State of Qatar · residence general · Leads to settlement
Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 1 official citation reconfirmed 11 July 2026
A distinct permanent-residence status created by Law No. 10 of 2018 and granted by a dedicated Ministry of Interior committee. It is not Qatari citizenship.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - decisions are made by the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee and approved by the Minister of Interior. Verify via the MOI Permanent Residency pages.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - confirm any applicable fees via the official MOI Permanent Residency pages.
- Typical duration
- Permanent status (subject to the law and committee conditions); a distinct status, not citizenship.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 9 July 2026, the Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018) for State of Qatar is an unsponsored Qatar immigration route. Sources: official State of Qatar government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/qatar/permanent-residency#answer
What is the Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018) in State of Qatar?
Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018) is an unsponsored Qatar route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - confirm any applicable fees via the official MOI Permanent Residency pages; indicative processing time is Indicative only - decisions are made by the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee and approved by the Minister of Interior. Verify via the MOI Permanent Residency pages; typical duration is Permanent status (subject to the law and committee conditions); a distinct status, not citizenship. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Ministry of Interior (Qatar) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
Permanent Residency in Qatar is a distinct legal status established by Law No. 10 of 2018, not a form of citizenship. Applications are handled by the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee within the Ministry of Interior, which carries out the procedures and submits recommendations to the Minister of Interior for final approval. Eligibility is checked individually through the MOI Permanent Residency Eligibility Inquiry tool. The law sets requirements around long legal residence in Qatar, sufficient income, good conduct, and adequate knowledge of Arabic, and the number of permits granted is limited. Holders gain enhanced rights compared with ordinary residence permits.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A qualifying period of legal residence in Qatar as set by Law No. 10 of 2018.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ✓Sufficient income to cover the applicant and their family.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ✓Good conduct, with no disqualifying criminal or morality charge.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ✓Adequate knowledge of the Arabic language.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
Common blockers
- !Insufficient legal-residence duration in Qatar to meet the statutory requirement.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- !A criminal or morality charge / conviction affecting good-conduct requirements.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- !Number of permits granted is limited, so eligibility does not guarantee a grant.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport and proof of legal-residence history in Qatar.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ·Evidence of sufficient income.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ·Good-conduct certificate.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
- ·Evidence of adequate Arabic-language knowledge as required.Ministry of Interior (Qatar) ↗
Application pathway
Check eligibility
Use the Ministry of Interior Permanent Residency Eligibility Inquiry tool to check whether you qualify.
Submit the application
Submit the application to the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee through the MOI Permanent Residency service.
Committee review
The Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee reviews the application against the requirements of Law No. 10 of 2018.
Ministerial approval
The committee submits its recommendation to the Minister of Interior, who gives final approval; the permanent residence card is then issued.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Permanent Residency (Law No. 10 of 2018).
Ministry of Interior (Qatar) · verified
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Work Residence Permit
The standard employer-sponsored residence permit for foreign nationals coming to work and live in Qatar. A Qatari employer applies and handles the paperwork.
Investor Residence Visa
A residence visa granted by the Ministry of Interior to foreign nationals coming to Qatar for investment, applied for through the Hukoomi portal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Qatar Permanent Residency the same as citizenship?+
No. Permanent Residency under Law No. 10 of 2018 is a distinct legal status, not Qatari citizenship. It is granted by the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee in the Ministry of Interior and gives enhanced rights compared with ordinary residence permits, but it does not confer nationality.
Who decides on Permanent Residency applications in Qatar?+
The Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee within the Ministry of Interior carries out the procedures and submits recommendations to the Minister of Interior, who gives final approval. Eligibility is assessed individually - use the MOI Permanent Residency Eligibility Inquiry tool and verify the current rules on the official MOI pages.
Do I need to learn Arabic to settle permanently in Qatar?+
Adequate knowledge of the Arabic language is one of the stated requirements for Permanent Residency under Law No. 10 of 2018, alongside a qualifying period of legal residence, sufficient income, and good conduct. Confirm the current requirement on the official MOI Permanent Residency pages.
If I meet all the requirements, am I guaranteed Qatar Permanent Residency?+
No. Even if you meet the criteria, a grant is not guaranteed: the number of permits is limited, and applications are reviewed by the Permanent Residence Card Granting Committee, which submits recommendations to the Minister of Interior for final approval. Check eligibility with the MOI Permanent Residency Eligibility Inquiry tool.
Can a foreign worker ever get permanent residency in Qatar?+
Yes. There is a distinct Permanent Residency status under Law No. 10 of 2018, separate from citizenship, that requires a qualifying period of legal residence, sufficient income, good conduct, and adequate knowledge of Arabic. The number of permits is limited, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee a grant; check eligibility with the MOI Permanent Residency Eligibility Inquiry tool.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in QatarHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Ministry of Interior (Qatar)
Last checked: 1 June 2026