Qatar family visa eligibility checker
Choose family residence (private or government sector) or a family visit visa, enter your salary and tick what applies. The checker shows which Ministry of Interior conditions your answers meet. It does not decide your application.
The conditions
| Route | Salary and housing | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Family residence, private sector | QR 10,000, or QR 6,000 with family housing in the contract | Technical or specialised profession; 6-month bank statement, notarised contract, education certificate |
| Family residence, government or semi-government | Family housing or allowance from the employer, or QR 10,000 | Official letter on profession and salary |
| Family visit visa | QR 5,000 and verified family housing | Not a labour profession; visa for one month, extendable |
| All family residence | Valid work residence permit, attested marriage and birth certificates, children aged 6–18 enrolled in school | |
The conditions come from the Ministry of Interior's conditions for family residence visa approval and its revised rules announced on 3 December 2023, as reported by Qatar News Agency. The two disagree on one figure: the MOI conditions page still cites the old Law No. 4 of 2009 and gives QR 7,000 with housing, while the December 2023 announcement lowered it to QR 6,000. We use the newer figure and flag it. The medical check within 30 days of arrival and the one-month family visit visa are from the MOI visas page.
Worked examples
Example 1: engineer on QR 12,000
A private sector engineer earning QR 12,000 meets the salary condition without employer housing. With a valid work permit, attested marriage certificate, school-age children enrolled, and the bank statement, contract and degree copy ready, every listed condition is met.
Example 2: accountant on QR 7,500 with company housing
QR 7,500 is below QR 10,000, but above QR 6,000. If the contract states that the employer provides family housing, the salary condition is met. Without housing in the contract it is not.
Example 3: technician on QR 5,500
Below QR 6,000, so family residence is not possible under the published rules, even with housing. The family visit visa needs QR 5,000 and verified housing, so a visit may still be possible.
Example 4: government employee with a housing allowance
A ministry employee whose contract gives a family housing allowance meets the main condition whatever the salary, and needs the employer's letter confirming profession and salary.
Common mistakes
- Counting allowances that are not in the contract. MOI asks for housing "written in the contract". A verbal promise or a separate letter may not count.
- Using old figures. Before December 2023 many guides quoted QR 15,000 or QR 7,000 with housing. The latest MOI figures are QR 10,000 and QR 6,000.
- Forgetting school enrolment. Children aged 6 to 18 must be enrolled for the permit to be issued or renewed.
- Unattested certificates. Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad need attestation before MOI accepts them.
Where to apply
- Metrash (the MOI app) and the MOI portal: family residence and family visit visa applications, extensions and renewals.
- Medical Commission: medical check within 30 days of arrival on a residence visa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for a family visa in Qatar?
For private sector employees, QR 10,000 a month, or QR 6,000 if your employer provides family housing and it is written in your contract. These are the figures the Ministry of Interior announced in December 2023 (reported by QNA). The MOI conditions page still shows an older line of QR 10,000 or QR 7,000 with housing, so check the figure in Metrash before you apply.
Do government employees need a minimum salary?
Government and semi-government employees need either family housing (or a family housing allowance) from the employer, or a salary of at least QR 10,000 in the contract, plus an official letter from the employer confirming the profession and salary.
Which professions can sponsor a family?
The MOI page says private sector sponsors must be in technical or specialised professions, not labour professions. The profession on your residence permit is what MOI looks at.
What is the salary rule for a family visit visa?
QR 5,000 a month, a profession that is not a labour profession, and family housing that the authorities can verify (MOI, December 2023). A family visit visa is granted for one month; to stay longer the visitor does the medical check and applies for an extension.
Do my children have to be in school?
Yes, children aged 6 to 18 must be enrolled in a licensed school in Qatar, or show enrolment abroad through the Ministry of Education and Higher Education platform. MOI checks this when the residence permit is issued and when it is renewed.
Can I sponsor my sons over 18 or my parents?
Law No. 21 of 2015 on the entry, exit and residence of expatriates (Art. 12) is summarised as allowing sons up to 25 who are still studying and unmarried daughters, with parents only at the Minister's discretion. We could not read the official text, so the checker does not count these. Ask MOI through Metrash before you apply.
What documents do I need?
For the private sector, MOI lists a 6-month bank statement from an accredited bank in Qatar, a notarised employment contract and a copy of your education certificate, plus the attested marriage certificate. After the family arrives, each person does the medical check within 30 days, then fingerprints and the residence permit.
Does this checker approve my visa?
No. It shows which published conditions your answers meet. MOI decides each application and can ask for more.
This checker compares your answers with the conditions MOI has published. It is not a decision and not legal advice: MOI decides each application, can ask for more documents and can change the rules.
Source: MOI "Conditions for Family Residence Visa Approval", the MOI announcement of revised family visit and residence rules (Qatar News Agency, 3 December 2023) and the MOI visas page on portal.moi.gov.qa.