How do you Convert a Family Visit Visa to a Qatar Residence Visa?
Do you currently have a family tourist visa in Qatar? You may be thinking about how to get a residence visa in Qatar. We are ready to give you the proper guidance for that. Before discussing How to Convert a Family Visit Visa to Qatar Residence Visa, here we will inform you about much other information you need.
What is a Family Resident Visa in Qatar?
Any foreign worker with a visa to stay in Qatar can sponsor the person’s family members. It is the family resident visa of Qatar. That is, we can also refer to it as a visa that can sponsor every age member of the family from the little child. To be supported this way, the expatriate must meet the professional, salary, and other qualification requirements.
The concerned applicants should submit several documents like a birth certificate, certified marriage certificate, and salary certificate from the employer of their profession. Let’s look at it step by step.
Documents required to obtain a Qatar Family Resident Visa
- Online application form filling. Otherwise, you must have a fully prepared application form.
- Copy of passport
- Copies of passports of all family members
- Copy of your Qatari ID
- Copy of Marriage Certificate: It is certified by the Qatar Embassy in your country, the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Qatar Embassy in your country in Qatar.
- Certified birth certificates as above
- A certified copy of your profession and paid employment contract
- Copies of attested educational certificates (Not required for some public sector companies. )
- A copy of the rental contract certified by the Mahanagara Sabha
- Last six months’ bank statement to prove the salary loan
Steps to Convert a Family Visit Visa to Qatar Residence Visa
First, you need to get approval from MOI. Then Convert a Family Visit Visa to Qatar Residence Visa
Follow the steps below.
- You can apply for a family entry visa online or in person.
- Family members can enter Qatar on an entry visa.
- It would be best if you underwent a medical examination. Also, participate in the fingerprinting process.
- Apply for a family residence permit card.
- Attach to your application a copy of the employer’s QID, a copy of the person’s valid passport, a certified copy of the employment contract attesting to employment and salary, a certified copy of the marriage contract or birth certificate for children, and the above requirements.
- You must have typed the relevant form in Arabic. Also, type your name and relevant data as written on the passport.
- The applicant must have successfully passed the medical examination outside the country as arranged by the authorities.
- All copies must have original documents to complete visibility while applying for approval. Also, the manuscripts should be more precise.
- Convert a Family Visit Visa to a Qatar Residence Visa subject to any necessary conditions by the relevant authority.
- To cancel your visa, go to the centers related to the Directorate General of Border Passports and Foreign Affairs.
After completing all the above, you must present yourself at the Immigration office in Madinat Khalifa, Doha.
For those working in government agencies in Qatar, your employer’s letter must be approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Housing.
Generally, visa issuance costs a fee of QR200. A fee of QR100 applies to each family member converting the visa to a residence visa.
Latest Update of Family Residence Visa
According to the latest 2023 updates, you need to know some latest information.
The family residence visa application can be submitted using the Metrash application. But the processing priority is given to government employees. If private employees are coming to the MOI center, they have to wait for official notification. Otherwise, it was stated that they should return after January 23, 2023.
Several family visit visa applicants were approved in January, and most applicants had processed it. This year also, applicants can use the Metrash application. But, there is a possibility of delay as many pending applications exist.
(All this updated information is not based on official announcements but on the experience of applicants who have visited the MOI center. These facts vary based on personal experience factors. )
How can I apply for a family residence visa through Metrash 2?
Currently, applicants in Qatar have the option to submit their documents through the Metrash 2 mobile application. You first register to Metrash 2 for that. Then follow the steps below to apply for a Family Resident Visa.
- Click on the Visa icon in Metrash 2.
- Now go to the next page and click on the Issue Visa icon.
- Then go to the next page and click on the “Family Visit” icon.
- Again select Family Residency Application on the next page.
- Click on “New Application” at the bottom right of the page.
- Fill in the details of your family members. Now click on Validate.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and upload the scanned copies/photos of the documents.
- The document scans should be self-explanatory. When you upload the passport, take care that the bio pages and photos are on the same side. When uploading your Qatar ID, the front and back JPG files must be on the same side.
- Finally, you will get a confirmation message and the latest update after a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do you get a residence visa for extended family members?
Converting a Family Visa to Qatar Residence Visa will issue you a family residence visa in Qatar for immediate family members such as children and spouses. Parental sponsorship can be done only in exceptional cases.
Q. What minimum salary should I have to Convert a Family Visa to Qatar Residence Visa?
In 2022, QR 15,000 was the minimum wage to sponsor your family in Qatar.
Q. How much does it cost to receive a family visa in Qatar?
A typical initial entry visa cost is around QR 200. There is an additional cost for residency cards, medical examination fees, and other certification fees.
Q. What to do if your family’s visa application is rejected?
If your family’s visa application is rejected, you can visit the immigration office in Gharafa and request a meeting with the visa assent committee.
Final thoughts
Many people are worried about converting a Family Visit Visa to Qatar Residence Visa without reliable information. Many may have different questions about it. But it is a simple task, and you can easily do it through the online processes available now. Our How to Convert a Family Visit Visa to a Qatar Residence Visa guide above will significantly help you.