Qatar Work Visa for Indians: How to Apply, Cost and Processing Time

India-Qatar cooperation in various sectors has been uninterruptedly growing. The credit goes to the highest level of involvement of both the two Governments and India’s contribution to Qatar’s progress.

Indians who are willing to work and settle in Qatar must obtain a work visa first. This piece thoroughly talks about the process of obtaining a Qatar work visa for Indians. Read along!

A Qatar work visa or work permit is a legal document that gives permission to foreign nationals such as Indians to take up a job within this foreign county.

The eligibility parameters for getting a Qatar work visa are listed below.

• Applicants must have a good and valid intention behind traveling to this country.
• Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of experience with an employer.
• They must have sufficient funds to bear all expenses, including their and any dependents they are bringing with them to Qatar throughout the stay.
• Applicants must state reasons to return to their home country after their stay.
• They must not have any record of criminal activities. For this, they may need to provide a PCC or Police Clearance Certificate.
• They must be in good health and fulfill the basic health parameters put forth by the authorities.

In Qatar, employers are responsible for a work visa. The entire process works in the following manner:

Step 1: A company/employer needs to register with the Immigration department within the Ministry of Interior. Applicants cannot initiate the process before finishing this one.

Step 2: Employers must provide several documents, i.e. a copy of the employee’s trade licence. Once employees arrive in Qatar, they will have an Immigration Card and a Representative Card.

Step 3: At this stage, employers must apply for a block of work permits for all the expatriates they intend to employ. Employers must complete the application in Arabic and disclose the total number of foreign employees they are employing, their job positions, and their nationalities. They will get approval from the Ministry of Labour.

Step 4: Once employers get approval for the work permits, they can apply for employment visas for each of the foreign workers and submit the required documents for each employee.

Step 5: Now, employees can travel to Qatar after obtaining their work visas.

Note: Within 7 days of the employee’s arrival, employers need to lodge an application for their residence permit along with submitting essential documents (discussed later).

Step 6: After employees get the residence permit, they can start working for your company in Qatar.

Please remember that employees can work for that particular company with a work permit. Employers can renew the work permit on a case-by-case basis.

Foreign nationals who are willing to work in Qatar must obtain a work permit as well as a residence permit before they can start employment there.

Following is a list of documents necessary for applying for a work permit.

• The employment contract.
• A duly completed application form from the Ministry of Labour.
• A copy of the employee’s passport.
• The employment visa.
• A medical certificate proving that the employee is in good health.
• The immigration card of the employer.
• Any relevant educational certificates.
• Biometrics, including fingerprints.
• Two passport photographs.

Newcomers who are willing to come and live in Qatar must obtain a Work Residence Permit known as RP. For this, applicants need a Qatari employer, be it a company or an individual.

It is the employer’s responsibility to manage the paperwork on behalf of the employee. When employers enter Qatar, their employers arrange for a temporary visa which is then converted to Work Residency Permit. Usually, it takes 2-4 weeks or sometimes longer to process a Work Residency Permit. Applicants can leave Qatar during this processing time.

To get a residence permit, applicants need to furnish the following documents,

• A valid passport.
• The employment visa.
• The employee’s medical certificate.
• A copy of the company’s Commercial Registration.
• A copy of the business’s immigration card.
• Two passport photographs of the employee.

The State of Qatar has simplified the issuance process of residence and work permits. The recent amendments made by the Government to the Labor Law ensured flexibility in protecting all rights of the two working parties, i.e. employer and employees. Thus, employees can bring their families to live in Qatar.

From arranging a temporary work permit to Work Residence Permit, the process takes up to 4 weeks of time.

All the Qatar work visas are single entry normal with a stay duration of 90 days, 30 days, and 30 days have 90 days of validity.

Qatar work visa can get rejected for the following reasons,

• If applicants fail to specify the purpose of travel.
• Not having an employment contract.
• Having no clear proof of returning to the home country.
• Employment status not clearly mentioned.
• Not having sufficient financial records.

The above-mentioned sections clearly answer all the questions regarding Qatar work visas for Indians. Skim through the details and get a work permit easily.