Guide to Living, Visiting & Working in Qatar

What brings you to Qatar?

Pick what fits you and we’ll show what to do, in order.

I’m visiting
Visas, getting from the airport, getting around and everyday basics.
I just arrived
Your first weeks, from the airport to your Qatar ID, a home and your family.
I live here
Renewals, family, driving, home and work in one place.
I’m Qatari
Everyday government services for citizens and their families.
I’m a student
Universities, your student residence, getting settled and enjoying Qatar.
I’m looking for work
Find a job the right way, understand your offer and settle in.
I’m starting a business
Choose a setup route, register your company, open a bank account and get tax-ready.
I’m hiring
Bring people on board, pay them correctly and handle end of service.

Plan your move

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Essential guides

The services most people need first.

See all guides

Residence and ID
Getting your residence permit and Qatar ID after you arrive to work
You entered Qatar on a work visa. This guide explains how that visa becomes a residence permit (RP) and a Qatar ID card, and what you and your employer each need to do.

3 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Health
Getting and renewing a health card
How to register with your local health centre, get a health card for yourself and your children, renew it on time, and how this links to Qatar's mandatory health insurance.

3 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Driving and vehicles
Getting a Qatari driving licence
How to get your first Qatari driving licence, or swap a licence from another country for a Qatari one. It covers the eye test, driving school, the driving test and issuing the licence on Metrash.

3 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Family
Bringing your family to Qatar
How a working resident can sponsor a spouse and children to live in Qatar on a family residence visa, from checking eligibility to getting their residence permits.

3 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Getting around
Getting around Doha: metro, tram, buses and taxis
How to use Doha's public transport: the Doha Metro, the Lusail Tram, Karwa buses and free metrolink feeder buses, plus Karwa taxis and licensed ride-hailing apps.

4 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Housing
Renting a home in Qatar
The basics of renting a home: what the tenancy law says, how a lease gets registered with the Ministry of Municipality, what a landlord can ask as a deposit, and where to go if there is a dispute.

3 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Business and work
Registering a company in Qatar (mainland)
How to set up a mainland company in Qatar through the Single Window platform: reserving a trade name, getting a commercial registration (CR) and a commercial licence, and what comes next. It also points you to the separate Qatar Financial Centre and Qatar Free Zones routes.

4 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026
Work and employment
End-of-service gratuity under the Labour Law
Who is entitled to an end-of-service gratuity under Qatar's Labour Law, the legal minimum, which wage it is based on, when it is paid, and what to do if it is not paid.

4 min read Checked 3 Oct 2026

Explore and live in Qatar

Days out, food, shopping, sport, family time and more.

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Larry Johnson, CC BY 2.0

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Things to do
A short tour of popular places in Doha, from the Corniche and Souq Waqif to Katara, Lusail and Aspire Park, plus day trips to Al Khor, the mangroves, Al Zubarah and the Inland Sea, with how to reach each one.
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Museums and culture
An overview of the main museums, galleries and heritage sites in Qatar, with opening hours as published by Qatar Museums, how tickets work, how to get there and what to wear.
LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Beaches and desert
Ralf Steinberger, CC BY 2.0

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Food and dining
Zairon, CC BY 4.0

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Kids and family
Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0

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Sports and fitness
Kumarancs, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Events and holidays
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Shopping