Basic salary below QAR 10,000
Allowances counted but basic too low.
The fix. Renegotiate the basic salary or obtain employer housing to use the QAR 6,000 rule.
Qatar family residence visa for spouses and children of Indian residents
Indian residents who earn QAR 10,000 a month, or QAR 6,000 with employer-provided housing, sponsor their spouse and children for residence: the application is filed on Metrash2 or at an MOI service centre with the attested marriage and birth certificates, the sponsor's QID, salary certificate, tenancy contract and the dependants' passport copies, the entry visa costs QAR 200 per person, and after arrival each dependant completes the Medical Commission test and fingerprints and receives a QID for about QAR 500 a year. Approval takes 1 to 2 weeks, sons are sponsored until 25 and daughters until marriage, and dependants who later find work can transfer to a work residence permit or take a work permit while remaining on the family QID with the sponsor's consent.
Qatar Family residence visa (dependant QID): quick answers
Who qualifies to sponsor family residence in Qatar? Residents with a valid QID whose electronic contract shows a basic salary of QAR 10,000 a month or more, or QAR 6,000 plus housing provided by the employer, and whose profession is on the eligible list (engineers, accountants, teachers, nurses, managers, technicians in many cases; labourers and drivers usually excluded). Eligible dependants are the spouse, sons under 25 and unmarried daughters of any age; parents are sponsored in exceptional cases only. A second wife needs separate approval.
What does it cost? QAR 200 for each dependant's entry visa, the Medical Commission test (about QAR 100 to 300 each), fingerprinting and the QID issuance of about QAR 500 per year per dependant, plus a health card (QAR 100). Attestation of the marriage and birth certificates by the MEA and the Qatar Embassy costs INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document, and schooling at Indian curriculum schools in Doha runs QAR 8,000 to 25,000 a year. Vistolane charges the QAR 200 and QAR 500 fees at the official rate and shows attestation and school costs separately.
How long does it take? Metrash2 or service-centre approval takes 1 to 2 weeks when the salary and documents are in order; the family then enters within the visa's validity and completes the medical and fingerprints in 1 to 2 weeks for the QID. Spouses and children already in Qatar on a visit visa can convert without leaving. Plan 4 to 6 weeks from application to QID.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Family residence visa and dependant QID, renewed yearly with the sponsor's |
| Government fee | QAR 200 entry visa per person; QID about QAR 500 a year each; health card QAR 100 |
| Processing | 1 to 2 weeks approval; QID 1 to 2 weeks after arrival |
| Sponsor salary | QAR 10,000 a month, or QAR 6,000 with employer housing |
| Dependants | Spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters |
| Documents | Marriage and birth certificates attested by the MEA and the Qatar Embassy |
| Work | Dependants may take a work permit with the sponsor's consent or transfer to a work QID |
| Verified | 30 Oct 2026 against portal.moi.gov.qa |
Salary, profession and dependants
| Condition | Rule | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | QAR 10,000 basic, or QAR 6,000 plus housing from the employer | Electronic contract on the Ministry of Labour system; salary certificate; Wage Protection statements |
| Profession | On the MOI eligible list for family sponsorship | QID profession |
| Accommodation | Tenancy contract or employer housing letter suitable for the family | Ejari-style lease or company letter |
| Relationship | Marriage and birth certificates attested by the MEA and the Qatar Embassy in New Delhi | Attested originals; Arabic translation |
| Dependants | Spouse; sons under 25; unmarried daughters; parents only exceptionally | Passports valid 6 months |
| Medical | Medical Commission test on arrival (blood test, X-ray) | Before fingerprints and QID |
Service centres apply the salary rule to the contract's basic salary rather than total pay, so workers negotiating offers should ask for the basic component to meet QAR 10,000, or for housing to be provided to use the QAR 6,000 rule. The family QID is renewed with the sponsor's, and a dependant spouse who finds a job can either take a work permit while remaining on the family sponsorship (with the sponsor's consent and the employer's Ministry of Labour approval) or transfer to a work residence permit.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Family residence entry visa | QAR 200 per person | Metrash2 or service centre |
| Medical Commission test | QAR 100 to 300 per person | On arrival |
| Dependant QID issuance and yearly renewal | About QAR 500 per person per year | Family-sponsored rate |
| Health card | QAR 100 | Public healthcare access |
| Attestation | INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document | MEA and Qatar Embassy |
| Indian school fees | QAR 8,000 to 25,000 a year | CBSE and other Indian schools in Doha |
Vistolane charges the QAR 200 and QAR 500 fees at the official rate and shows attestation and schooling separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- Confirm salary and profession. Basic salary of QAR 10,000, or QAR 6,000 with housing; profession eligible.
- Attest the family documents. Marriage and birth certificates: MEA then Qatar Embassy in New Delhi; Arabic translation.
- Apply on Metrash2 or at a service centre. Passport copies and photos of dependants, attested certificates, QID, salary certificate, tenancy; pay QAR 200 each.
- Approval and travel. 1 to 2 weeks; dependants enter within the visa validity (or convert inside Qatar from a visit visa).
- Medical, fingerprints and QID. Medical Commission test, fingerprints at the MOI, QID issued (about QAR 500 a year); health card and school enrolment.
Timeline for an Indian family
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Attestation | 1 to 3 weeks | In India |
| Approval | 1 to 2 weeks | Metrash2 |
| Entry | Within the visa validity | Or in-country conversion |
| Medical and fingerprints | 1 to 2 weeks | QID card issued |
| Renewal | Yearly with the sponsor's QID | QAR 500 each |
Families arriving for the September school year should start attestation in May and apply by July; school admission tests run in spring.
Living in Qatar as a dependant family
Dependants hold their own QID, access public healthcare with the health card, and children attend Indian or international schools; spouses may work with the sponsor's consent and a Ministry of Labour work permit, or transfer to the employer's sponsorship. Family QIDs lapse if the sponsor's QID is cancelled, with a grace period to transfer or leave, and residents who stay 20 years may apply for permanent residency, which covers the family.
Document checklist: relationship
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate attested by the MEA and the Qatar Embassy | Arabic translation |
| Children's birth certificates, attested | Each child |
| Passports of each dependant, valid 6 months | Colour copies |
| Photos | White background |
Sponsor
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| QID with an eligible profession | Copy |
| Electronic contract and salary certificate | Basic QAR 10,000, or QAR 6,000 with housing letter |
| Tenancy contract or housing letter | Suitable for the family |
| Wage Protection statements | Last 3 months |
After arrival
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Medical Commission test | Each dependant |
| Fingerprints and QID issuance | About QAR 500 a year each |
| Health card and school enrolment | QAR 100; school fees |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Profession not eligible
QID title excluded from family sponsorship.
The fix. Ask the employer to amend the profession where the qualification supports it.
Documents not attested
Certificates without the Qatar Embassy stamp.
The fix. Complete MEA and Embassy attestation.
Accommodation unsuitable
Shared or labour accommodation.
The fix. Provide a family tenancy or housing letter.
Son over 25 or married daughter
Dependant outside the age or status rules.
The fix. Use a visit visa or the dependant's own work or student sponsorship.
Official sources
Questions, answered
What salary do I need to sponsor my family in Qatar?
A basic salary of QAR 10,000 a month, or QAR 6,000 a month when your employer provides housing, in a profession on the eligible list.
How much is a Qatar family residence visa?
QAR 200 per dependant for the entry visa, QAR 100 to 300 for the medical, about QAR 500 a year for each dependant's QID and QAR 100 for the health card.
Can my wife work in Qatar on a family visa?
Yes. With your consent and a Ministry of Labour work permit she can work while remaining on the family QID, or transfer to her employer's sponsorship.
Until what age can I sponsor my children in Qatar?
Sons until 25 and unmarried daughters of any age; parents are sponsored only in exceptional cases.
Does Vistolane handle Qatar family residence visas?
Yes. Vistolane checks the salary and profession rules, arranges attestation and prepares the Metrash2 application, charging the QAR 200 and QAR 500 fees at the official rate.