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Today we will see how Qatar residents can apply for a family residence visa
A family residence visa is a visa using which a foreign worker can sponsor immediate family members like his wife and children for a long term stay in Qatar
First, let's see the eligibility criteria for applying. The first requirement is that the sponsor has a valid Qatar ID before applying
The most significant criteria is salary. Currently the minimum salary for a family residence visa in Qatar is 16,000 Qatar dirhams for private sector employees
In case of public sector employees, this may be relaxed. Another requirement is that the sponsor's profession should be eligible
Usually, workers in labor type professions are not eligible to sponsor their families
Qatar family residence visa process can be summarized as follows. Step 1. Apply for a family residence visa
Step 2. Family members enter Qatar. Step 3. Medical check. Step 4. Fingerprint process
Step 5. Apply for a Qatar ID. Let's examine the above steps in detail
The first step is to submit all the necessary documents to get a family residence visa approved
The following documents are required when applying through MAPREF. Passport of spouse and children
Attested marriage certificate for spouse. Attested birth certificate for children. Bound statement for the last 6 months to prove your salary credit
Attested education certificate. You may also need a no objection certificate from your employer with your position and salary information
If documents like marriage certificate, birth certificate or education certificate are not in English or Arabic, you will have to translate them
There are many private attestation companies in Qatar who can assist with attestation and translation work
Now let's see how to apply for a family residence visa through the MAPREF app
First, open the MAPREF app on your mobile and log in. Click on the Visa icon
Click on the Issue Visa icon. Next, click on the Family Visit icon
Select Family Residence Application on the next screen. Click on New Application
Carefully fill in the form with your family member's details. Click on Validate
Verify the details on the next screen. The next screen will have placeholders for uploading documents
Follow the instructions on the screen and upload scanned copies or photos of the documents
Document scanned photos must be clear and re-debate. MAPREF only accepts JPEG images up to 500KB file size
For documents with multiple pages, combine both pages into one JPEG file
After uploading the document, click Next. On the next screen, confirm your submission by clicking on Yes
Your application number will be generated after this step. You can click on the arrow sign on the right to check the status
Once the visa is approved, you can pay the visa fees of 200 Qatari Riyal online via MAPREF or pay at any MOI service centre
Once the Family Entry Visa is approved, family members can travel to Qatar
On the visa, you will find the last entry gate. If your family members are already in Qatar on a visit visa, you can pay the visa fees and proceed to the next step
The visa holder shall start the residence permit procedure by completing a medical examination at the Medical Commission
The medical examination may include a blood test, chest x-ray and screening for HIV AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C
The following documents are required for a medical test. Family members' original passport
Passport copy. Residence visa copy. Sponsored Qatar ID copy. Debit credit card for fee payment
Medical test costs 100 Qatari Riyal per person. If the medical test results are satisfactory, you will receive a confirmation message on your mobile phone
You can also check medical results online on the MOPH website. Children under 15 years do not have to get a medical test
After completing the medical test, others must do fingerprints at any MOI service centre
The following documents are required for fingerprinting. Fingerprint application form. Family members' original passport
Passport copy. Residence visa copy. Sponsored Qatar ID copy. Medical receipt
Once the fingerprint process is complete, you will receive an SMS update
The final step is to apply for a Qatar ID card. You can do this at the MOI service centre or online through MAPRESS
The following documents are required to apply for Qatar ID at a MOI service centre
Completed application form. Family members' original passport. Sponsored Qatar ID. Family members' passport size photo, 35 x 45 mm with a blue background
The residence permit costs 500 Qatari Riyals for the first year. Once the fee is paid, the Qatar ID will be printed within minutes
You can also do this on your MAPRESS app. If you are a private sector employee, you may have to wait till you get 6-month bank statements before you can apply
In such a situation, you may want to consider bringing your family members on a family visit visa
Please see our previous videos on how to apply for a family visit visa or different types of HIA visa
For more detailed explanation and latest updates on family residence visa, visit dohaguides.com or search for Doha Guides Family Residence Visa online
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