Employer visas in Australia are expensive, especially for higher income earners. The most expensive visa is that of employment to work in Qatar as an expat. This article will go into detail about how much this visa costs, what documents you need, and some things to watch out for while applying.
There is one important thing to note before reading these tips- no matter your budget, it’s impossible to pay too much for immigration services. If you find very cheap service lists, be wary because many people don’t check their prices or use trusted resources.
In this article I have linked several different sources where you can get free information or discounted services through Public Services Websites. Make sure to look into those! You won’t make any money from using them, but at least your immigrant fees will be lower.
We also list some websites here that may help you manage your job hunt expenses. Try looking through our list here first and see which ones feel comfortable to you. There are lots of ways to spend money so there isn’t one perfect way to do everything, but hopefully something on this page will save you a few dollars.
An employer can apply for work visa sponsorship in their own right or as a sponsor. As mentioned before, employers can be individuals or companies that want to hire you as a direct employee or freelancer.
As with any visa application process, there is always a fee involved. The fees are not the same for every country nor every type of visa, but most countries have at least one set fee for working visas. This article will talk about how much these costs are and who can pay them.
The cost of an employment visa depends on your situation and what kind of visa you need. Some documents may free while others may incur extra cost. We will go over which ones are expensive and how to lower the price of yours!
We also include information on Indian nationals here so if you are citizen of India you can learn more about the process.
The second part of this article is about what your company can do to help you relocate and find employment in Qatar. This includes paying for or covering visa fees, helping you pack up and ship your belongings, and even paying for housing while you look for work here.
Most employers will start looking into whether or not they want to bring you aboard immediately after you accept their job offer. Sometimes this happens within 24 hours, but it may take several days or weeks before they are able to make sure that you aren’t already employed by someone else and them!
During this time, there are a few things that your employer can do to aid you in finding work here. First, they can check to see if Qatari employees already know you so that they can refer you as an internal candidate. Second, they can be direct with you about whether or not you need a visa to come to Qatar.
As mentioned before, there is no visa requirement for your job if you are working in Qatar as an expat or resident. If you fall into this category, you do not need to apply for work visas nor do they cost any money!
If, however, you want to take time off during your employment here, you will be charged a VISA FEE. This can vary depending on when you plan to return home and how long you intend to spend away from Qatari soil.
The fee is determined by two things; how long you expect to be away and whether it’s your first visit back since becoming a Qatari national. For example, if you live and work in Doha and only leave town once every three months, then your visa fee would be one-third of what it would be if you left frequently.
The length of time it takes for your employment visa depends mostly on two things: how quickly you can put in applications, and whether or not there is already a case against you in Qatar.
If there is no existing case, then it will be processed very quickly – sometimes within one week! However, if there is an investigation going on, this may drag out slightly longer than normal as authorities have to gather all their documents before they process your application.
In either situation, we always tell our clients that it’s important to remain calm and relaxed throughout the whole process. We are also available 24/7 via email or phone so anyone can contact us with any questions or issues.
We have seen many cases where people become too stressed about the timing of their visas and then something happens and they don’t qualify anymore, which obviously isn’t fair to them. So, staying focused and confident at all times is key.
To reside in Qatar, you must have a valid passport that is at least six months from your expiration date. You also need to be over the age of 18 years old, but under 30 will require you to live with a relative in the country.
If you are traveling on business, then you can still apply for an employment visa if you meet the above criteria. Just make sure your job position is listed as an employee on a Qatari company, not independent contractor or consultant.
The fee for the visa depends on what kind of visit you want to make in the country. A working vacation trip requires less documentation than visiting for business. The cost averages around 150 QR (approximately $40) per person depending on how many days you plan to stay.
The cost of the employment visa for non-Qatari workers in the Gulf is not publicly disclosed, but it can easily run you upwards of $10,000 USD or more! Some people have reported being charged up to $20,000 per person for the permit.
This includes fees for both the work visa and return visa (for those who choose to come back after their contract ends). It also does not include other related costs like transportation to and from the workplace, flights home, hotel rooms while in the country, etc.
There are many ways to pay for this expense so whoever sponsors your visit should make sure they note which method works best for them. Many employers offer sponsored visas as part of their benefits package so it is not necessarily additional income for them.
As mentioned before, employers in Qatar require that all employees have working visas. These visas can be work related (for example, you must have a Qatari Work Visitor Entry Permit to enter the country) or non-work related (like visiting family). Employees without these documents will not be able to perform their job duties while in the country.
It is very common for foreigners to live and work in Qatar without knowing about the regulations regarding employee visas. Because there is no formal course material available, it is easy to fall into bad habits and create more problems than solutions.
There are severe penalties if you do not have proper documentation, so it is important to make sure your have everything!
The best way to ensure that you have everything needed for your employment visa is by talking to other people who have worked in Qatar. You can go through our article here about how to apply for a QAEVP. There, we talk about some things including what information you should include in your application.
An alternative to getting an employment visa in Qatar is applying for work sponsorship. This can be via an employer or third party organization that sponsors visas for professional services such as lawyers, doctors, architects or engineers.
There are many ways to find out if an organization offers working visas in Qatar, including looking at their websites, talking with other professionals in the country about them, and reading reviews online.
By speaking with different people in the country it may also help determine whether this type of visa is necessary for you to stay. Some countries require employers to offer workers at least two weeks’ leave per year which would not apply to someone who is employed indefinitely.
Getting an employment visa in Qatar is not just about paying the fee and waiting for approval. Applicants face numerous challenges and must ensure they overcome them to secure their visas successfully. Here are some of the challenges:
To overcome these challenges, one must stay informed, seek assistance when needed, and always approach the process with patience and respect.
While the employment visa fee can be expensive, there are ways to reduce the financial burden:
Remember, the key is to be proactive, do thorough research, and always look for legitimate ways to minimize costs without compromising the visa's integrity or the application's chances of success.
