The employment visa for working in Qatar is unfortunately not as easy to come by as it seems at first glance, even though most employers are willing to help you settle here!
There are two main types of visas that work for us here in Canada is an intra-quota job seeker visa (for professionals) and a non-intra quota job seekers visa (for anyone else).
The former is much easier to get than the latter but only if your profession is highly in demand in the country you want to live in.
If you are an experienced professional with a solid career, then it is unlikely that you will need a working visa in Qatar. But if you do, here’s what you should know!
It's very easy to get into Qatar without a work visa. In fact, there are many ways to stay for less than six months (temporary residence). And even if you have to go beyond this time frame, there are plenty of ways to extend your visit.
But staying longer than 6 months requires either a business or employment visa. These visas can cost up to 2,000 Qatari riyals (or US$600) per person.
Even if you do not have a working visa, that does not mean you cannot work in Qatar! There are many ways to earn money here so long as you are legal.
The most common way is by offering your services either as an independent contractor or freelancer. This can be done through online platforms like Amazon, Fiverr, TheLadders and more.
Qatar is a relatively easy country for foreigners to live in with lots of resources to learn from each other. Many people make a living off their social media influence, creating pages and earning income via advertisements.
There are also several companies that offer full time employment opportunities for non-qatari nationals. Some of these include HSBC, JP Morgan, Microsoft and Apple among others.
We recommend doing some research before investing in any business opportunity as there are often false promises made by entrepreneurs. Check out our article about how to stay safe while investing to get valuable tips on avoiding fraud.
An employment visa is not required for those looking to work in Qatar. You do, however, need to know how much money you’ll have with you when you enter the country as it can be very expensive. Many employers also require their new employees to take up a monthly membership at a local gym or health club which can cost around $100 per month!
If your budget allows, there are many ways to find part-time work while visiting. Most major tourist attractions offer tour packages that include lunch and/or transportation, so spending some extra cash for this may be worth it.
Another way to make some quick money while traveling is by doing freelance jobs via online job portals like Freelancer or Upwork. There are always businesses in any city seeking help with things such as writing, designing, marketing, etc. It will depend on your skills whether these companies want to pay you for your services or if you are able to produce materials free of charge.
Being able to live and work in your destination country is one of the most important things when deciding where to live and work abroad. You will need to make sure you have enough money to survive while you are there, as well as pay for any additional costs like health insurance.
Most countries allow their citizens to enter with either a Work Visitor Permit (VWP) or Business Visit Permit (BVP), depending on if they are visiting or working. The length of time this permit is valid for varies from 30 days to two years, so it is best to be prepared before you leave!
Finding out how much visa funding is available to you depends on both your personal situation and what kind of job you want to do. There are many ways to access funds such as loans, credit cards, and employment offers. Finding all these resources can be tricky, so we have gathered some information here for you. We also talk about different types of visas and the process to apply for them.
After you have completed your employment in Qatar, there is one more thing that you will need to do – apply for an exit visa. This is called a tourist or non-working visa. The length of this visa depends on how long you want to stay in Qatar as well as your final destination.
Most countries allow two years for tourism within their borders, so if you are planning to spend two years working here then you can get a 2 year non-work visa once you have applied for your work visa. You also must confirm your departure from Qatar at this time!
Some other common destinations include India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand which may only require a month long visa depending on whether you have a passport under Aussie, Kiwi or Tanzanian nationality. Check with our country guides for specific information.
We suggest staying 1–2 weeks outside of the Qatari job season (October through March) to make sure you don’t overstay.
Being able to prove you have enough money to support yourself while living in Qatar is one of the most important things employers look at when deciding if they can trust you will return. They want to make sure that you do not spend all your income staying here, so it’s good to be aware of what visas allow spending limits.
There are two main types of employment visas – casual worker visas (or B-2) and business visitor visas (B-1). A lot of people mix up these two types but there is an important difference!
A business visitor visa allows you to live and work in Qatar as long as you are engaged in ‘business activity’. This could mean working for a local company or firm, a foreign company with offices here, or even setting up your own business. As long as you are performing this job, then you can remain in Qatar.
As a non-Qatari national, you would need to know about how much money you would have access to before coming to work here. More information can be found below under the heading Money.
Finding employment opportunities in the Middle East is not easy, even as an experienced professional with a strong track record. There are many factors that play a major role in your career here!
Finding employment opportunities in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar is no small feat. First off, there are an incredible amount of foreigners working and living in the country. Almost one-third of all workers in Qatar are non-Qatari which makes it very difficult to be noticed unless you have solid connections or know someone who does.
That’s why being able to read Arabic and MSA (Mandarin Systems Application) is so important! Both are common tools for employers to assess job candidates. A degree or certification in these languages bolsters your chances of getting hired.
The best way to determine if working in or traveling to Qatar is right for you depends mostly on your career goals, and what kind of work you want to do. Companies in the Gulf hire very frequently so there’s always something new to try out.
Qatar is known as one of the most progressive economies in the world, with top-tier education systems that prepare individuals for professional success. There are many ways to contribute to our global community through employment here.
If you would like to explore opportunities within Qatar, there is an easy process to follow. First, you must have a visa to enter the country! This article will go into more detail about how much is needed for a Qatari Work Visitor (WV) visa and the documents required.
