14 November 2023
Immigration
Summary
Qatar’s General Directorate of Passports has recently implemented a change that requires evidence of school registration for dependent residence permit renewal applications, applicable for children between the age of 6 to 18.
The Detail
As per the latest Ministry of Interior rule, the renewal of a dependent residence permit for children between the age of 6 to 18, is now possible only if they are registered in a local school in Qatar, and by providing a proof of school registration.
The dependent residence permit renewal application is submitted through the Metrash2 application and can be processed if the child is enrolled in a local school. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education systems are linked and will enable authorities to identify whether or not a child is enrolled.
What this means
If a child is not enrolled in any school in Qatar, their renewal application may still be processed by visiting the Main Immigration department on an exceptional basis and therefore approval cannot be guaranteed.
It is important for employers to discuss this new rule with employees who have dependent children, to ensure that the requirements can be met at the time of renewal and/or expectations are met especially where children may have a Resident Permit but are not physically based in Qatar for the majority of time.
How we can help
We will continue to closely monitor and provide timely guidance on any new updates by the Ministry of Interior and highlight the impact of any changes that may follow.
Contact us
Should you have further questions on this update, please reach out to:
Anir Chatterji
Middle East Immigration Leader
anir.chatterji@vialto.com
Rekha Simpson
Director, Middle East Immigration
rekha.simpson@vialto.com
Marilyn Serrao
Senior Associate, Middle East Immigration
marilyn.serrao@vialto.com
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com