QatarVisits and short stays

Qatar family visit visa for relatives of residents

Family visit visa (personal visit visa sponsored by a Qatar resident)

In short

A resident of Qatar can sponsor relatives for a family visit visa, also called a personal visit visa, requested from the Ministry of Interior through its e-services or the Metrash2 app. The visitor is granted one month on entry; staying longer needs a medical check and an extension before that month ends, and overstaying costs QAR 200 a day. Relatives whose nationality is visa-exempt can usually visit without a visa instead.

Apply on Metrash2 (Ministry of Interior app) checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
One month on entry; longer only with an extension approved by the Ministry of Interior.
Validity
Issued before travel and presented at the port of arrival.
Work
No.
Family
Sponsored by the resident relative in Qatar.
Where to apply
Requested in Qatar by the sponsoring resident through MOI e-services or Metrash2.

Who uses the family visit visa

The Ministry of Interior lists family visas, or personal visit visas, among the visas issued in advance: the resident relative in Qatar applies, and the visitor presents the visa on arrival. It is mainly useful for relatives whose nationality is not visa-exempt. Citizens of more than 100 countries can enter Qatar without a visa, so relatives from those countries rarely need this visa.

Conditions for the visitor

The visitor needs a passport valid for at least six months and a return or onward ticket. Since 1 February 2023 Qatar's health insurance law requires visitors to be covered by a policy from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health, so the sponsor should buy visitor insurance for the whole planned stay. Visiting family does not allow any work.

Documents the sponsor provides

The sponsor uploads a copy of the visitor's passport, their own Qatar ID and passport, and proof of the family relationship, such as a marriage certificate for a spouse or birth certificates for children and parents. For family residence the Ministry requires marriage certificates to be attested by the competent authorities, so a spouse's certificate issued abroad should carry the attestation of the issuing country and the Qatari embassy.

Required documents

Identity

  • Copy of the visitor's passport, valid for at least six months
  • Copy of the sponsoring resident's Qatar ID and passport

Travel

  • Return or onward ticket

Family

  • Proof of relationship; for a spouse, an attested marriage certificate

Insurance

  • Visitor health insurance from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health

How the request is made

Hukoomi lists the family visa request as a Ministry of Interior e-service with no service fee, submitted and tracked through the MOI e-services portal; the Metrash2 app also offers MOI visa services. Once the visa is approved, the visitor travels with it and presents it at the port of arrival. A newborn child of a mother staying on a family visit visa can receive a matching visa through Metrash for QAR 800.

  1. The resident checks on the Visit Qatar visa checker whether the relative needs a visa at all.
  2. The resident gathers ID copies, the visitor's passport copy and relationship proof.
  3. The resident submits the family visit request through MOI e-services or Metrash2 and tracks it.
  4. Once issued, the visitor travels with the visa, passport, ticket and insurance.
  5. Before the first month ends, the visitor does the medical check and the sponsor applies for an extension if needed.

Length of stay and extensions

A visitor on a family visit visa is granted one month. To stay longer, the visitor completes the medical check before that month ends and the extension is requested through the Ministry's online stay extension service, which finds the visa by visa or passport number. The length of any extension is decided by the Ministry, and the visitor's health insurance must cover the extra period.

Overstay fines

If a visit visa is not extended before it expires, the Ministry of Interior charges QAR 200 for each day of delay, capped at QAR 12,000. Questions on visas go to the Ministry's immigration contacts on 2351378, 2351475 or 2351345.

Frequently asked questions

How long can relatives stay on a Qatar family visit visa?

One month on entry. A longer stay needs a medical check and an extension approved by the Ministry of Interior before the month ends.

Can my parents visit me in Doha without this visa?

Yes, if their nationality is on the visa-free list; the stay is then set at entry by the Ministry of Interior. Otherwise you sponsor them for this visa or they apply on Hayya.

Can a visitor on a family visit visa work?

No. It is a visit visa; employment requires a work visa and residence permit.

What is the fine for overstaying?

QAR 200 per day of delay, up to QAR 12,000, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Does the visitor need health insurance?

Yes. Qatar's health insurance law requires visitors to hold a policy from an insurer registered with the Ministry of Public Health.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Qatar

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Set by the Ministry of Interior at entry for each nationality; Qatar's visa-free visitors stay for varying periods depending on the passport.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Up to 4 days

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: Qatar University residence permits are normally issued for one year and renewed.

Work

  • Work visa Validity: Residence permits are renewed for one to three years at a time.
  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Long-term residency with a renewal option; Invest Qatar does not publish a fixed term.

Family

Residence

Online travel permits

  • e-Visa Validity: Single entry; the permit can be used once and is non-transferable.

Qatar visa guide