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 20 March 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 up to six 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 New Updates

Number of Days To Enter Qatar After Visa Approval

Prior to FIFA World Cup, MOI had reduced the validity of family visit visas to 30 days only. However, new family visit visas that were issued in 2023 are reportedly having 90 days of validity. This means visitors can enter within 90 days of visa approval.

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

Age Limit For Qatar Family Visit Visa

Currently, there is an age limit of 60 years for issuing a family visit visa. The Metrash system does not accept applications if the visitor’s age is above 60 years. In such cases, you can see if the visitor is eligible for a visa on arrival.

Health Insurance Requirement

Health insurance with coverage for healthcare services in Qatar is now mandatory to apply for a family visit visa. You need to purchase this through any insurance provider listed on the MOPH website.

Attestation For Marriage Certificate

Until recently, most visit visa applications for spouses were approved without submitting an attested marriage certificate. However, nowadays several applicants are being asked to provide an attested marriage certificates.

Often these certificates are handwritten, issued by local / religious bodies (mosque, church, temple etc.) or in cases where the certificate’s authenticity cannot be verified. Please check if your certificate is in a standard acceptable format with official stamps, or else get it attested.

Salary Requirement for Qatar Family Visit Visa

The minimum salary required to apply for a family visit visa in Qatar for spouses and children is QR 5,000 (USD 1,373).

A minimum salary of QR 10,000 (USD 2,747) is required to apply for a family visit visa for other relatives.

This requirement was confirmed by the Ministry of Interior’s senior official in November 2021.

Family Visit Visa Duration

A Qatar family visit visa is initially issued for one month (30 days). For the last several months, new family visit visas are being extended for two months only (a total stay of 90 days).

Earlier, the family visa could be extended for another five months for first and second-degree relatives and in-laws (Father, Mother, Sister, Spouse, and Children) and two more months in the case of other relatives. Nowadays extension is allowed only for 60 more days. There is no official announcement if longer extensions will be allowed again.

Documents Required for Qatar Family Visit Visa

If Applying Visit Visa for Wife and Children

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

• Visitor’s Passport copy
• Proof of Relationship (Wife: Marriage Certificate / Children: Birth Certificate)
• Round Trip Flight Tickets
• Health Insurance valid in Qatar

The following documents also may be required if applying offline (directly at MOI Service Centre):

• Application Form (You can get this completed through any typing center)
• Applicant’s Qatar ID copy
• No objection letter from employer, citing profession and salary
• Work contract (Notarized by the Labour Department)
• Photocopy of Company’ Card’s Registration Card 

If Applying 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
• Document to prove relationship (Birth Certificate, Passport, etc.)
• Round Trip Flight Tickets
• Health Insurance valid in Qatar

The following documents also may be required if applying offline (directly at MOI Service Centre):

• Application Form (You can get this completed through any typing center)
• Applicant’s Qatar ID copy
• Wife’s Qatar ID copy
• No objection letter from employer, citing profession and salary
• Work contract (Notarized by the Labour Department)
• Photocopy of Company’ Card’s Registration Card 

Qatar Family Visit Visa: Online and Offline 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 using which residents can apply for family visit visas through Metrash2 or MOI website.

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

How to Apply for Qatar Family Visit Visa Online?

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 “Validate”

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

• The document scans/photos must be clear and readable.
• When uploading passports, the photo and bio pages should be on the same side. You must combine both photos/scans to create one JPG file.
• 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 to proceed with the fee payment.

Step 11. Once the visa is approved, you have to pay the visa fee online

Once the visa fee is paid via Metrash2, you can download the visa copy and send it to the visitor.

Applying Family Visit Visa Offline

For the offline application, you would need a completed application form [Download the form here] in addition to the other documents mentioned above. You may also get this application form filled out from any typing centre.

You may also need the following documents:

• Take the originals of your Passport, QID and Letter from the employer for verification if needed.
• Take a copy of your Tenancy Contract / Kahramaa Bill as proof of where the visitor will stay while in Qatar (often, this is not required).
• If you are on your spouse’s sponsorship and the tenancy contract is in your spouse’s name, you will need to supply a marriage certificate to show proof of your relationship.

Take the required documents to any Ministry of Interior (MoI) Service Centre. Take a token number from Reception, and wait for your turn. When your number is displayed on the screen, go to the counter and submit the documents.

Sometimes they would write comments on your application and ask you to meet the Captain for final approval. The Captain will decide if your application can be accepted. If found satisfactory, you would be given a receipt and asked to check after 2-3 working days.

After two days, check the status online through the link on the receipt. If you have Metrash 2 installed on your phone, you will be notified of the status change.

If the visa is approved, you can pay the visa fees online via Metrash2 or the MoI Service Centre. The visa can be downloaded at this link.

Documents Checklist for Family Visit Visa Travellers

1. Passport
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 do the visa extension within the first month to avoid any penalty.

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

Family Visit Visa Fees

A fee of QAR 200 applies for each visa and QAR 50 for each registered dependent or companion.

The visa can be extended by paying QAR 200 per month (QAR 50 per month for the companion).

• Medical check-up for visa extension costs QAR 100.
• QR 200 per day is the fine for overstaying beyond the allowed period.

Other Points To Note

Even if the visitor plans to stay for more than one month, the return ticket should be within the end of the first 30 days.

Since the initial visa is for 30 days only, some airlines may not allow the visitor to board the flight if the return journey is scheduled after 30 days. Once the visitor reaches Qatar, the ticket dates can be modified.

So make sure to book a flight ticket that can be modified with a minimum change fee.

As this is an online visa, some airlines may require “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 acknowledgement receipt they received after application submission has only “null” on most fields. Please note that this is normal for all applicants. This document is only an acknowledgement that they have received your application. Your application details will be in the system.

Visit Visa Application Under Review and Under Process Status

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

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 change in status.

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

READ NEXT: How To Do Medical Test For Visit Visa Extension

FAQ on Qatar Family Visit Visa

Related Guides:

1. How To Change Family Visit Visa To Hayya Card Visa
2. Qatar Family Residence Visa Procedure and Requirements
3. Qatar Visa On Arrival: Complete Guide
4. Qatar Visit Visa Types, Requirements, and Procedure
5. Vaccination Schedule for Children in Qatar
6. How To Print Covid Vaccination Certificate in Qatar

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