Qatar visaFamily visiting QatarQatar family visit visa for relatives of Indian residents
Indian residents of Qatar invite parents, in-laws, spouses, children and siblings on the family visit visa: the resident applies on Metrash2 or at a Ministry of Interior service centre with the relative's passport copy, the attested relationship document and their own QID and salary certificate, pays QAR 200, and the visa (valid 1 month, extendable month by month to 6 months for QAR 200 each) is usually approved in 1 to 5 days. Because Indian passport holders already enter visa-free for 30 days, the family visit visa matters for stays longer than 60 days, for elderly parents and for relatives who may not meet the waiver conditions; visitors staying over a month need a medical test for extensions, and sponsors generally need a salary of QAR 5,000 or more and a profession that permits sponsorship.
6 min read Verified 30 October 2026 against mofa.gov.qa · How we verify
Qatar family visit visa: quick answers
- Who can sponsor a family visit visa in Qatar?
- A resident with a valid QID, a monthly salary of about QAR 5,000 or more (many service centres accept lower salaries for spouses and children) and a profession on the list permitted to sponsor visits, inviting a spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, siblings and in some cases siblings' spouses and children. The relationship is proved with the marriage or birth certificate attested by the Indian MEA and the Qatar Embassy, or with a family book extract. Visitors staying beyond 1 month complete a medical test at the Medical Commission before each extension.
- What does it cost?
- QAR 200 (about INR 4,600) for the initial 1-month visa, QAR 200 for each monthly extension up to 6 months, plus the visitor health insurance (QAR 50 per 30 days) and the Medical Commission test (QAR 100 to 300) for extensions; parents over 60 may be asked for additional health insurance. Attestation of marriage and birth certificates costs INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document. Vistolane charges the QAR 200 fee at the official rate and shows attestation and insurance separately.
- How long does it take?
- Metrash2 approvals arrive in 1 to 5 days; applications through a service centre take a similar time. The visitor then enters within the visa's validity (usually 3 months from issue), and extensions are processed the same day online once the medical is cleared. Apply 2 to 3 weeks before the planned arrival.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Family visit visa, 1 month, extendable monthly to 6 months |
| Government fee | QAR 200 initial; QAR 200 per monthly extension |
| Processing | 1 to 5 days on Metrash2 or at an MOI service centre |
| Sponsor | Resident with a valid QID, about QAR 5,000 salary and an eligible profession |
| Relatives | Spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, siblings |
| Medical | Medical Commission test before extensions beyond 1 month |
| Visa-free alternative | Indian passport holders may instead enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable by 30 |
| Verified | 30 Oct 2026 against portal.moi.gov.qa |
Family visit visa or the visa waiver: which to use
| Option | Who | Fee | Stay | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa waiver on arrival | Any Indian visitor meeting the ticket, hotel or host and passport conditions | Free | 30 days + 30 extension | Short visits; relatives staying with the resident (host address accepted) |
| Family visit visa | Relatives invited by a resident on Metrash2 | QAR 200 + QAR 200 per extension | 1 month, extendable to 6 | Parents and in-laws on long stays; relatives needing a sponsor |
| Family residence visa | Spouse and children of residents earning QAR 10,000 (QAR 6,000 with housing) | QAR 200 entry + QAR 500 a year QID | Residence | Families moving permanently; see the Qatar family residence route page |
The visit visa is applied for by the resident, not the traveller, and approvals depend on the sponsor's QID status, salary and profession; some professions (labourers, drivers, some technicians) cannot sponsor visits even for parents. Extensions beyond the first month require the visitor's Medical Commission test (blood test and X-ray) and the renewal fee, and the total stay cannot exceed 6 months in a year on this visa.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Family visit visa, 1 month | QAR 200 | Paid on Metrash2 or at the service centre |
| Monthly extension | QAR 200 | Up to 6 months total |
| Visitor health insurance | QAR 50 per 30 days | Mandatory on entry |
| Medical Commission test | QAR 100 to 300 | Before extensions |
| Attestation of marriage or birth certificate | INR 2,000 to 5,000 per document | MEA and Qatar Embassy in New Delhi |
| Overstay fine | QAR 200 a day | Leave or extend in time |
Vistolane charges the QAR 200 fee at the official rate and shows attestation, insurance and medical costs separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Attest the relationship document
Marriage or birth certificate attested by the MEA and the Qatar Embassy in New Delhi; translation to Arabic if requested.
- 2
Resident applies on Metrash2
Relative's passport copy and photo, attested document, sponsor's QID and salary certificate; pay QAR 200.
- 3
Approval in 1 to 5 days
Visa PDF issued; valid for entry within about 3 months.
- 4
Relative travels
Enter at Hamad International Airport with the visa, passport valid 6 months and health insurance.
- 5
Extend monthly if needed
Medical Commission test, then QAR 200 extension on Metrash2 before each month ends; leave by month 6.
Timeline for an Indian family
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Attestation | 1 to 3 weeks | MEA and Qatar Embassy |
| Metrash2 approval | 1 to 5 days | Visa PDF |
| Entry | Within about 3 months of issue | 1-month stay starts |
| Extensions | Same day online after the medical | Up to 6 months |
Parents coming for a birth or Ramadan should have the attestation done well ahead; the medical slot is the step that delays extensions.
During the visit
Visitors may not work or study; parents on long visits should hold travel insurance beyond the basic visitor policy because public healthcare for visitors is charged. A spouse or child who will stay permanently converts to the family residence visa when the sponsor meets the QAR 10,000 (or QAR 6,000 with housing) salary rule, which can be done inside Qatar without exit; the Qatar family residence route page covers the documents. Leaving before the visa expires avoids the QAR 200 a day overstay fine.
Document checklist: relative
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 6 months | Colour copy for Metrash2 |
| Photo, white background | Digital |
| Visitor health insurance | QAR 50 per 30 days |
| Return ticket | Within the visa or planned extension |
Sponsor
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Valid QID | Profession permitting sponsorship |
| Salary certificate or Wage Protection statement | About QAR 5,000 or more |
| Attested marriage or birth certificate | Proof of relationship; Arabic translation if asked |
| Tenancy contract | Accommodation for the visitor |
Extensions
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Medical Commission test result | Before each extension beyond 1 month |
| QAR 200 per month | Metrash2 |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Sponsor's profession not eligible
QID title does not permit sponsoring visitors.
The fix. Use the visa waiver on arrival for stays up to 60 days, or ask the employer to amend the profession.
Salary below the threshold
Sponsor earns under about QAR 5,000.
The fix. Provide the Wage Protection statement; spouses and children are treated more flexibly.
Relationship not proven
Certificate unattested or names inconsistent with passports.
The fix. Attest through the MEA and Qatar Embassy; align spellings.
Medical not completed
Extension requested without the Medical Commission test.
The fix. Book the test 2 weeks before the month ends.
Previous overstay
Visitor fined on an earlier stay.
The fix. Settle fines before applying.
Official sources
Qatar family visit visa questions
Other Qatar routes
Visit Qatar
Visa-free entry and Hayya
Free: Indian passport holders enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable by 30 (Hayya A1 entry permit QAR 100 only where it applies)
Read the route
Work in Qatar
Work visa and residence permit (QID)
QAR 200 work entry visa paid by the employer; residence permit issuance QAR 500 and work permit QAR 100 a year, also employer-paid
Read the route
Bring your family to Qatar
Family residence visa (dependant QID)
QAR 200 entry visa per family member; dependant residence permit about QAR 500 a year each; sponsor salary QAR 10,000 (QAR 6,000 with housing)
Read the route