Qatar approves law on permanent residency card for foreigners, as part of a number of laws that aim to facilitate & attract foreign investments, with list of competitive privileges, allowing non-Qatari investors to invest %100 capital in economic sectors.
Law No. 10 of the year 2018, pertaining to the issue of permanent residency is now in effect and will soon be published in the official gazette. The Permanent residency is capped to 100 applicants per year and requires 20 years of living in the country for foreigners eligible to become permanent residents.
According to the new law, foreign expatriates in the country are eligible to apply for permanent residency provided they satisfy the following few criteria.
- Candidates born outside Qatar, he/she should have completed 20 years of stay in the country on a legal ordinary residency permit. The duration of residency should be consecutive and prior to the date of submission of the application for permanent residency permit.
- The residency of an applicant in the county should not be interrupted by staying outside Qatar for more than 60 days in a year. The duration of stay out of the country will be deducted from the balance of the residency in Qatar. If an applicant left Qatar after applying for permanent residency permit for more than six months in a row, the Minister of Interior has the right to disqualify his previous residency duration in the country.
- The applicant should have enough income to cover expenditures of both him and his family. A cabinet decision will specify the minimum income of the applicant and exceptional cases.
- The applicant should be of good behaviour and reputation and he/she should not have previously been convicted of a dishonourable offence unless he has been rehabilitated in accordance with the law.
- The applicant should have enough knowledge of the Arabic language.
- Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior will establish a committee called The Committee for the Granting of Permanent Residency, which will deal with the applications.
- The Permanent Residency grant will not exceed 100 persons per year. This number can however be altered with the permission of HH The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
- Taking into account the provisions of Law No. 21 for the year 2015, a person who is granted permanent residency can leave the country and come back without the need for permission to do so.
- The holder of the permanent residency card may receive medical treatment or education in government institutions, in accordance with conditions issued by the Ministry.
- The spouse of the card holder and their children (under 18 years) can obtain all the benefits of residency, healthcare, and education.
- The PR card holders can invest in national economy sectors without the need for a Qatari partner. A permanent residency card holder can own property and real estate in Qatar.
Read more here
