Qatar Work Visa Employer

As an employer in Qatar, sponsoring work visas for your staff is a core responsibility. Every non-Qatari employee must be sponsored by a registered company to work legally. This guide covers the complete employer-side process: obtaining your computer card, requesting visa allocations, managing medical examinations, and ensuring WPS compliance.

Prerequisites for Sponsoring Staff

• Active Commercial Registration (CR) and Trade License
• Computer card from MADLSA (Ministry of Labour)
• Approved visa block allocation
• Corporate bank account with WPS (Wage Protection System) enabled
• Staff accommodation arrangements (company housing or housing allowance)
• Seha health insurance registration for all employees

Visa Sponsorship Process Step by Step

1. Request visa block allocation — submit your staffing plan to MADLSA specifying job titles, nationalities, and quantities.
2. Receive approval — MADLSA allocates visa numbers based on your business needs and capacity.
3. Submit individual visa applications — for each employee, submit passport copy, photo, educational certificates, and job offer letter.
4. Visa issuance — electronic visa sent to the employee for entry into Qatar.
5. Employee arrival — the employee enters Qatar and must complete medical examination within 3 days.
6. Medical and fingerprinting — at designated Medical Commission centres and MOI offices.
7. QID issuance — the Qatar Identity Card is processed and issued.
8. Labour contract registration — register the employment contract with MADLSA through the online portal.

Employer Obligations

• Salary payments via WPS — all salaries must be paid through the banking system, tracked by MADLSA
• Health insurance — mandatory Seha coverage for every employee
• Accommodation — provide housing or a housing allowance meeting Qatar labour standards
• End-of-service gratuity — 3 weeks salary per year of service, payable upon contract termination
• Annual leave — minimum 3 weeks paid leave per year

Visa Cancellation and Transfer

When an employee leaves your company, you must cancel their visa within 90 days. Under Qatar's labour mobility reforms, employees can transfer to a new employer without an NOC after completing their probation period or contract term.

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