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If you’re a resident in Qatar and find yourself needing to cancel your Residence Visa or Qatar ID (QID), it’s essential to understand the process and requirements involved.
Whether you’re leaving the country permanently, switching your visa status, or for any other reason, canceling your QID is a crucial step in ensuring your legal status aligns with your current circumstances.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps required to cancel Qatar ID and Residence Visa. We’ll also answer the related questions.
Why Cancel Your Qatar ID
There are several reasons why you might need to cancel your Qatar ID:
- Leaving the country: If you’re leaving Qatar for good, canceling your QID is a necessary step to ensure you’re no longer legally tied to the country.
- Sending family out of Qatar: If your family is Qatar under your sponsorship, and you want to relocate them permanently to your home country. In such situation you can cancel their Qatar ID to avoid any future issues.
- Changing jobs: If you’re leaving your current job, but planning to come back after a while on visa, your QID should be cancelled before your new sponsor can apply for a new visa.
Note that in the third scenario, you can also change your employer without cancelling QID or leaving the country. For more information, read our guide on how expatriates can change jobs in Qatar.
Who Can Cancel Qatar ID
Qatar’s sponsorship system mandates that only the sponsor has the right to apply, renew, or cancel the Qatar ID. This means that a Qatar resident cannot cancel their Qatar ID on their own.
- If you are on a family visa, only your family sponsor (spouse or parent) can cancel your QID.
- If you are on an employment visa, your QID can only be cancelled by your employer or the employer’s authorized representative (PRO).
How To Cancel Qatar ID Online
There are two online options: through Metrash or through MOI portal.
How To Cancel Qatar ID On Metrash
If you want to cancel you family member’s Qatar ID (Residence visa), follow these steps:
- Login to your Metrash app.
- Click on “Residency Services”
- Select “Cancel Residency”.
- Enter the required RP numbers to be cancelled.
- Pay appropriate fees online.
- Print payment receipt.
Note that the Qatar ID will be instantly cancelled at this stage. There is no waiting period for approval. Only attempt this if you are 100% sure you want to cancel.
How To Cancel Qatar ID On MOI Portal
- Login to MOI e-portal with your smart card.
- Click on “Residency Services”
- Select “Cancel Residency”.
- Enter the required RP numbers to be cancelled.
- Pay appropriate fees online.
- Print payment receipt.
After this you can also download and print an exit permit from the portal.
How To Cancel Qatar ID At MOI Service Center
To cancel a dependent’s Qatar ID offline, the sponsor or his representative (PRO) can visit any MOI Service Center and submit the Residence Cancellation Form. If required you can fill-up the form from a typing center.
If you are the sponsor you will also need your ID proof.
- In case of personal sponsorship, this will be sponsor’s Qatar ID.
- In case of establishment’s this will be the company’s Establishment ID.
Fee To Cancel Qatar ID
The following fee needs to be paid for cancellation of Qatar ID.
- For personal sponsorship: QR 20 per person
- For company sponsorship: QR 50 per person
Grace Period To Stay Inside Qatar
Once your Qatar ID is cancelled the normal grace period is 30 days. However kindly double check this with your employer or PRO as this may vary in some cases.
If your Qatar ID expires (not cancelled), the grace period is 90 days. After 90 days there is a fine of Qr 10 per day. You can read our guide to Qatar ID renewal here.
Important Points to Note
Your Qatar ID cannot be cancelled if there are active visas under your sponsorship. It means if your family is in Qatar under your sponsorship, first you need to cancel their visa before your sponsor can cancel yours.
Your Qatar ID cannot be cancelled if there is a registered vehicle under your ownership. If you want to cancel your Qatar ID (not change of sponsorship), any vehicle under your QID should be sold or transferred to someone else. If your vehicle is not sold yet, you can transfer it to any of your friends.
You can confirm if your Qatar ID has been cancelled by checking the QID status on MOI portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my dependent’s QID while outside country?
Yes, the sponsor can cancel the dependent’s Qatar ID and Residence Permit even if the QID holder is outside the country.
What to do if my sponsor doesn’t cancel your QID?
It is crucial that your QID is cancelled before you leave Qatar. If it is not properly cancelled you cannot apply for a new visa until your QID expires.
Should I return my QID if it is cancelled?
It is not mandatory to return the Qatar ID. Sometimes your Qatar ID will be collected by the immigration officer at airport. If you are using e-gate you can keep the QID.
READ NEXT: Leaving Qatar Checklist and Essential Guide
Related Articles:
- How To Apply Qatar ID For A Baby Born in Qatar
- How To Get On Arrival Visa for Baby Born Outside Qatar
- How Can Mother Sponsor Children In Qatar
- Pregnancy And Baby Delivery in Qatar: Full Guide
- Qatar Family Residence Visa Guide
- How To Transfer Wife To Husband Sponsorship
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Hi, I was working as a house maid in Qatar so my sponsor wanted to leave the country for good so he cancelled his family but he left me in Qatar since my I’d was still valid, now when my I’d was expired he cancelled my RP through metrash and I exit qatar through the e gate which my cancelled I’d was taken by the immigration officer,, so after 10 days I got a company which was willing to offer me a job back in qatar so they applied for me a new visa but in visa description it says I didn’t “complete the stipulated duration outside the country”, so what should I do and how long is still stipulated duration to complete
Hi Milcah, In some cases, some professions like domestic workers may have automatic ban (1-2 years depending on many factors). Please check with a reputed typing center or PRO if there is any ban on your QID number.
Hi, to avoid the automatic ban can my sponsor provide Noc while he already cancelled my RP and if yes how can he do it on metrash.
Hi Milcah, Your sponsor can give NOC to remove ban. We are not sure if Metrash NOC is enough. It is better to check with a typing center.
Hi,
Whether employer can cancel the QID when the employee is outside of country? consider that there is no visa sponsorship & registered vechicle under the employee name
Hi Sankar, Yes, in such cases the employer can cancel visa even if employee is outside the country. However if they cancel without settling your dues you can file a case against them.