate in Qatar is the applicant, while the visitor is their relative. Additionally, you should check family visa requirements every year since they change.
Children & Wife Sponsorship
Your wife and children need to meet certain conditions for you to sponsor a visit.
Salary Limit for Child & Wife Sponsorship
Sponsoring applicants must earn a minimum salary of QAR 5,000 ($ 1373) monthly to qualify for sponsorship. It is the basic income criterion. If your salary is less than this amount, you cannot sponsor.
Documents Needed for Wife and Children
Ensure all the required documents are ready when applying to sponsor your wife and children.
- Valid Qatari ID copy
- Qatar employer’s NOC
- Contract copy
- Copy of your employer’s commercial registration
Relationship Proofs
- Certificate of marriage (for sponsoring)
- Birth certificates (for sponsoring children)
Visit Planning Documents
- Copy of each visitor’s passport
- Round trip flight booking – arrival and departure tickets
- Valid health insurance for the entire duration of stay for each visitor
Newborn Requirements
A sponsorship for a newborn visit requires you to submit some additional documents:
- Child’s original passport
- Original birth certificate of the child
- Photograph of the newborn baby
- Copy of the mother’s residence visa in Qatar
- Copy of your residence permit in Qatar
Sponsorship Requirements for Relatives
A married expat can sponsor other relatives for a visit besides their wife and children. Here are the requirements:
Salary Requirement for Other Relatives
You must earn at least QAR 10,000 ($ 2747) monthly to sponsor another family member, such as parents or siblings. This threshold is higher than the one for the wife and children.
Requested Documents
The documents required are similar to sponsoring a wife and children, but you also need the following:
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates proving kinship
- Copy of your wife’s Qatari ID if she lives with you in Qatar
Medical Tests Requirement
Visitors, including their wives, kids, and relatives, must get tested for tuberculosis, hepatitis B/C, and HIV before applying. The application is subject to rejection if the test proves positive for any condition. So, visitors have to do these tests and get a certificate before they get sponsored.
Family Visit Visa Age Restriction
There is an age restriction of 60 years old for applicants seeking a family visit visa in Qatar. Anyone over this age is not eligible to apply. For further eligibility information, don’t hesitate to contact the Ministry of Interior before applying.
Steps to Apply for Qatar Family Visit Visa Online
The Metrash2 (Apple iOS & Android) app makes applying for a Qatar family visit visa simple when you follow these steps.
Step 1: Set Up Your Metrash2 Account
Make an account on Metrash2 on your phone. Sign up using your email and password if you don’t already have one. Activating your new account will require you to provide some personal information. Once you’ve signed up, you can access Metrash2.
Step 2: Locate the Visa Page in The App
Once logged into your Metrash2 account, visit the visa application pages. On the homepage, tap the “Visa” icon for the section containing different visa categories.
Under the main Visa page, select “Issue Visa.” This page contains visa types you can apply for as a sponsoring resident of Qatar.
Step 3: Choose the Family Visit Visa
Click on the “Family Visit” icon in the Issue Visa section – that takes you right away. Make sure you choose the “Family Visa Application” and not the “Family Resident Permit” by mistake, as it’ll take longer.
Step 4: Initiate New Application
Click the “New Application” button on the family visit visa pages to open a fresh application form. You can then input all the information for a fresh family visit visa application.
Step 5: Enter Visitor’s Information
If you would like to sponsor a family member to visit Qatar, you will need to provide specific information, such as:
- Full name matching the passport
- Date of birth
- Nationality/citizenship
- Passport number
- Your exact relationship
- Gender
Step 6: Verify Information
Once you’ve filled in all the requested fields, click the “Validate” button so Metrash2 can verify your entered details. Correct any issues if the system detects any mismatches or errors.
Step 7: Upload Supporting Documents
You should follow the instructions to upload clear scans or photos of relevant documents, such as:
- Passport pages
- Birth/marriage certificates
- Any other relationship proofs
Tips for documents:
- Combine multi-page docs into one file
- Keep passport pages on the same side
- Scans must be readable
Step 8: Wait for Approval
After submitting your application, it takes a few days for Metrash2 to verify and approve the family visit visa request thoroughly. If the system requests more information or documents, resolve any problems quickly.
Step 9: Pay Visa Fees
Once Metrash2 has approved the visa application, pay the 200 QAR visa fee through the payment icon in the app. By doing this, it completes and activates the approval.
Step 10: Purchase Insurance
It is mandatory for you to purchase mandatory health insurance for the visiting family member through Metrash2. Be sure to link the insurance directly to the visa number.
Step 11: Download the Visa
After that, you can download a copy of the official visa from the moi.gov.qatar visa inquiry page and provide it to your guest. They can now book their trip to Qatar.
Qatar Family Visit Visa Offline Method
It is possible to apply for a Qatar family visit visa without using the online Metrash system by following the following steps:
Step 1: Download the Application Form
Print out the physical visa application form and fill it out only with black ink. You can find the form here.
Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form
Complete the visa application form accurately. Any errors could delay processing, so verify every field before proceeding.
Step 3: Visit the Moi Service Center
Complete the visa application form and provide any required documentation to your nearest Ministry of Interior service center.
Step 4: Submit Documents to Counter
You will present the visa application form and documents to the MOI counter officer upon arrival. The officer will review the application and either approve or deny it.
Step 5: Visa Interview
During the visa interview, you may be asked about your relationship with the sponsor and your purpose for visiting Qatar. Answer honestly and directly.
Step 6: Receive the Official Receipt
The MOI center will send you an official receipt after you’ve submitted the form. This receipt includes a link to check your visa status online after 2 working days.
Step 7: Check Status Online
You should only proceed once you receive approval from the sponsor’s MOI visa website.
Step 8: Pay Fees
Once the approval comes in, return to the MOI center and submit the receipt, paying the 200 QAR visa fees in person or online through Metrash2.
Step 9: Get Your Visa
You should now be able to provide your visitor with a printout of the final approved family visit visa.
Qatar Family Visit Visa Validity
The original validity period granted for a new Qatar family visit visa is 1 month, or 30 days, from the date of issue. With this initial visa, your visiting relatives can stay in Qatar for up to their first month.
Before applying for the 2-month extension, relatives who wish to stay longer than 30 days need to undergo a medical checkup.
Qatar Family Visit Visa Cost
The base cost for obtaining a new Qatar family visit visa is QAR 200, around USD 55, for the initial 1-month validity period. Additionally, the visa can include up to 5 dependent children for QAR 50, or approximately USD 13 per child monthly. Including kids is, therefore, very affordable.
Conclusion
To summarize, applying for a family visit visa in Qatar on Metrash2 is quick and easy. Don’t wait to book your Qatar vacation; apply now. You and your family will love Qatar’s sights, sounds, and culture. Take advantage of the current visa offers and save money by submitting your visa application now.