Work permits and visas in Qatar: An employer’s guide

If you are hiring a new employee or relocating a team member to Qatar, you need to make sure they have the proper work visa under local immigration laws. Your company also needs to stay on top of tax and labor laws for compliant HR.

With relatively low living costs, fast internet, and strong tech investment, Qatar is an appealing country to work for tech professionals. In this article, Remote walks you through right-to-work checks, work visa types, and visa requirements for your employee to work in Qatar. 

See also: The complete employer's guide to hiring in Qatar

Work authorization checks in Qatar

Any non-Qatari you hire must hold a Residence Permit, often called a Work Residence Permit, linked to employment before working in Qatar. It is the employer’s responsibility to handle the paperwork and convert the worker’s entry visa into a Work Residence Permit. During the conversion, the employee generally cannot leave the country.

Do non-citizens need a work visa or work permit in Qatar?

• Yes for most foreigners: To live and work in Qatar, non-GCC nationals must be sponsored by a Qatari employer and obtain a Work Residence Permit after entering on the correct entry visa. Employment is not allowed on a tourist or visit visa. 

• GCC citizens (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE): Under GCC Common Market rules, GCC nationals may live and work in fellow member states without a separate work visa; local registration (e.g., QID/residency) may still be required. 

• Spouses on family sponsorship. A woman in Qatar on family sponsorship may work with her husband’s approval by registering with the Labor Department. This route does not require a separate work permit. 

Visa types and work permits in Qatar

In Qatar, the only work visa that grants the right to work is the Work Residence Permit (RP) under a Qatari employer. Other residency permits (e.g., family, investor, real-estate owner residency permit) allow a person to live in Qatar, but they must still obtain a work RP before taking up employment.

Work Residence Permit

A Work Residence Permit is the standard "work visa" or default route to employ a foreign national in Qatar. Your company sponsors the worker, and arranges the entry visa. The applicant then completes medical exams and submits biometric data so the Work Residence Permit can be issued. Legal residence and work status are then reflected on the worker’s Qatar ID (QID), which now serves as the primary proof of residency.

Business visa

A business visa is for short, pre-arranged contractual work or business activities in Qatar. It must be arranged in advance by an approved Qatar-based company or institution and is valid for up to three months.

Note that a business visa is not a substitute for a Work Residence Permit (RP). If you need the person to take an ongoing job in Qatar, you must switch to (or start with) an employer-sponsored Work RP so they can live and work long-term.

Family visa

A family residence visa lets eligible residents sponsor immediate family (spouse and children) to live in Qatar. It is separate from the worker’s own employment-based RP. A dependent who wishes to work must obtain work authorization under an employer sponsor).

Investor and real estate visa

Qatar offers residence options for qualifying investors and real estate owners. Investment visa and real estate visa holders only have the right to reside in Qatar. Taking up employment still requires the appropriate employer-sponsored Work Residence Permit.

Eligibility criteria for a work permit in Qatar

Here's what a candidate needs to have to get a work permit (Work Residence Permit) in Qatar.

• A valid passport.
• Employment contract: An employment contract with a Qatar-based sponsor is required to start work visa processing.
• Medical clearance: All newcomers must undergo medical screening in Qatar (or via designated overseas centers for select nationalities) and submit biometric information before the work visa is issued.
• Residency formalities: Residency is completed with the Ministry of Interior. The residence permit is then reflected on the worker’s Qatari ID card.
  

How to get a work permit in Qatar

In short, the employer brings the hire into Qatar on the correct entry visa, then completes medicals, biometrics, and residency so the worker receives a Qatar ID (QID) showing their Work Residence Permit status.

Here' a step-by-step visa application process for your employee to obtain a work visa in Qatar:

Entry visa and offer

• Issue the employment contract and act as the worker’s sponsor
• Apply for the entry visa so the employee can enter Qatar to complete residency
• If the hire is from a country with a Qatar Visa Center (QVC), complete any pre-departure medical fitness test and biometric registration as instructed

Medical examination (after arrival)

• Book the Medical Commission exam promptly after your employee's arrival (blood tests/chest X-ray as required)
• The applicant needs to pass the medical examination to get residency

Biometrics and Qatar ID (QID)

• Guide the employee to complete fingerprints and biometrics with the Ministry of Interior
• Once approved, the QID is printed and delivered; QID is day-to-day proof of legal residence

Work Residence Permit (RP) issuance

• MOI finalizes the RP under your company’s sponsorship
• During the visa-to-permit conversion, the employee should not leave Qatar until the RP/QID is issued

Work visa processing time and cost in Qatar

Processing from entry to RP issuance commonly takes about two to four weeks, depending on work visa documentation and the workload of Qatari government. Official fees and service steps are published on MOI service pages; amounts vary by service (medical exam, RP issuance, ID card, etc.).

Digital nomad visas in Qatar

Qatar does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. To live and work in Qatar, foreign nationals typically need a Work Residence Permit under a Qatari employer’s sponsorship.

Separately, employees who already hold an RP may work for another company by secondment. In this arrangement, the temporary employer files the secondment request. If the current employer approves, the permit allows part-time or full-time work for up to six months (renewable) while the employee remains under their original sponsor.

How Remote can help with work visas in Qatar

To hire or relocate employees to Qatar, you need to navigate immigration laws to avoid potential penalties, as well as handle payroll and benefits according to local tax laws. 

That's why Remote’s Employer of Record service is invaluable. We act as the legal employer in Qatar on your company’s behalf. Remote helps you stay compliant with local labor and tax laws, so you can onboard your employees in a matter of days to save time and resources. 

If you already have an entity in Qatar, Remote can help with international employee relocation with case-by-case immigration assessments, and guidance on Qatar work visa applications. 

To learn more about the processes involved in relocating international employees, download Remote's Relocation Guide, or contact our Relocation team today.