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Qatar

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At a glance

Living index rating
Expensive
Monthly rent
QAR 1,500 – QAR 3,000 in university housing; QAR 2,500 – QAR 5,500 private shared housing
Monthly food
QAR 1,000 – QAR 1,800
Other monthly expenses
QAR 600 – QAR 1,200 (transport, phone, personal)
Visa processing time
About 6 – 12 weeks from admission to entry permit
Family allowed for students
No

Visa requirements

  • Student entry visa and Residence Permit (Qatar ID), sponsored by your university after admission
  • The entry visa must be converted into a residence permit within about a month of arriving
  • Medical examination (Medical Commission) and fingerprinting after arrival
  • Passport, photos, academic certificates and university paperwork
  • Part-time work only with authorisation from your university and the Ministry of Labour

Work permit after studies

  • No post-study work visa
  • Graduates need a job offer and an employer-sponsored work visa and residence permit; Qatar University and Education City graduates often find sponsoring employers

Citizenship route

  • No realistic route to citizenship for most foreigners (naturalisation requires about 25 years of residence and is very rare)
  • A limited permanent residency card exists for certain categories, e.g. children of Qatari mothers or people with exceptional services

Family details

  • University-sponsored students generally can't sponsor a spouse or children
  • Students whose parents live in Qatar can instead be sponsored by their family
  • Relatives can visit on visit visas

Universities in Qatar

Top-ranked

All other universities and colleges (22), A–Z

This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.