Immigration

Qatar | New self-sponsored 10-year visas open for certain categories

Summary

Qatar has introduced a new 10-year residency program for executives and entrepreneurs that represents a significant leap from traditional sponsorship models aimed at securing long-term global talent.

The detail

Following an initial announcement in 2024, Qatar has introduced a renewable 10-year residence permit designed for high-level corporate leaders and innovative business founders. With hallmarks of the Golden Visa in the UAE and Premium Residency in Saudi Arabia, this initiative allows eligible foreign nationals to live and work in Qatar with self-sponsored status, removing the need for a traditional local employer sponsor. It serves as a key pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030, aiming to foster a knowledge-based economy and position the country as a leading regional hub for investment and innovation.

The residency is divided into two distinct categories, each with its own set of high-tier requirements:

Feature	Executive category	Entrepreneur category
Primary targets	High-level corporate leaders (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CTO, COO) with a valid residency in Qatar	Innovative founders and business owners
Endorsement	Nomination by a registered employer	Official nomination/endorsement from an approved incubator (QFTH, QBIC, QSTP, Scale 7 or QDB)
Salary / financials	QAR 50,000+ (C-Suite) or QAR 80,000+ (Executive Directors)	QAR 36,500 minimum balance maintained over the last three months
Experience	At least five years in senior executive management	Proven track record in launching or expanding a business
Organisation type	Listed companies, recognised management/legal consultancies, banks and financial institutions licensed by the Qatar Central Bank, insurance companies licensed by the Qatar Central Bank or the Qatar Financial Markets Authority. A proof of a valid employment contract is required	Business model or investment plan with specific amounts
Key advantage	Professional stability and long-term residency	Access to Qatar’s Startup Qatar ecosystem and funding

What this means

This programme transforms the residency landscape in Qatar by offering stability and lifestyle benefits previously unavailable to most expatriates:

• Self-sponsorship: provides full professional independence, allowing executives to change roles or entrepreneurs to scale businesses without sponsorship-related At the time of writing it is not clear whether separate work authorisation is required if someone is on a 10-year residency, however, once known we will provide further updates.
• Family & domestic support: permits the sponsorship of spouses, children, parents, and domestic.
• Economic perks: grants eligibility for asset ownership and access to a merchant network offering discounts of up to 60% across various sectors.
• Investment ecosystem: entrepreneurs gain preferential access to Qatar’s growing $3 billion venture capital ecosystem and government-backed accelerators.

How we can help

To ensure your application for the 10-year residency is successful, we provide comprehensive end-to-end support through the following services:

• Strategic eligibility review: we perform a detailed audit of your professional background and business objectives to ensure they align perfectly with the benchmarks.
• End-to-end documentation: we manage the complex administrative requirements, including the international attestation of educational credentials, financial verification, and security clearances, ensuring your file is submitted without errors.
• Application management: we oversee the entire digital filing process via the government portal, tracking your application from initial submission to the final issuance of your residency.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner

Antoine Salloum
Senior Manager, Qatar Immigration Lead

Marilyn Serrao
Senior Associate, Middle East Immigration

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