BUSINESS TRAVEL

The term business visit, from an immigration perspective defines a short trip that does not require work permits and authorizations in Qatar. As such the business traveler is only allowed to undertake specific business activities allowed by Qatar legislation, during which visitor represents interest of employing company based outside of Qatar.

Business visitors must generally limit their activities and may attend:

• business meetings
• negotiations
• seminars
• trainings
• conferences
• discussions
• exhibitions

In certain cases a foreign national may convert from visitor to work permit status without leaving the country. Please contact Move One to confirm whether a visit may be classified as business.


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VISA REQUIRED ON ARRIVAL

Nationals of the following countries may enter Qatar and obtain visa on arrival at the Doha International Airport, which is valid for 30 days, and may be extended for another 90 days at airport immigration:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

• Non-national residents of the above listed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states who are practitioners of 188 specified professions are eligible for visa on arrival as well.
• Nationals of 33 countries may obtain visa online or on arrival valid for 30 days, which may be extended for another 30 days at airport immigration. Please note that this list is currently under revision by immigration authorities, and may change in the near future:

VISA REQUIRED BEFORE ARRIVAL

Other nationalities must obtain a visa before their arrival to Qatar which can only be arranged by the host company in Qatar. Business visit visas are valid for 30 days and may be extended twice for additional 30 days each.


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Visit visa applications are arranged within Qatar through the sponsorship of a Qatar based company. Authorized companies must file an application at the immigration department to request a visa. The applying company should be accredited by the airport passports and security department. Multiple-entry business visas need to be approved by the ministry of interior.

Applicants can follow up the status of their visa process on the website of the minstry of interior with their application tracking number. For further details on the application documents, requirements must be confirmed with a hosting company.


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Upon arrival to Qatar, no separate registration is required as foreigner’s entry and exit out of the country is strictly monitored.


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Generally, dependents cannot join the main applicant on the business assignment.
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WORK PURPOSE

In order to carry out paid activities in Qatar a work authorization is required valid for a predetermined period of time and allowing the foreigner to hold a temporary job in the country. The process for obtaining work and residence authorization depends on many factors.

Answers to the following questions will determine what immigration process must be followed for a foreign employee:

• Nationality?
• Location of company (address in Qatar)?
• Job position and job description (according to employment contract)?
• Estimated start date of the assignment and arrival date?
• Length of the assignment?
• Validity of passport?
• Will family members join?
• Respective age and nationalities of family members?
• Does foreigner have address of residence or respective permits in any GCC country?

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STANDARD PROCESS

For a specific case please contact Move One.

*The time-frames are an estimate and authorities can shorten or extend it according to their requirements. Immigration procedure vary depending on many variables therefore specific information about the foreigner and / or family member will be needed to better clarify the specific procedures that will be involved.

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HEALTH / SOCIAL SECURITY

• In order to receive medical treatment from clinics and hospitals, it is necessary for foreign residents to obtain health cards on the basis of residence permits. Health cards must be shown on all clinic and hospital visits.

TAX

• Qatar does not impose an income tax on wages or salaries. Individuals carrying on a trade in the country are taxed on any profits arising from their business in Qatar, in which case the corporate income tax rules apply.

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According to national law, all foreign nationals require a work permit in order to work legally in the Qatar.


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Dependents may accompany a main traveler by obtaining a dependent visa sponsored by the family member taking up employment in the country. Dependents’ immigration process can only be started once main applicant’s permits are fully ready. Sponsoring family member must receive a salary of no less than 10,000 Qatari riyals (approximately 2,700 US dollars) per month in order to sponsor dependents. Marriage and birth certificates are required in case of applications for family members and must be legalized.

Following family members may be sponsored as dependents:

• spouses
• unmarried daughters
• sons under the age of 18
• parents
• parents in-law

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• An employment entry visa will only be issued to employees who are between the ages of 18-60. Above the age of 60, a special approval from the department of immigration is required. Tourist visa and family visit visa can be rejected by immigration office if applicant is above the age 60.‎
• There are no restrictions on the employment of women. Opportunities for such employment are determined by market demand and lie mainly in the teaching, medical professions and in administrative work.
• Educational certificates need to be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the home country, then attested by the Qatar Embassy, also in the home country. After arrival, attestation should be done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha.
• A police clearance (certificate of good conduct) may be required prior to entry.
• Public Relation Officer (PRO) or authorized representative is allowed to submit and collect all documents to/from immigration office.
• Residence permits for work purpose are only granted to employees with Qatari contracts and on Qatari payroll.
• It is possible to change jobs and transfer sponsorship to a new employer only after the foreigner has worked at the sponsoring company for at least two years and has been granted a no objection certificate (NOC). Without a NOC, the employee will have to face a two-year work ban and will not be able to return to Qatar during the two-year ban even as a visitor.‎ That period is counted from the date of departure of the worker.‎ The worker, whose sponsor is willing to give him a NOC, can be employed by another company immediately.‎
• A resident permit becomes invalid if the bearer stays outside Qatar for over six months.
• Residents, except for sponsored family members, require an exit visa. Exit visas are granted based on sponsor permission and guarantee letter.
• Resident permits should be cancelled by the sponsor within 30 days of the end of employment.
• For some Africans & Arabs nationalities the procedure might take more time due of security reasons as per the Ministry Of Interior.‎

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FOREIGNER

• A daily fine is charged in case of overstay after visa expiration. Illegal entry into Qatar may result in imprisonment or deportation.

HOST COMPANY

• In case of immigration rules violation, foreign employee’s sponsor bears responsibility and must pay a fine in case of not arranging the necessary permits for them.

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VITAL DOCUMENTS

Vital documents are official records issued by government institutions to individuals, essential as proof of identity and status. Move One offers support for the procurement of vital documents in the Qatar, as well as their legalization for use outside the country.

A birth certificate documents the birth of an individual, naming a child’s biological parents, date and place of birth. Birth certificates may be required as supporting documents during immigration procedures.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES IN QATAR

• Qatari birth certificates are issued by the national health authority. Foreign nationals cannot claim Qatar nationality by reason of their birth in Qatar.
• Duplicate of a birth certificate must be obtained with ID card, or based on a power of attorney.

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A marriage certificate serves as proof of an act of marriage between two individuals. Marriage certificates may be required as supporting documents during immigration procedures.

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES IN QATAR

• Marriage certificates for Islamic marriages are issued by the Sharia Court in Arabic. Duplicate of a marriage certificates are issued on the spot with the required application documents.
• Christian marriage certificates are issued by the church where the wedding took place. Issuing a duplicate of a christian marriage certificate may require personal presence depending on the church issuing the document. In order to use a Christian marriage certificate issued by church in Qatar, the marriage certificate must be translated into Arabic, and then attested by varoius authoirites.
• It is also possible to marry at foreign embassies in Qatar. In such case the marriage certificte will be issued by the foreign country’s authority.
• Marriages between Qatari Muslim men and Christian women are only allowed with approval from the Ministry of Interior.

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Public documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, criminal record certificates and notarial attestations of signatures, frequently need to be used abroad. However, before a public document can be used in a country other than the one that issued it, its origin must often be authenticated.

CONSULAR LEGALIZATION

The traditional method for authenticating public documents to be used abroad is called legalization and consists of a chain of individual authentications of the document. This process involves officials of the country where the document was issued as well as the foreign embassy or consulate of the country where the document is to be used.


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*International travelers should note that immigration procedures vary depending on many factors and specific information about the transferee and / or family members. Please get in touch with Move One to discuss your specific case by sending an email to immigration@moveoneinc.com.

Last updated: June 25, 2012