How to Become a Citizen of Qatar

Initially — some facts about Qatar. It's a peninsular country on the western coast of the Persian Gulf. Its capital is the city of Doha, which means "big tree" in Arabic. It is an Islamic state where laws and customs follow religious traditions.

Qatar is a former British protectorate and gained full independence in 1971. The long interaction with Britain had an effect and even today, when Arabic is the official language of the country, English is still very common.

Qatar is one of the world’s most important oil and gas producers. This has a positive impact on the wellbeing of the local population, which amounts to just over 2,600,000 people. In 2022, per capita GDP was $63,783.

Qatar is not very willing to accept new citizens: although this is theoretically possible, it is not that easy in reality. Read on to learn more about how to become a Qatari citizen, the legal requirements for expats and how to move to this country.

• Legal Grounds for Obtaining Qatari Citizenship
  
• Dual Citizenship in Qatar
• Can I Get Qatari Citizenship through Marriage?
• How Can I Get Citizenship of Qatar through Naturalisation?
• Citizenship for Wives and Children of Naturalised Qataris
• What Rights do Naturalised and Restored Qataris Have?
• How Can I Move to Qatar?
  
• How Can I Get a Residence Permit for Work?
• How Can I Get a Student Residence Permit?
• How Can I Obtain a Qatari Golden Visa?
• How Can I Get a Permanent Residence Permit?

Legal Grounds for Obtaining Qatari Citizenship

According to Qatari nationality law no. 38 dating from 2005, the following grounds exist for obtaining citizenship of the country:

• Living in the country since 1930 and, as of 1961, retaining permanent residence here.
• Proving Qatari origin.
• Obtaining citizenship according to the decree of the emir. This usually applies to naturalisation and some exceptional cases. For example, Qatar can grant citizenship to an individual for significant services to the country, or for some essential skills. Citizenship can also be granted to particularly distinguished students. There are no special criteria; it is up to the emir to decide who deserves citizenship.
• Restoring Qatari citizenship. This applies to individuals who have lost Qatari citizenship for some reason or never obtained it. They are eligible to receive citizenship, but under certain conditions: in particular, you need to live in the country for three years and prove your ability to provide for yourself. The applicant’s good standing is also important; a criminal record and other problems with local law mean an almost guaranteed rejection.
• Being born to a Qatari father, regardless of place of birth.
• Being an infant found in the country and born to unknown parents.

However, compliance with these requirements does not guarantee anything; not only because the final decision is always up to the emir, but also because the law sets an annual quota of 50 people. This is how many people can get a local passport every 12 months.

Dual Citizenship in Qatar

The short answer to the question “Can I have two passports in Qatar” is no. Generally, Qataris are not allowed to have citizenship other than their national one. However, the emir has the right to make an exception to this rule, for example, for honorary citizens who have received a passport for special merits.

Can I Get Qatari Citizenship through Marriage?

Qatari men and women can marry foreigners, but the consequences will be different. For example, the husbands of Qatari women cannot apply for citizenship. Qatari women do not lose their passport after marriage, unless they decide to obtain citizenship of their husband’s country. If it happens and later they wish to regain their nationality, they will have to renounce their current citizenship and fulfil all the legal requirements for citizenship restoration.

As for the wives of Qatari nationals, they can obtain citizenship, but only after five years of marriage. If the couple divorces or the husband dies earlier, but they have a child, the emir can still decide to grant citizenship, but only to those applicants who live in the country. 

If a woman manages to obtain a passport before the divorce, her new marital status will not affect her nationality, she will remain a Qatari unless she decides otherwise.

How Can I Get Citizenship of Qatar through Naturalisation?

To apply for a Qatari passport, a foreign national has to fulfil the following conditions:

• Live in the country continuously for 25 years. During this period, you cannot leave Qatar for more than two months in a year. In addition, periods of absence will be deducted from the total duration of stay required for obtaining citizenship. If you first submit your application and then leave for more than six months, your application will most likely be disregarded.
• Have a legal source of income.
• Have no criminal record and have a good reputation as a law-abiding citizen.
• Good knowledge of the Arabic language.

These are general requirements. However, even strict compliance with the requirements does not guarantee the acquisition of citizenship. The law stipulates that people with local roots including, in particular, those born to a Qatari mother and a foreign father have priority. Still, these foreigners do not get a passport automatically, even after living in Qatar for 25 years. The children of Qatari mothers will just have an advantage over all other applicants.

Citizenship for Wives and Children of Naturalised Qataris

The law implies that only men have the right to naturalisation. Wives and children of a naturalised person can also qualify for a passport, but under certain conditions:

• The woman must have lived in the country with her husband for five years from the date he received a local passport.
• Children acquire citizenship together with their father if they lived with him in the country at the time of his naturalisation or were born after that.
• A child who lives outside of Qatar at the time the father receives his passport can apply for citizenship five years after moving to the country, but only if the child is under 18 at the time of application. Otherwise, children of a Qatari person qualify for a passport after 15 years of continuous residence in the country.

The local authorities make an exception for the wives and children of applicants who died before they completed their naturalisation. If a foreign applicant dies before his application is approved, his widow and children will still be able to apply for a passport. They will receive it only if the deceased spouse met all the requirements for naturalisation and if the emir makes such a decision. 

Whenever citizenship has been granted to minor children, they will face a choice after their 18th birthday whether to remain Qataris or obtain another passport.

What Rights do Naturalised and Restored Qataris Have?

If you previously had citizenship, then lost or renounced it, and then regained it, you will not be able to run for or hold elected office in the country for ten years.

The law is even stricter for non-native Qataris. Those who received a passport through naturalisation are not allowed to work in the country for the first five years after that. Later when they receive such rights, they still cannot work in all positions. In any case, non-native Qataris do not have any voting rights.

How Can I Move to Qatar?

There are very few ways for a foreigner to obtain Qatari citizenship. Almost the only option is naturalisation, apart from marriage, which in reality only works for women.

In order to live in the country for the required 25 years, you need to move there legally and obtain a local residence permit. You can do this if you come to Qatar to work, study, and reunite with family. In addition, the country also offers a “Golden Visa”, the most affordable way to obtain a residence permit or permanent residence permit for wealthy people.

How Can I Get a Residence Permit for Work?

This residence permit is sponsored, which means a local citizen or organisation is responsible for a foreigner staying in Qatar. In this case, it is the employer who initiates the process of obtaining the residence permit. First, the employer applies for a work visa — an entry permit. Upon arrival, the foreigner must replace it with a work and residence permit. This procedure usually takes two to four weeks.

There are two types of residence permits:

• Temporary residence permits valid for a certain period.
• Permanent residence permits without validity period.

Family members of the employees can also obtain a residence permit. However, there are exceptions; if you are a Qatari resident employee acting as a sponsor for your relatives, you must confirm sufficient income and your place of residence. That is why drivers, cleaners, couriers, and other low-paid employees cannot bring their children and spouses with them. Such family members can come to the country, but by finding their own sponsor employer.

How Can I Get a Student Residence Permit?

The student residence permit is sponsored, just like the work permit. To enter the country, you need to provide proof of enrolment in a local university. You can apply in person through the Qatari consulate in your country or online. Educational institutions usually submit the applications. They usually offer such services to their students.

Upon arrival in the country, you will only have to replace your visa with a residence permit. A student residence permit is usually valid for a year and can be extended for the same period. This path does not lead to citizenship through naturalisation, but can become the basis for it under exceptional circumstances. As mentioned above, Qatari law, at least theoretically, allows citizenship to be granted to talented students.

How Can I Obtain a Qatari Golden Visa?

This residence permit is unsponsored, which means you do not need a host responsible for your stay; investors finance themselves.

Qatari law allows foreigners to obtain a residence permit provided they stay in the country for at least 90 days a year. To do this, they need to buy or rent Qatari real estate worth at least 730,000 QR ($200,495); in this case the investor and a family member can obtain a residence permit.

If the transaction amount is at least 3,650,000 QR ($1,002,472), a foreigner will be able to apply for permanent residence. In this case, the investor will have access to local free health care and education for children.

However, there are some restrictions; there are only nine areas in the country where you can buy real estate. They are listed in a special resolution of the Qatari government. As for rent, foreigners have wider options: 16 areas are available to them. The contract can be concluded for 99 years.

How Can I Get a Permanent Residence Permit?

Obtaining Qatari citizenship is an extremely difficult task. However, there is an alternative: a permanent residence permit.

To apply for this permit, you need to live in the country for 20 years if you were born abroad, and 10 years if you were born in Qatar. You also need to prove sufficient income to provide for yourself and your family.

Other mandatory requirements are good knowledge of the Arabic language and good personal references. The latter means that you have no charges or convictions for crimes against morality.

However, there is a quota for permanent residence too: 100 approved applications from foreigners per year.

In a Nutshell

Qatar is a small but very rich country, whose government provides citizens with many benefits and privileges. It’s unsurprising that foreigners also wish to access them, but it is not easy. Qatari legislation is very strict about requirements for applicants for citizenship.

The easiest way to get it is through marriage. However, this route is only available to women who have been married for at least five years. Men who marry local women do not have this right. 

You can naturalise after 25 years of residence. When calculating this period, any days you were not in the country will be subtracted from the total. You will also have to prove knowledge of the Arabic language, your source of livelihood and the absence of problems with the law.

Even fulfilling all legal requirements is not a guarantee. Local legislation has a quota of 50 passports per year issued for foreigners; this is the maximum, not the recommended amount. The final decision is made by the emir.

Cover photo: Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar. Florian Wehde (Unsplash)