How to Move to Qatar, a Guide.
The 2022 World Cup has definitely stirred the pot about Qatar. While there are diverging opinions about the political situation and local customs, one thing that cannot be denied is that Qatar is going to offer you a lifestyle and experience inherently differently than what you are accustomed to at first. When it comes to expats wishing to move to Qatar, they can benefit from exciting career opportunities, higher salaries, relatively low cost of living for some and a relaxed way of living in a country with one of the most powerful economies throughout the world. Let’s dive in and learn how to move to Qatar to experience a new lifestyle
Step 1: Find the right job
The possibilities of obtaining a job in Qatar are endless. The country is in constant expansion and there are open positions in several sectors, such as education, finance, tourism, construction and others. It is important to note that the process of finding a job might not be as smooth as you thought it would be since the government tends to give priority to local citizens. Nonetheless, this does not mean that finding a job in Qatar is impossible.
Step 2: Get your visa and work permit sorted
Recently, Qatar has changed its legislation to attract more visitors, it is now a lot easier to travel in the country. For instance, if you are a citizen of the UK, Australia, the US, Canada and some other European countries, you can get into the country without a visa. One strategy adopted by some expats is to get in Qatar as a tourist and eventually find a job. while others are able to secure a position beforehand. In both cases, the employer is going to assist you in obtaining a work permit so that you can live and work in Qatar legally.
Step 3: Get a health check and the necessary vaccinations
To obtain the authorization to live and work in Qatar, you will be required to go through a mandatory health check. This is a safety measure to ensure that you do not have any communicable disease and that you are fit to conduct the job that you have been employed for. While some expats choose to conduct these tests during the first week of their stay in Qatar, others are required to complete them before visiting the country.
Note: Some vaccinations, such as immunization against Hepatitis A and tetanus are also mandatory.
Step 4: Open a bank account
Considering that you will be working and operating in Qatar, having a local bank account is crucial to conduct business and other essential activities. There are two main types of bank account that can be obtained in Qatar, current and savings.
Considering the popularity of Qatar among expats, you will not find it difficult to live there. In fact, you do not even have to learn Arabic to live and work in Qatar since English is spoken almost everywhere (second most widely spoken language in the country). However, we do recommend that you learn some key phrases and other important cultural norms and values so that you can immerse yourself in Qatar without obtaining stares from others.
What are the different types of visas?
Tourist Visa
Qatar tourist visas are offered on arrival only. You have to collect your visa from Qatar port after arriving there. This kind of visa is available for the citizens of a few countries. There are two types of Qatar visa: Qatar short tourist visa (2 weeks) and Qatar long tourist visa (3 months).
Qatar Business Visa
If you are working for any Qatari company only then are you eligible for a Qatar business visa. It will be the sole responsibility of the company to arrange the visa for you.
Qatar Work Visa
If you have worked for your employer for at least 2 years then the Qatar work visa will be sponsored by your employer itself. Moreover, a global health checkup will be performed before arriving in Qatar.
Qatar Visit Visa
You will be eligible for this kind of visa if you have a relative in Qatar who is sponsoring you. Its validity is for 6 months.
Qatar Family Visa
This visa is different from a visit visa as the family visa does not having any expiration date. An expat working in Qatar can sponsor his/her family to come and live with him/her.
Qatar GCC Resident Visa
You might be eligible for a GCC Resident Visa on arrival if you are a GCC resident. But in some cases, it also depends on your job.
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