International job fairs and industry publications can help you find work with a Qatari employer. You can also look up employers that interest you and see if they have job openings posted on their website. Since the vast majority of the Qatari workforce is made up of foreign nationals, you don’t have to worry about Qatari employers not being familiar with the process. [5] X Research source
When your employer submits your application, give them your passport so your temporary visa can be placed inside. This allows you to enter Qatar and start working for your employer. The government doesn’t provide any information regarding how long it takes to get this temporary visa, but it will be available by the date your employer has set for you to start.
This process typically takes 2-4 weeks. You can’t leave Qatar for any reason until the conversion process is complete. Once you have a work permit, you can sign contracts (including lease contracts to rent a home) in Qatar, as well as apply for a loan. You also need this permit to be eligible for other licenses or permits you might need for your job.
Provide documents to the Ministry of Interior so they can process the application, such as birth certificates and your marriage certificate. The Ministry will tell you exactly what documents you need. Get a letter from your employer stating that they don’t object to your family joining you. They’ll also provide salary information so you can prove that you earn enough money to support your family in Qatar.
If you switch to a new employer, go online and change your work residence permit to reflect a new sponsor. You’ll need a copy of the new employment contract.
If you were born in Qatar and subsequently moved abroad and got citizenship in another country, you only have to live in Qatar for 10 years before you can apply for permanent residence status.
Your regular work residence permit wouldn’t be approved if you weren’t making enough to support yourself and your family, so, in theory, you shouldn’t have any trouble meeting this requirement. However, the Qatar government hasn’t indicated whether the amount of income required for permanent residency will be more than the amount required for the regular work residence permit.
If you do happen to have any convictions, you might still be eligible for permanent residency if you can prove that you’ve been successfully rehabilitated under Qatari law. Unfortunately, the law itself doesn’t specify what proof you need to provide of your successful rehabilitation.
Even though most Qataris speak English, if you’ve lived in Qatar for 20 years, it’s likely that you’ve learned enough of the language through immersion to meet this requirement.
To submit your application online, you must have a smart ID card with e-services activated, as well as a smart card reader that you can attach to your computer. When you submit your application, pay the non-refundable application fee of QR 3000. This fee covers applications for you and all of your family members. The Ministry processes your initial application based on the information already in your file.
Generally, you’ll need documents to verify various information, such as your employment, salary, and criminal background. Your employer can help you get the documents you need if you’re not sure how to proceed. You’ll likely also need documents to prove your identity, including a copy of your passport. If other family members are included on your application, you’ll need documents to prove your relationships to them, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificates for any children.
The Qatari government plans to grant no more than 100 permanent residencies a year, so it could take some time for your application to be approved. When your application is approved, pay an additional fee of QR 3000 to have your permanent resident card issued.
If you’re granted permanent residency, your spouse and dependent children will be granted permanent residency as well and have access to the same government benefits. Even as a permanent resident, you still aren’t eligible for some of the benefits, such as government pensions, that are only available to citizens.
If you apply for permanent residence first, you only have to live in the country for another 5 years before you can request citizenship. However, it could take several years for citizenship to be granted.
Qatar doesn’t publish the exact amount of money you need to make to be eligible for citizenship, but you should be able to comfortably support yourself and your family and have no trouble paying your bills. Your debts might also be taken into account when you request citizenship, so don’t borrow any more money than you have to, and be careful about credit cards.
Even though English is commonly spoken in Qatar as a second language, after 25 years in the country, you likely won’t have any problems with this requirement.
Generally, it’s best to do this soon after you enter the country, rather than waiting until you’re eligible for citizenship to convert. This gives you plenty of time to demonstrate your belief and devotion to Islam. Islam is also the state religion of Qatar. If you’re neither a Muslim nor a member of one of the 8 Christian denominations registered in the state, a grant of citizenship is unlikely.
It helps if you’re a well-known person who enhances the reputation and prestige of Qatar in some way. The Emir will likely have to approve your application, and he’ll be more likely to do so if he recognizes your name and knows who you are. Keep in mind that out of the millions of foreign nationals living and working in the country, Qatari law limits citizenship grants to no more than 50 per year. While it’s not known precisely how many foreign nationals have been granted Qatari citizenship, most of them are likely world-class athletes recruited to represent Qatar in global competitions, such as the Olympics. [23] X Research source
