Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 16 January 2024.
In Qatar, transferring a female’s visa from her father’s sponsorship to husband’s sponsorship is an important process that many couples pass through after their marriage.
Changing sponsorship from father to husband involves specific steps and paperwork, which can be difficult to navigate. Nowadays the process is much easier as this service is available on the Metrash2 mobile app.
This article lists the documents required and step-by-step procedure to successfully transfer from father to husband sponsorship. By following this guide, you can transition your sponsorship smoothly and efficiently.
Table Of Contents
- Why Transfer From Father To Husband Sponsorship
- Documents Required For Transfer
- Steps To Transfer To Husband Sponsorship
- Changing Family Sponsor Offline
- Changing Sponsorship For Other Family Members
Gharaffa Immigration Shifting
Qatar’s Nationality and Travel Documents Department has shifted from Gharaffa to a new headquarters in Duhail. Here is everything about the new Wadi Al Banat – Al Duhail Immigration Office, including location and timing.
Why Transfer From Father To Husband Sponsorship
In Qatar, just like in many other Gulf countries, there is a system in place where expatriates are sponsored by an employer or an eligible family member.
Expatriate single women who are not sponsored by any employer are usually sponsored by their father or mother (assuming the parent is working in Qatar). However, when a woman gets married, her sponsorship needs to be transferred from her father to her husband. This is because expatriates are not allowed to sponsor their married daughters.
Therefore, it is necessary to follow the proper procedures to change wife’s sponsorship to her husband in order to comply with the regulations in Qatar.
Documents Required For Transfer
The following documents are required for transfer from father to husband sponsorship:
1. Husband’s salary certificate
This certificate should be obtained from husband’s employer.
Note that the husband will need a reasonably good salary get approval. Currently private sector employees with salaries less than QR 15,000 are not getting approval for family sponsorship. If your salary is less than this please check with MOI in advance before applying for a change of sponsorship.
2. Bank statements for salary credit
It is advisable to provide a bank statement covering at least three months, although six months is recommended for extra assurance. You can request your bank to issue a statement with only the salary credit, so that it fits on one page and is easy to upload online.
3. Husband’s education certificates
If the degree was obtained from a foreign country, it should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for employment purposes.
4. Marriage certificate
If you were married in Qatar, obtaining a marriage certificate should be relatively straightforward. However, if your marriage certificate is from another country, you will need to get it attested by your embassy in Qatar, and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar. If required you can approach any attestation service provider in Qatar.
If the certificate is not in English or Arabic, if should be translated through a certified translator.
Steps To Transfer To Husband Sponsorship
Here is the step-by-step process to change sponsorship:
Step 1: Get NOC from father
If the wife is under father’s sponsorship, you will need the NOC from her father.
Getting an NOC can be done through the father’s Metrash2 mobile app.
- Log in to father’s Metrash2 app
- Go to “Visa Services”
- Select “Issue Sponsor Approval”
- Choose “Sponsor Approval for QID”
- For the “Type of NOC”, select “Change to New Employer”
- The process will be done immediately online.
Step 2: Apply for employer change on Metrash
The following steps should be done on the husband’s Metrash2 mobile app.
- Log in to Metrash2 app
- Go to “Residency Services”
- Select “Employer Change”
- Select “Apply for Employer Change”
- Choose type of application “Personal”
- Enter your spouse’s QID (Qatar ID number)
Step 3: Upload the required documents
You can upload the documents from your phone’s photo gallery. Ensure that the documents are in JPEG format.
Once uploaded, your application will be marked as “Under Process”.
To follow up your application: Follow the previous steps, and then click on “Follow up Resident Personal Application”. Choose the type of application as “Personal” and a list of your requests will appear to you with the status of each request.
Step 4: Approval from MOI
If everything is in order, you will receive a text message confirming your application approval. It usually takes between one and two weeks.
If you do not receive a response within two weeks, you can visit the Wadi Al Banat (Al Duhail) Immigration office for follow-up. They will assist you further and may request additional documents if necessary. The process is usually completed within a week from this stage.
Step 5: Pay the transfer fee
After receiving the approval message, log back in to Metrash2.
- Go to “Residency Services”
- Select “Consume Change Sponsorship Approvals”
- You will be prompted to pay the change of sponsorship fee. This can be securely paid through the app using a Credit or Debit card.
Step 6: Printing new Qatar ID
Once the fee is paid, you will receive a message confirming that the process is complete.
You have the option to pay an additional QR 20 to have the new Qatar ID delivered to your house via Q-Post. Alternatively, you can choose to collect it in person from any of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Service Centers.
Changing Family Sponsor Offline
The process of transfer from father to husband sponsorship can also be done offline by applying through MOI Service Center. However it can be complicated and requires additional documents such as a printed application form, NOC, etc.
Nowadays, the Ministry of Interior also advises everyone to apply online using Metrash to simplify the process.
Changing Sponsorship For Other Family Members
The same process on Metrash can be used to transfer other family members’ sponsorship to another family sponsor (such as changing children’s sponsorship to spouse if eligible).
READ NEXT: How Expatriates in Qatar Can Change Job Without NOC
Related Articles:
- Qatar Family Residence Visa Requirement and Process
- Medical Test For Family Residence Visa in Qatar
- Qatar Family Visit Visa: Requirements and Application Guide
- How To Get On Arrival Visa for Baby Born Outside Qatar
- Change Family Visit Visa To Family Residence Visa
Copyright © DohaGuides.com – Full or partial reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited.
References: Hukoomi
Share This With Someone Who Needs It
