Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 11 July 2024.
To sponsor his family for a residence visa in Qatar, an expatriate resident must show 6 months of salary credit on his bank statement. Nowadays there is also some delay in processing of family residence visas. In order to overcome this time barrier, many expatriates bring their families on family visit visas and convert them to family residence visas later on.
In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to convert family visit to residence visa, including the required documents, fees, and other relevant information you need to know. Whether you are relocating to Qatar for work or to join your family, this article will help you navigate the family visa application process easily.
Please note that the below process will only work if the visitor is on a Family Visit Visa. If the visitor is on a Hayya Tourist Visa (A1), the procedure is different. Click here to know about Hayya to Residence visa changing.
Can I Convert Family Visit to Residence Visa?
The answer is yes, you can convert a family visit to family residence visa without exiting the country. However please note that this is only possible after your family residence visa application is approved.
If you haven’t started your family’s residence visa process yet, see our detailed guide to family visa application.
Steps To Convert Family Visit to Residence Visa
Here is a quick summary of the process to change family visit visa to family RP visa:
After the family residence visa application has been approved, you need to follow the following steps:
Step 1: Pay Family Residence Visa Fee
Once you are notified that the visa is ready to print, you can pay the RP visa fee of QR 200 through your Metrash mobile app or directly at any MOI Service Centre. Now the visa can be printed from the MOI website.
Step 2: Change Visa Type
You can change the visa type either on Metrash app or directly at any MOI Service Centre. To change visa type without exiting the country, there will be an additional fee of QR 500 per family member. This fee should be paid using a bank card.
Option 1: Change visa type on Metrash
After you have paid the visa fee (QR 200) on your Metrash app:
- Go to “Visa Service”
- Select “Open Close Visa”
- Select “Personal”
- Click “Next”
- Enter old (Visit) and new (RP) visa numbers
- Pay QR 500
You will receive a confirmation and receipt. Print the receipt for next steps.
If you are facing any error during this process, you will have to go to any MOI Service Centre.
Option 2: Change visa type at MOI Service Centre
After you have paid the visa fee and printed the visa (QR 200), go to any MOI Service Centre. Request the Captain to convert family visit to residence visa.
The documents you need to carry are:
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID
- Family’s original passport
- Visit Visa copy
- Residence Visa copy
After payment, you will receive a Visit to RP Conversion Receipt.
Step 3: Update Medical Test Result
If you have not done the medical test for visit visa extension, you will need to do the full medical test at Medical Commission.
If you have already done the medical test for visit visa extension, you are not required to do the full medical test again. However you need to visit to the Medical Commission and request them to change your medical status (visit visa to residence visa). A regular health check-up may be done.
To update the status in the system you have to pay a fee of QR 100 per family member. This fee should be paid using a bank card.
The documents you need to carry are:
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID copy
- Family’s original passport
- Visit Visa copy
- Residence Visa copy
- Visit Visa Medical Receipt
- Visit to RP Conversion Receipt
The Medical Commission staff will ask you to write down the sponsor’s mobile number on the visa copy.
Normally, this step is not required for children under 15. After visit visa is converted to RP visa, check if “Issue Residence” option is available for them on Metrash. If it is not showing, you have to pay QR 100 at Medical Commission. You will need the child’s original passport and visa copy.
Step 4: Fingerprints Process
The next step is to perform fingerprinting. You can do this at any MOI Service Centre (except Wadi Al Banat / Al Duhail). This step is not required for children under 15.
The documents you need to carry are:
- Completed application form* (may not be required at some MOI centres)
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID copy
- Family’s original passport
- Passport copy
- Residence Visa copy
- Medical Receipt
- Visit to RP Conversion Receipt
*You can get this filled from a typing centre. You can also get the Qatar ID application form (needed in the next step) typed at the same time.
Step 5: Apply for Qatar ID
The final step is to apply for a Residence Permit Card (Qatar ID). You can do this at MOI Service Centre or online through Metrash.
Applying Qatar ID at MOI Service Centre
If you are applying for Qatar ID directly, you can apply at any Ministry of Interior (MOI) Service Centre.
The documents you need to carry are:
- Completed application form (download link)
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID copy
- Family’s original passport
- Residence Visa copy
- Medical Receipt
- Visit to RP Conversion Receipt
- Passport-size photo (blue background)
Qatar ID costs QR 500 for the first year. Once the fee is paid, the Qatar ID cards will be printed within 5 minutes.
Applying Qatar ID on Metrash
You can also do the same on Metrash by following the below steps:
- Open the Metrash2 app
- Go to the “Residency” section
- Select “Issue Residence Permit”
- Enter the required details
- Upload a passport size photo (blue background)
- Take a picture of a family member’s signature and upload it. (For children, write their names on a piece of paper and upload it as their signature).
- Pay QR 500 + QR 20 as QPost delivery charge
You can track your QID delivery on the MOI website. Use the sponsor’s QID number as the tracking number.
READ NEXT: Qatar Family Residence Visa Requirements and Application Process
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Special thanks to Mr. Faris Ahmed for sharing with us his recent experience in detail.
Good Day Doha Guide,
Im here at Doha since Jan 2024 thru Family Visit Visa with my Wife Sponsor. She extended my Visa till July 2, 2024. Can we convert my previous visa for Family Residence Visa without exiting Doha?
Thank you.
Hi Good Morning. What are the Salery requirements for changing family visit visa to FAMILY RP Visa.
hi DG team, My wife is on A1 tourist visa and i shall be applying for family resident visa.. in such case visa will be approved or will it pop up as person already in qatar.. pls guide me
Please clarify. I have a family visit visa for my wife and kid and they entered Qatar. Now I want to convert their Visa to Residence Visa. Should I have to initiate the new family residence application? It was not mentioned properly in the guide page.
Yes, you will have to initiate a new application on Metrash for family residence visa. Get their medical done in advance if you haven’t as you may have to extend the visit visa. It will take around a month or a but more to get the RP application approved. In my case (I am Indian with a salary of 15000) it took one month exactly.
Hi DG,
Good morning.
Who are eligible to convert family visit visa to RP?
I sponsored my grandchildren under Family Visit visa, can I convert it to RP? Both parents of the children are working here in Qatar with valid QID but unfortunately their salaries and profession are not eligible.
Could you please guide us the possible way to stay the kids with their parents?
Hi Lhen, Normally only parents are allowed to sponsor children for Family RP. Please check if the combined income of both parents is QR 10,000. If yes, the mother can apply to be the sponsor. Here are more details: https://www.dohaguides.com/mother-sponsor-children-in-qatar/
The conversion part comes only after the RP visa is approved.
Hi DG,
My Salary is 10k, Should I want get Tenancy contract with attestation for uploading for RP visa
Hi Mohamed, So far tenancy contract is not needed for those with 10k salary.
Good Day! Can i my wife convert my Family Visit Visa to Family Residence even here salary was 6,300 QR non labour?
Thank you so much Doha Guide
Hi Darryl, The salary requirement for a Family Residence Permit is QR 10,000 or QR 6,000 + family accommodation. She can apply if her employer is giving family accommodation (which should be mentioned in the NOC letter). You can convert the family visit visa to family RP if it gets approved.
Hi, currently my husband have 2 visa, first was the family visit visa and then I tried to apply for a Family resident visa and it was approved. The approved family RP is without middle name. Can I use the family visit visa or is it okay that the Family resident visa without middle name be use? Thank you!
Hi June, It is better to enter using Family RP or else you will have to convert the visa type later. Only first and last names are mandatory and should be as per passport. If you want to change the name on visa, visit any MOI Service Center and they can do it for you.
Hi June,
as long you have approved RP visa, you can update the middle name so it will be as per passport details. I tried yesterday after i missed the middle name of my wife.
The reason for this that my wife passport for visa stamping in qatar embassy didn’t accept by DHL express due to missing M.name. Call me at 30019682. then i will tell you how to update and no need to go to MOI offices.
Thank you Ryan, It would be helpful for more people if you could explain the process here.
Dear DG,
Here are the procedures:
1. Click the Visa icon
2. Click Visa Services
3. Tick the Visa Update then choose Personal
4. Enter the approved Visa Number (this is 1 time update only, make sure to provide the correct Middle Name). After the first name, type in the second box the M.Name, then make sure to upload again the passport front page copy (better to use the metrashapp2 camera).
5. Double check details in the apps, once corrected then click the submitted button.
6. The status will change from APPROVED to UNDER PROCESS again. Don’t worry, the visa is approved and wait only for maximum of 1 hour or less.
7. Once it’s approved go to visa section then check the status and it will show the APPROVED status again.
The above information are based on my experience 2 days ago and i have now the most updated copy of approved visa.
Hi Ryan, Thank you very much! This will be a great help to others. We shall add this to our pages. Appreciated.