Qatar Family Visit Visa Requirements & How To Apply (2023)

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 21 November 2023.

What is Qatar Family Visit Visa?

Qatar Family Visit Visa is a type of short-term visa that enables expatriate residents to bring their spouse, children, father, mother, or other relatives of the first and second degrees to Qatar for a short visit. The visa is issued for one month and can be extended for another five months (in some cases).

This article explains the requirements, documents, application process, visa cost, and other details of the Qatar Family Visit Visa.

Please Note: This is a short-term visa for visiting purposes only. Foreign employees who wish to sponsor their families to live long-term in Qatar should refer to the Family Residence Visa Procedure.

Qatar Family Visit Visa Latest News And Updates 2023

Please note that the information provided above is not based on any official announcement but rather on the recent experiences of applicants who visited MOI Centers. Individual outcomes may vary depending on various factors.

Health Insurance For Family Visit Visa

Health insurance is now mandatory for a Family Visit Visa. Once your visa is approved, you will receive an SMS with a link to purchase the health insurance online.

Applicants can buy health insurance for QAR 50 per month from any of the registered insurance companies listed on the MOPH website. More details about visitors’ insurance are available here.

Attestation For Marriage Certificate

Until recently, most visit visa applications for spouses were approved without an attested marriage certificate. However, nowadays attestation is compulsory for marriage certificates.

For a Family Visit Visa, attestation is not mandatory for children’s birth certificates. It is mandatory for a Family Residence Visa.

Qatar Family Visit Visa Requirements

Expatriate residents in Qatar can apply for a family visit visa subject to meeting minimum salary and professional requirements.

Minimum Salary For Family Visit Visa in Qatar

The minimum salary required to apply for a Family Visit Visa in Qatar for spouses and children is QR 5,000 per month.

A minimum monthly salary of QR 10,000 is required to apply for Family Visit Visas for other relatives.

Profession Requirement for Family Visit Visa in Qatar

Most expatriates with the required minimum salary are eligible to apply for a family visit visa. However, some applications may be rejected if the applicant’s profession on Qatar ID is labour-type.

Even if an application is rejected due to an ineligible profession, the Captain at the MOI Service Center has the power to change the decision.

Family Members That Can Be Hosted

• First Degree: Wife, Children, Father, Mother
• Second Degree: Brother, Sister, Grandfather, Grandmother, Grandchildren
• Third Degree: Children of brother or sister, Paternal uncle or aunt (brother or sister of father), Maternal uncle or aunt (Brother or sister of mother)

Documents Required for Qatar Family Visit Visa

If applying for a visit visa for wife and children

While applying through Metrash, the following documents should be uploaded:

• Visitor’s passport copy (minimum validity of 6 months)
• Proof of relationship (Wife: Marriage Certificate / Children: Birth Certificate)
• Round-trip flight tickets

Employment details are not required when applying through the Metrash app, as currently labour contracts are linked with the Metrash system.

If applying for a visit visa for other relatives

Only married expatriates with family in Qatar can apply to sponsor other relatives.

While applying through Metrash, the following documents should be uploaded:

• Visitor’s passport copy (minimum validity of 6 months)
• Proof of relationship (Birth Certificate, Passport, etc.)
• Round-trip flight tickets

Qatar Family Visit Visa Fee

Qatar Family Visit Visa fee is QAR 200 for 30 days. The entry visa can be extended by paying QAR 200 per month.

• Medical check-up: A medical check-up for a visa extension costs QAR 100.
• Fine for overstaying: The fine for overstaying beyond the allowed period is QR 200 per day.

Qatar Family Visit Visa Validity

Qatar Family Visit Visas are initially issued for one month (30 days). After the visitor enters Qatar and undergoes a medical test, the visa can be further extended for another five months for spouses and children (total 180 days) and two more months for other relatives (total 90 days).

Health insurance needs to be taken for the additional period.

As the rules may change from time to time, an extension beyond 90 90-day stay is not guaranteed. If you are planning to extend for 5 more months (after one month) please confirm with the Immigration Department before purchasing additional insurance.

Number of Days To Enter Qatar After Visa Approval

Once the visa is approved, it will have the “visa valid till” date printed on the top. This is the last date for entry to Qatar (not the last date of stay in Qatar). Currently, it is 90 days from the date of visa approval. Visitors cannot use this visa after this date.

Qatar Family Visit Visa Application

Traditionally, applying for a family visit visa was to visit any Ministry of Interior (MoI) Service Centre and submit copies of the documents along with the printed application form.

In 2018, Qatar introduced an online system where residents can apply for family visit visas through the Metrash2 mobile.

Through this service, you can upload all the required documents in the specified fields. You can also track the application status and pay the fees electronically once approved.

How To Apply For Qatar Family Visit Visa Online

Below are the steps to apply for a Qatar Family Visit Visa using the Metrash mobile app.

Step 1. Open the Metrash2 app on your mobile and log in

If you haven’t registered for Metrash2, see our comprehensive Metrash2 User Guide.

Step 2. Click on the “Visa” icon

Step 3. Click on the “Issue Visa” icon

Step 4. Click on the “Family Visit” icon

Step 5. Select “Family Visa Application”

Make sure to select “Family Visa Application”, not “Family Resident Application”.

Step 6. Click on “New Application”

Step 7. Fill up the details of the visitor

The details to fill up include Gender, Relation, Nationality, Date of Birth, Passport Details etc.

Step 8. Click on the “Validate” button

Step 9. Upload the required photos or scans of the documents

• Document scans/photos must be clear and readable.
• For documents with multiple pages, you must combine both photos/scans to create one JPG file.
• When uploading passports, photo and bio pages should be on the same side.
• For “Marriage Certificate (Others)”, you can upload the attested backside of the marriage certificate.
• Often a birth certificate is asked to prove your relationship with the visitor. If this is unavailable, you can also use any other document proving the relationship.

Step 10. You will receive an update after a few days

If there are any missing or mismatched documents, you will be notified to make the required changes. After verifying and approving the application, you will receive an application number.

The application status will change to “Under Process”, “Under Review” and again to “Under Process” before getting approved.

Step 11. Pay the required fee

Once the visa is approved, you have to pay the visa fee (QR 200) online via Metrash. To make the payment, go to the “Visa Fees Payment” icon on the “Visa Operation” page.

Step 12. Buy health insurance

From April 2023, health insurance needs to be taken after the visit visa is approved (not during application).

Once your visa is approved, you will receive a message to buy the insurance. While buying the insurance, enter the visa number and it will be updated in the Metrash system. The visa can be printed only after insurance has been purchased.

After this, you can download the visa copy and send it to the visitor for travel.

How To Check the Status of Family Visit Visa

You can see the status on your Metrash app itself.

You can also check the family visit visa status on the Ministry of Interior website under Inquiries >> Visa Services >> Visa Approval Tracking (link).

Enter the application number and application date or sponsor’s QID number. Make sure all the required details are filled in correctly, and you’ll be able to check your visa status.

Applying Family Visit Visa Offline

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) no longer entertains offline applications for family visit visas. You are required to apply via the Metrash mobile app.

Family Visit Visa Rejected: What To Do

There may be several reasons why your family visit visa application is rejected. Often it is due to submitting wrong or insufficient documents.

If the document photo is not clear or not attested (in the case of a marriage certificate), you can do the attestation and resubmit again. However, it is imperative to understand the reason and fix it before applying again.

Applications can also be rejected if the applicant (a Qatar resident) does not comply with the required conditions (salary or profession). If the application is rejected due to the applicant not meeting the salary requirement, it would be difficult to get approved again.

However, in case of rejection due to profession, you can try to meet the Captain at the Immigration Office in Duhail, and request for reconsideration. Sometimes he would approve if the profession is acceptable.

How To Cancel Visa Application In Metrash

If your application is still under review or process, you can cancel it by clicking on the right arrow on the status page. If this option is not available, you will have to visit any MOI Service Center.

Document Checklist for Family Visit Visa Travellers

1. Passport (minimum validity of 6 months)
2. Visa printout
3. Two-way flight tickets
4. Health insurance

How To Extend Family Visit Visa

As the initial visa is issued for one month only, the sponsor has to extend it within the first month to avoid any penalties.

Relatives wishing to stay beyond one month must undergo a medical test within a few days. Here is the detailed process of the medical test for a visit visa extension.

Once the medical examination is passed, the visit visa can be extended online using the Metrash mobile app (Visa –> Visa Services –> Extend Visa) or by visiting any MOI service centre.

Other Points To Note

If the return ticket is after 30 days, some airlines may not allow visitors to board the flight since the initial visa is only for 30 days. So make sure to book a flight ticket that can be modified with a minimum change fee. In this way, once the visitor reaches Qatar, the ticket dates can be modified.

As this is an online visa, some airlines may require an “OK to Board” status in their system before departure. You can get this status by showing the visa copy to the airline’s Doha office.

“Null” Status on Visit 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.

Visit Visa Application “Under Process” and “Under Review” Status

Applicants often get confused about changes to their visit visa application status. It is normal that each visit visa application moves through “Under Process” and “Under Review” statuses multiple times before approval.

If your application status changes between these two, you do not have to do anything. In most cases, the application will be approved within days of a status change.

Qatar Family Visit Visa Approval Time

As of November 2023, the average approval time for a Family Visit Visa is 1-4 weeks. Please note that applications are processed in batches and may not be on a first-come first-serve basis.

Here is a video explaining the Family Visit Visa application process:

You can also watch the same video with Malayalam and Hindi audio. Please subscribe to the Doha Guides YouTube channel for more videos.

READ NEXT: How To Convert Family Visit Visa To Residence Visa

FAQ on Qatar Family Visit Visa

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Related Guides:

• Qatar Family Residence Visa Procedure and Requirements
• How Can A Wife Sponsor Husband in Qatar
• Medical Test For Family Visit Visa Extension
• Qatar Visa On Arrival: Complete Guide
• Qatar Visit Visa Types, Requirements, and Procedure
• Medical Test For Family Residence Permit in Qatar

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Aneesh Abdulkader

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.