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 March 2024.
What is Family Residence Visa in Qatar?
A Family Residence Visa is a visa that allows a foreign worker to sponsor their immediate family members, such as their wife and children, for a long-term stay in Qatar. Every family member, including infants, must have an individual Residence Visa to stay in Qatar.
To sponsor their family members, an expatriate resident must meet eligibility requirements such as profession, salary, and accommodation.
Applicants must also submit several documents, including attested marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates, etc. This article explains eligibility requirements, required documents, visa fees, and step-by-step procedures to apply for a Qatar Family Residence Visa.
- What is Family Residence Visa in Qatar?
- Qatar Residence Family Visa Latest News And Updates
- Qatar Family Visa Requirements
- Qatar Family Visa Process
- Step 1: Apply for Family RP Entry Visa
- Step 2: Family Members enter Qatar
- Step 3: Undergo the Medical Test
- Step 4: Undergo the Fingerprints Process
- Step 5: Apply for a Qatar ID Card
- Qatar Family Visa Fees
- Registering For National Address
- Rules For Sponsoring Adult Children
- Work Permit for Spouse and Children
- FAQ on Qatar Family Residence Visa
Qatar Residence Family Visa Latest News And Updates
Ramadan Working Hours: The Ministry of Interior has announced the official working hours of its departments during the holy month of Ramadan. The General Directorate of Passports offices will be open from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
March 2024 Family RP Status
Family Residence Visa (RP): Processing of Family RPs for private sector employees is normal from August 2023. Numerous applicants with salaries above QR 10,000 received approvals. However, applications with salaries less than QR 10,000 (even QR 9,900) were reportedly rejected.
The hold on Family RP for children seems to be removed now. Children are now getting approval.
The Metrash system is now showing the option to apply Family RP for parents (father and mother). However, almost everyone who applied received an error message “Your Request Has Been Converted To Committee”.
The new Immigration office at Al Duhail is NOT allowing follow-up visits regarding Family RP applications.
Family RP applications can be submitted online using the Metrash app.
06 February 2024 Update
The Ministry of Interior has announced that both employers and expatriates are required to complete residence permit procedures within 30 days of entering the country, in accordance with the law. Failure to do so may lead to a fine of QR 10,000.
04 December 2023 Update
The Ministry of Interior has clarified the eligibility criteria for Family Residence Permit as follows:
Government & Semi-government Employees: Family housing by employer [or] QR 10,000 salary, duly accredited with an employment contract.
Private Sector Employees: QR 10,000 salary [or] QR 6000 salary + Family housing by the employer. The profession should be technical or specialized (non-labour) duly accredited with an employment contract.
Children within 6-18 years of age must be enrolled in schooling inside or outside the country.
Health insurance is required during the duration of the stay, starting from the date of entry.
Below are the updates based on available information derived from the experiences of other applicants. Please note that the information provided is not based on any official announcement. Individual outcomes may vary depending on various factors:
Earlier Updates (Aug – Nov 2023)
Starting in October 2023, the Metrash application form requires the submission of additional documents such as a Salary Certificate, and a copy of the Employment Contract. We have updated the below content with what to upload in each column.
Since the first week of August 2023, there has been no need to upload bank statements and education certificates on the Metrash mobile app.
Salary credit is now verified through your employer’s Wage Protection System (WPS) transfer. Before applying for a Family RP, please confirm with your employer that your salary is credited through WPS.
Education is now verified through the labour contract. Here is how you can check labour contracts online. If you cannot find your contract, please contact your employer’s PRO to update it before proceeding with the application.
Applicants whose WPS and labour contracts were not in order received a “missing documents” status, while some applications were cancelled.
Qatar Family Visa Requirements
Here are the major requirements for an expatriate to sponsor his family:
1) Residence Permit
The first requirement is that the applicant (the sponsor) must have a valid Residence Permit. Your Qatar ID / Residence Card should be ready before you apply for a residence visa for your family.
2) Profession Requirement
The sponsor’s profession on the Qatar ID should be technical or specialised (non-labour). Those in the labour category, such as drivers, delivery boys, cleaners, etc., may not be eligible to sponsor their families irrespective of their salary.
3) Minimum Salary For Family Visa in Qatar
Currently, the minimum salary (official requirement) for a Family Residence Visa in Qatar is QR 10,000 for private-sector employees. Those with a minimum salary of QR 6,000 + free family accommodation are also eligible (if family accommodation is provided by the employer).
Until July 2023, approvals were given only to those with a minimum salary of QR 15,000. This requirement seems to have been relaxed from August 2023.
The salary requirements are in place to ensure that the sponsor can support their family’s expenses, including accommodation and groceries.
Qatar Family Visa Process
Before you begin the application process for Family Residence Visas, check with your employer to see if they can assist you. Employers are not obliged to process or pay for Family Residence Visas, but some companies handle this process as part of their employment policy.
The Qatar Family Residence Visa process can be summarised as follows:
- Step 1: Apply for a Family RP Entry Visa
- Step 2: Family members enter Qatar
- Step 3: Undergo Medical Test
- Step 4: Undergo the Fingerprints Process
- Step 5: Apply for Qatar ID
Let’s examine the above steps in detail:
Step 1: Apply for Family RP Entry Visa
The first step is to submit all the necessary documents to obtain approval for a family residence visa, allowing your family to enter Qatar. However, please note that other formalities such as medical tests and fingerprinting must be completed after their arrival.
Alternatively, you can bring your family on a Family Visit Visa, which involves a simpler process.
A visit visa can be converted into a Family Residence Visa after submitting the same documents. To change your visa type without leaving the country, you will need to pay an additional QR 500.
Here is our comprehensive guide on how to convert a Family Visit Visa to a Family RP Visa.
Documents Required for Qatar Family Visa Application
When applying for a Family Residence Visa through Metrash, you will need the following documents:
- Passports of spouse and children (front and back pages).
- Marriage Certificate for spouse (Attested*).
- Birth Certificates for children (Attested*).
- NOC (No-Objection Certificate) in Arabic from the employer with position and salary (dated within the last 3 months). Please upload this document to the “Other Documents” placeholder.
Declaration of non-marriage for daughters is required if they are above 18 years of age and unmarried. Please note that married daughters are not eligible for sponsorship under their parents.
If you have adopted children, additional documents are required.
For stepchildren, you need to submit documents proving the relationship between the sponsor and the stepchild.
If your QID is expiring soon, you should renew it before proceeding with the application.
Attestation and Translation of Documents
*Documents that require attestation should be attested by the Qatar Embassy in your country OR your country’s Embassy in Qatar. You should also get it attested from Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Doha.
If documents such as Marriage Certificates or Birth Certificates are not in English or Arabic, you will need to have them translated. Translations should be uploaded to the “Other documents” section of Metrash.
There are many attestation service providers and typing centres in Qatar, that can help you with translation and attestation.
Important Information About Documents
- Document scans/photos must be clear and readable.
- Metrash only accepts JPG images. PDF files are not accepted.
- For documents with multiple pages, combine both pages into one JPG file (side to side). You can achieve this by keeping both pages together side-by-side and taking a single photo. Ensure that the text is clear and legible. For improved clarity, you can use any software to scan two pages and place them side-by-side before saving them as a JPG file. Here is a helpful online tool for merging documents.
- The maximum size of the merged JPG document should be less than 500 KB. Any document with a size above 500 KB will not be uploaded and you need to resize it.
- For the bank statement (if required), inform your bank that it is for the RP application so that they will print a one-page statement with salary credit only.
- To avoid mistakes while uploading files from your mobile phone, create a new folder on your phone, name it “Family RP”, and keep only the final files there.
How To Apply Family Residence Visa through Metrash
Qatar MOI has simplified the application process by enabling applicants to submit their documents through the Metrash2 mobile app. If you haven’t registered for Metrash2 yet, please refer to our comprehensive Metrash2 User Guide.
For the family visa option to be active, the applicant’s labour contract should be uploaded online and linked to the Metrash system. In most cases, this will have already been done by the employer.
If you receive an error message on Metrash, please contact your employer to resolve this matter.
Here are the steps to apply for a Family Residence Visa on the Metrash2 mobile app:
- After logging into Metrash, click on the “Visa” icon.
2. Click on the “Issue Visa” icon on the next screen.
3. Click on the “Family Visit” icon on the next screen.
4. Select “Family Resident Application” on the next screen.
IMPORTANT NOTE: By default, this will be selected as Family Visa Application (which is for Family Visit Visa applicants). For Residence Visas, you have to change this selection as shown below:
5. Click on “New Application” (bottom right of the screen).
6. Carefully fill in the form with the details of your family member. Click on “Validate”.
7. Verify the details on the next screen. Select “I agree on the validity of data”. Click “Next”.
If there is any mistake, you can click the “Back” button and edit it. Make sure to review the data before confirming, as any mistake in the application can prevent the visitor from entering the country.
8. The next screen will have placeholders for uploading documents. Follow the instructions on the screen, and upload scanned copies or photos of the documents.
Metrash Column | What To Upload |
---|---|
Marriage certificate | Front page of the marriage certificate. |
Marriage certificate (others) | Attested back side of the marriage certificate. |
Salary certificate | Company NOC (in Arabic with salary and profession). |
Other documents | Upload the same Company NOC once again. |
Copy of employment contract | Private Sector: Upload the Ministry of Labour Contract (how to download the labour contract). Public Sector: Upload your Company Computer Card. QFC or other Free Zone Company: Upload your Company Computer Card. |
Passport copy | Visitor’s passport front. |
Passport copy (other) | Visitor’s passport back. |
Birth certificate (for children only) | Attested birth certificate of the child. Attestation is not needed if child is born in Qatar. |
After uploading all the documents, click “Next”.
9. On the next screen, confirm your submission by clicking on “Yes”.
10. Your application number will be generated after this step. You can click on the arrow sign on the right to check the status. Once submitted it will be “Under Process”. Later it will change to “Under Review”.
If the application is rejected, the reason will be given as notes on this page.
If the visa is approved, you can pay the visa fees (QR 200) online via Metrash or pay at the Immigration Office. The visa can be downloaded from this link.
Missing Documents Error
If any of the documents are not submitted or submitted documents are not clear, you may receive a “missing documents” error. In such a case, check what document is missing and upload that.
NOTE: For those who received a “Missing Documents” message in the third stage and have submitted the required documents, their application status will revert to “Under Review.”
If you are in the third stage and need assistance, you can visit Duhail Immigration and request assistance from the female officers. They can update your application and move it back to the final stages.
“Null” Status on Family Visa Application Receipt
Some of our readers have raised concerns that the receipt they received after application submission shows “null” in most fields. Please note that this is normal for all applicants. This document is only an acknowledgement that they received your application. Your application details will be in the system.
How To Check Qatar Family Visa Status
You can check the status of your Qatar Family Residence Visa application on the Metrash mobile app.
From the home screen, click on “Visa,” and then select “Visa Follow Up.” Now, you can see all your applications. Click on the arrow icon on the right to check the status of your application.
Family Visa Application Status (Under Process & Under Review)
Applicants often get confused about changes to their family visa application status. Normally each application goes through “Under Process”, “Under Review”, and once again to “Under Process” status before getting approved.
Below is a typical flow of status for visa applications and what each stage means:
Stage | Metrash Status | What This Means |
---|---|---|
1st stage | Under Process | Application is submitted. |
2nd stage | Under Review | The file is currently under review by a junior officer. This stage may take several days or even weeks. If the sponsor fails to meet eligibility conditions, the application may be rejected. If any document is missing or doesn’t meet the requirements, the sponsor will receive a notification. Once eligibility is confirmed, and the documents are in order, the file will proceed to the next stage |
3rd stage | Under Process | The file is with a senior officer (usually the Captain) for final approval. Rejection at this stage is very rare. |
4th stage | Under Process with the visa number issued | The file is approved by Duhail Immigration. Now the file is under CID clearance. Usually, it would be approved within one week. Visiting Duhail will not help. For children below 15 years, CID clearance is not required. The status will be “Ready To Print”. However, the visa can be only printed after the mother’s application is approved. |
5th stage | Visa Approval / Ready To Print | After CID clearance, the sponsor will get approval SMS. Now the visa is fully approved. You can pay QR 200 and print the visa. |
NOTES:
- Under Review to Under Process means almost approved.
- Under Review to Under Process can be done only by the Captain (senior officer) at Duhail Immigration. Even if your application is in Stage 1, the Captain has the authority to move it directly to Stage 4.
- For children below 15 years, it will be direct approval, after the 3rd stage (as they don’t need CID clearance). However, the visa can be only printed after the mother’s application is approved.
- If your application status changes between Under Process and Under Review, you do not have to do anything. In most cases, the application will be approved within a few days of a change in status.
- The status we see on our Metrash and the status on their system may vary.
Time Required For Family RP Approval
Unfortunately, there is no exact timeframe for the process. It varies from person to person; some may have their changes processed in several days or weeks, while for others, it may take months.
The only consistent timeframe we have seen is that if it’s in the 4th stage (Under Process with a visa number), then CID clearance is usually completed within a week for full approval.
Keep checking your Metrash for updates and if you don’t see much movement in your file even after several weeks, you can consider visiting the Duhail Immigration office. However, we do not suggest that you visit Immigration within 1-2 weeks of application.
Mistake In Family RP Visa: What To Do
Once you receive the approved entry visa, ensure that the visa contains accurate information such as the name, passport number, etc. For the wife, the profession will be mentioned as “Housewife”, and for children, it will be mentioned as “Student/Child”.
If the information is incorrect, visit any MOI office and meet with a Captain, providing a printed RP visa and a copy of the passport. Corrections for individuals below 15 years of age will be made on the spot, while those above 15 will need to undergo CID clearance once again.
“Missing Documents” Error For Family RP
If you receive a “Missing Documents” message on Metrash, follow these steps:
- Open the Metrash mobile app.
- Click on “Issue Visa”.
- Select “Family Visit”.
- Check the box for “Family Resident Application”.
- Click on “RP Application”.
- Click on “Upload Documents”.
- You will find a box indicating the required document. Upload that specific document only.
- If it shows “Other Document” normally it would be the Company NOC in Arabic.
- If you receive the “Missing Documents” notification multiple times for “Other Documents,” verify the accuracy of the content in the Company NOC with a typing centre. Make sure everything is correct and add any necessary information.
- Many individuals see the “X” error after submitting the missing documents.
- Try compressing images to a size under 100KB. You can use online tools for “Compress Image” or try using a different phone or an iPhone.
- Another option is to take direct photos from the Metrash app using the phone camera (instead of uploading stored files).
- Note: If the documents are successfully submitted, the Metrash status will usually change from “Missing Documents” to “Under Process”.
What to do if the family visa application is rejected?
Sometimes, your visa application can be rejected even if you meet the requirements. In such cases, you can visit the Immigration Office and request a meeting with the visa approval committee.
Take a copy of the visa application receipt as they will keep the original receipt with them. They will give you a copy mentioning the meeting date.
If there is no serious problem with your submitted documents after their scrutiny, you will be given an appointment date with the visa approval committee.
During the meeting, the committee will ask you simple questions such as your qualifications and profession. Take the originals of all documents you submitted, including your education certificates, in case they ask for them. If everything is OK, you will get approval in two days.
Step 2: Family Members enter Qatar
Once the Family Entry Visa is approved, family members can travel to Qatar.
Documents Required For Travel
The following are required when travelling to Qatar under Family RP (for the first time):
- Passport
- One-way flight ticket
- RP visa (Entry visa) copy
- A return flight ticket is not required when coming on a Family RP visa.
- Health insurance is not required when coming on a Family RP visa.
Family Residence Visa Validity
Usually, visa holders can enter within 180 days of visa approval (note that in some recent cases, the validity was only 90 days, while some others got one year). The last entry date will be given on the visa. The validity is counted from the date the visa number is issued (not the date of printing the visa).
How To Renew Visa If Not Able To Travel
If you can’t travel within this period, there is an option to extend the entry visa by paying QR 200, which will further extend the validity by 180 days.
To renew the entry visa before entering Qatar:
- Open Metrash mobile app.
- Go to “Visa Services”.
- Select “Renew Visa”.
- Click on “Personal”.
- Select the visa and pay the visa fee (QR 200).
- The visa will be further extended for 180 days.
Note: This renewal has to be done before expiry of the entry visa.
Period To Complete RP Process After Entry
Once a person enters Qatar on a Family RP visa, medical examinations and fingerprinting should be completed within 30 days from the entry date, and the QID should be printed.
Note that the same duration applies to someone whose entry is converted by paying QR 500 (everyone requires conversion regardless of age) from a Family Visit Visa to a Family RP Visa. In other words, medical fee payment and fingerprinting must be completed within 30 days from the conversion date, and the QID should be printed.
Step 3: Undergo the Medical Test
The visa holder shall start the Residence Permit (RP) procedure by completing a medical examination. This test aims to protect population health and prevent infectious diseases spread by newcomers.
The Medical Commission is responsible for conducting visa-related medical exams in Qatar. The Medical Commission Department is located on Al Muntazah Street, off the E-Ring Road (Google map). The Medical Commission’s working hours are Sunday to Thursday, 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.
The medical examination may include a blood test for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. You will also undergo a physician’s check-up and chest X-ray for screening for Tuberculosis,
Documents Required
The following documents are required for the medical test:
- Family member’s original passport
- Passport copy
- Residence Visa copy with sponsor’s mobile number written on it
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID copy
- Debit/Credit card for payment of fees
The fee for the Medical Test is QR 100 per person.
Here is our detailed guide to Medical Tests for Family RP in Qatar.
If you are converting a visit visa to a residence visa, you must inform the officer about converting the visit visa into a residence visa. If you have already done the medical for a visit visa extension, they may not do the test again.
The medical examination results are electronically sent to the residency system at the Ministry of Interior. You will receive the result on your Metrash mobile app or as an SMS two or three days after the medical test. You can also check the results online on the MoPH website.
The average time required for updating the medical results in the system is 3 days.
If you don’t receive any SMS within 3 days, you can call the MOPH helpline 16000 or visit the Medical Commission office.
Medical Tests For Children
Normally children under 15 years do not have to go for a medical test. When the child arrives in Qatar, check the sponsor’s Metrash app to see if the “Issue Residence Permit” option is available to them.
If the option is not showing, you have to pay QR 100 at the Medical Commission (show original passport and visa copy). They will update the status in the system.
Step 4: Undergo the Fingerprints Process
After completing the medical test, adults must register their fingerprints digitally with the Ministry of Interior. Fingerprinting is not required for children under 15 years.
The CEID office on Salwa Road is the main center for this service. This option is also available at some MOI Service Centres (except Gharaffa and Souq Waqif). For females, MOI Service Centres like Mesaimeer are asking to go to the CEID office at Salwa.
Documents Required
The following documents are required for the fingerprinting:
- Fingerprint Application Form. You can get this filled out from a typing centre*. (This may not be required at some MOI Service Centres)
- Family member’s original passport
- Passport copy
- Residence Visa copy
- Sponsor’s Qatar ID copy
- Medical Receipt
Once the fingerprint process is complete, you will receive an update on the Metrash app or SMS.
The average time required for updating the fingerprint results in the system is 3 days. If you don’t receive any SMS within 3 days, you may have to go back and check.
*You can also get the Qatar ID application form (needed in the next step) typed at the same time.
Step 5: Apply for a Qatar ID Card
The final step is to apply for a Residence Permit Card (Qatar ID). You can do this at the MOI Service Centre or online through Metrash.
Option 1: Applying for 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.
Documents Required
The following documents are required to apply for Qatar ID at the MOI Service Centre:
- Completed application form (download link). You can get this filled up from a typing centre**.
Family member’s original passport - Sponsor’s Qatar ID
- Family member’s passport-size photo (35 x 45 mm with a blue background)
A blood group certificate is NOT needed nowadays.
MOI officials will ask the family members to sign on the form near the photo. For children, you can write their name instead of their signature.
**Some MOI Service Centres require applicants to bring the completed application form, while some MOI centres will give a paper to sign.
Qatar ID Fee
The Residence Permit costs QR 500 for the first year.
Once the fee is paid, the Qatar ID will be printed within 5 minutes.
Option 2: Applying for Qatar ID through Metrash
This option is required only if you do not want to visit the MOI Service Centre. Once you receive a message that the fingerprint is OK, follow 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 a QPost delivery charge.
You can track your QID delivery on the MOI website. The sponsor’s QID number can be used for tracking.
Qatar Family Visa Fees
Below is a breakdown of all costs associated with a family residence visa:
Qatar Family Visa Fee (per dependent) | QR 200 |
Medical Commission Test Fee (per dependent) | QR 100 |
Residence Permit Fee (for one year) | QR 500 |
Document attestation and typing centre fees (if required) will be extra. There will be an additional charge of QR 500 per person if you transfer a visit visa to a residence visa without exiting the country.
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Registering For National Address
Once the QID is printed, ensure that the National Address is registered for the new QID holder. You can do this at any MOI service centre or through the Metrash mobile app.
Children’s National Addresses can be registered using their sponsor’s Metrash app. For the wife to register on Metrash, she needs to obtain a SIM card with her own QID and then proceed to register a National Address.
Please note that a resident’s Qatar ID cannot be renewed without registering his/her National Address.
Rules For Sponsoring Adult Children
When applying for visas, it’s important to know that male children aged 25 years and over are not eligible to be on either parent’s visa. There is no age restriction for daughters as long as they are not married.
Children with existing QIDs exceeding the legal age may be granted a Residence Permit under their parents’ sponsorship for one more year to find an employer the following year.
Work Permit for Spouse and Children
Dependent spouses and children above 18 who wish to work require a special work permit to work while under family sponsorship. This work permit can also be applied for using the Metrash app.
Here is a detailed video explaining the residence visa steps:
FAQ on Qatar Family Residence Visa
What is the minimum salary for a family visa in Qatar?
As of December 2023, you should have a minimum salary of QR 10,000 to be eligible for sponsoring your family in Qatar. Those with a salary of QR 6000 + family accommodation by employer, are also eligible.
What to do if my family visa application is rejected?
If the family visa application is rejected, you can visit the Duhail Immigration Office and request a meeting with the visa approval committee.
How can I renew the Residence Permit for my family?
You can renew the Residence Permit (QID) for family members using the Metrash2 application. The payment can be made online, and delivery will be by QPost.
Can I get a residence visa for extended family members?
In Qatar, family residence visas are generally issued only to immediate family members like spouses and children. Parents can be sponsored in exceptional cases.
How much does a family visa cost in Qatar?
The cost of an initial entry visa is QR 200 and Qatar ID is QR 500 per year. There are other expenses like Medical Test fees (QR 100) and miscellaneous expenses like attestation charges.
What to do if the application is “Under Process” for a Family Visa in Qatar?
If the application status of your family visa is still “Under Process” after submission, there is nothing much to do except wait. Note that as of 2023, there is a delay in most applications.
What is the meaning of Family Visa “Under Review”?
If the family visa status is under review, it means the file is being processed by an officer. This is normally a good sign.
Is health insurance required for a Family Residence Visa?
No, health insurance is not required for a Family Residence Visa. It is only needed for visit visas.
Reader Experiences
We are compiling the recent successful experiences of some of our readers so that it will help others. You can read Family RP Reader Experiences here.
Related Articles:
- How To Convert Family Visit Visa To Residence Visa
- How To Apply Qatar ID For A Baby Born In Qatar
- Visa Changing Process via Air Arabia or Abu Samra Land Border
- How To Transfer Wife To Husband Sponsorship
- How Can A Mother Sponsor Children In Qatar
- How Can A Wife Sponsor Husband in Qatar
- How To Cancel Hayya Card Visa
- Pregnancy And Baby Delivery in Qatar: Full Guide
- Medical Test For Family Residence Visa in Qatar
- Qatar Family Visit Visa: Requirements and Application Guide
- How To Get Visa On Arrival for Baby Born Outside Qatar
Copyright © DohaGuides.com – Full or partial reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited.
Special thanks to Mr. Faris Ahmed & Mr. Siraj for sharing their knowledge and experience.
Aneesh, the Founder & Editor of DG Pixels, holds a Master’s Degree in Communication & Journalism, and has two decades of experience living in the Middle East. Since 2014, he and his team have been sharing helpful content on travel, visa rules, and expatriate affairs.
Hello,
Please how much time would it take to have an answer to family residence visa ? I have applied on the 12th of Jan. salary +15k with semi public company.
Hi Sam, Unfortunately, no one can answer that. There are many applicants waiting for several months. Since you are with a semi-public company, it may be faster.
Hi Bassem
Congrats, i applied in July 2022 but it still showing under process. i’m not sure on which basis we gets approvals..
Same here Bro….I have applied on August 2022. No improvement, couldn’t be able find the reason also why it’s not considered.
Hi Salary more than QR 15K category or Less than 15K?
Salary 15k+, still no improvement on the application
Hi DG, can we apply the family visit visa through Metrash in parallel to family RP that is already in under process status?
Hi Ehtesham, Yes, you can.
Big news! My wife’s residence permit application got approved today.
Applied September 6th. Private sector, salary above 15K, Engineer profession. Husband: Canadian. Wife: Syrian.
Great news Bassam. Thanks for sharing
Happy to hear and Thanks for Sharing.. The approval was after your follow up visit or it got just approved automatically?
Congrats Bro!!
Congratulations Bassem! And thanks for sharing the news here.
Team DG,
As we passed 23 – JAN-2023, Is Family resident visa is open to apply for private employees? Is there any official announcement from government?
Hi RKTD, No official announcement yet. Those who visited Gharaffa after the 23rd were asked to come after 1-2 weeks.
Dear Team,
if the applicant’s Qatar ID is near to expire before applying for the visa, its makes the visa approval delayed??
Hi Muhammed, It depends on how many days are left. If the sponsor’s QID is expired when they process the visa, the application may be rejected. If you still have 2-3 months left, you can apply.
Team Doha Guides,
Thanks for the helpful information.
I have recently cancelled my family resident visa (in month of Nov 2022) due since they were in india for more than 6 months & residence permit got expired.
Now i want to re-apply for Family residence visa, what is the process ?
Hi Gollal, The process and the required documents are the same as applying for a new family residence visa.
Hi DG,
can you please update about RP process
Hi Arunkumar, It is expected to be back to normal this week.
Hi Arun & DG,
Still Walk-in is not allowed in Gharrafah. It seems only approvals being given only for Government/Semi Government employees only, not sure.
My ID was checked & was asked to come after two weeks…Few applicants being asked to come after February 01, some after three weeks. Not clear on which criteria applications are being considered.
Hi Rajesh, Sorry to hear that and thanks for the update.
hi DG
ANYUPDATE FOR FAMILY RP
Hi Ssud, It is expected to be back to normal this week.
what is salary need apply RP
Hi Pravin, Currently it is 15k for private employees. Some public sector employees are being approved with 10k also.
Hi shabeena, is your husband’s salary above 15k or above 10k.? Because my husband has also applied for RP but many people are saying required salary is 15k?
Thank you for your response
Hi dohaguides,
My application is from under process to now it got under review when will I get approval for my family rp
Hi shabeena
When you applyed ??
Hi Muhammad
We applied oct
Hi, is your husband work on private ?
Hi, No public sector
Hi Shabeena, Since it has changed to review, you can expect it in a few days.
Hi DG,
I had already applied for Family RP (On August 25th 2022) and it is rejected, due to only five months salary statement at that time.(Now I have enough six months statement)
It is still showing as Rejected status in my Metrash2 app.
So, after 23rd January 2023 , How can I proceed further ? Either following up with Same application or I ask Visa office to cancel to apply for a new application?
Kindly Clarify.
Hi
1.Are you a government employee?
2.did the application directly got rejected (undr process to reject) or from under process to under review then it got rejected
Thanking in advance
Hi Mr. Ayman,
No, I am belongs to Private sector.
Apply – Under process – Under Review – Rejected (August 2022)
Still it is in same status.
Hi Arun, See if there is an option to apply again on Metrash. If not, you can visit any MOI Service Center after 23 January with all the documents and apply again.
Hi DG,
No, RP option for wife is not showing (Son & Daughter options only available) because as I told , I already applied for my wife and it is in rejected status.
So visiting any MOI and applying offline or again online through Metrash2app?
Hi Arun, In that case, you need to remove that application from the system by visiting MOI Service Center. You can do that after 23 January.
Family RP still shows under process more than a week , should I visit immigration office??
Hi Muhammad, It is better to visit after 23 January as they are not entertaining follow-up walk-ins now.
Dear DG,
Hello,
I would like to inquire if for example a visit visa is approve,in order to convert it into residence visa,are we just going to gharaffa and inform the officer that we want to convert it into residence visa and pay the 500?or we still have to apply the residence visa in Metrash even they are here already in visit visa and wait again for the approval?
Regards.
Hi Isnaira, You can apply for a family residence visa on Metrash or direct at any MOI Service Center with all the required documents. Officials will do the processing and the visa will be approved after some days (if eligible). Once approved, you can visit MOI Service Center and request for transfer of visa status. Officials will do it the same day (after payment of QR 500).
Hi DGT,
I have applied for a family visit visa for my wife through metrash 2 days ago. However the visa application got rejected today, the remark mentioned is the “sponsor doesn’t meet the conditions”. But I have attached all the documents and my salary is also 5k+. What is the problem here?
Hi Habeeb, Usually this happens if you don’t meet salary requirements. Since you already have a 5k salary, you need to check the reason by visiting MOI Service Center after 23 January.
Hi all,
Is it possible to do below:
1. Apply for Family Visit Visa.
2. Once approved, apply for residence permit.
3. If not approved within 1 month, apply for extension
4. Again apply for rp if rejected.
?
Or should I just be patient and apply for RP only?
Hi Piyush, Yes, it is possible to convert Family Visit Visa to RP. However, processing times can be quick or slow for both types. So if you qualify for RP (15k salary) and have 6 months’ bank statement, there is no point in wasting money on a visit visa.
Apply for visit visa if you are in a hurry because it comes out faster at most one week or three working days. RP takes several weeks or months to come except maybe you are a government staff and even than you can’t be exactly sure when it wil be out. Since they started giving visit visas this month, it’s all been super fast so go for it and when the person gets there u can convert.
Hi Saleem
i applied in July 2022 , then after it shows under process so i visit 2-3 times to Garaffa office. Police officers refused me to go inside and said all visas on hold due to Fifa and suggested to visit after fifa. i again visite after fifa for more 3 times and they advised to come after 23rd Jan. i’ll try best to visit again after 23rd to have latest updates…
Hi dohaguides
Is there anyone got recently approval for family residence visa
Hi Shabeena,
Same here. May I ask when did you applied?
If there’s any update from my side, surely, I will let everyone know.
Regards.
Hi Isnaira
We applied in oct, and my husband visited gharafa 5 times they told him that after 3 days our application got approval but it’s been a week my application is still under process
I will wait until this week, by next week of January 23-24, I will have to follow up. Better to go next week.
Regards.
Hi Isnaira,
When did you applied for family rp? Did you visit gharafa in recent days
Hi Shabeena, Yes, there are many applicants who got approved recently.