The legislation in Qatar is quite strict when it comes to citizenship, as such status can be obtained after living in this country for at least 25 years. There are other conditions imposed regarding Qatar citizenship that can be entirely explained by one of our specialists. Plus, our experts in company formation in Qatar can guide investors in establishing the business presence here, including for company relocation to Qatar,
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Conditions for getting citizenship in Qatar
Legal residents living in Qatar for at least 25 years without interruptions of more than 2 consecutive months in one year can apply for Qatari citizenship. The process is quite complex for non-Qatari citizens, however, they can be good candidates for such a status. We present you other citizenship conditions for Qatar in 2025 that you should pay attention to:
- Before applying for citizenship, one must apply for permanent residence and already live in the country for 5 years. Even so, the process might take a few years until is concluded.
- The authorities will solicit information about the job and income. Therefore, the Qatar citizenship application also depends on the type of employment you have.
- Another thing you should consider refers to the verification of debts if any. The authorities in Qatar can ask you if you have any debts before the citizenship application.
- Knowing the Arabic language is another requirement for Qatar citizenship, even if the English language is commonly spoken in this state.
Investor visa in Qatar – What are the main requirements?
Permanent residency can be obtained by foreigners in Qatar through the Golden Visa Programme, under certain conditions. Among these, the acquisition of a real estate property worth at least USD 200,000 is mandatory but considering that such a purchase must be made in specific areas.
It should be noted that the Qatari Ministry of Interior is in charge of foreigners who want to invest in Qatar in exchange for permanent residence. In terms of requirements, an investor visa in Qatar is granted if all the conditions as respected, such as having a Good Conduct Certificate, a health report that shows you passed the medical examination, a valid passport, a clear criminal record, and proof you paid the relevant fees. We remind you that our specialists can give appropriate information and support to foreigners interested in an investor visa or for details in setting up a company in Qatar.
Qatari citizenship – Key points
In the following lines you can discover some of the features of Qatari citizenship that you should take into account when you want to apply for this status:
- Qatari citizenship by birth – Children born in Qatar and having a Qatari father are considered Qatari citizens from the start. On the other hand, children born to foreign parents in Qatar do not automatically benefit from Qatari citizenship.
- Qatari citizenship by descent – It can be obtained if at least one parent is a citizen of Qatar. However, it does not apply if foreigners are married to Qatari nationals.
- Qatari citizenship by naturalization – People who prove that they have lived in Qatar for at least 25 years can apply for citizenship. There are a series of formalities and requirements that must be respected, among them, is knowledge of the official language. One of our immigration lawyers in Qatar can tell you more about this.
- Dual citizenship – We remind you that foreigners who obtain Qatari citizenship must give up their current one because dual citizenship is not accepted in Qatar.
Only a few persons receive citizenship in Qatar per year, even if naturalization is available for foreigners living in this country and even if the candidates have a Qatari mother. Recently, the Qatari authorities offered a fast citizenship process for Bahraini citizens interested in this status. Please explore this infographic and find out more details on this topic:
What checks do the authorities in Qatar do for foreign citizens who want to immigrate?
It is known that the authorities in Qatar carry out quite a lot of checks regarding foreign citizens who want to relocate to this country. In this sense, applicants for residency in Qatar and citizenships are required to have a clear criminal record, both outside and in Qatar. Practically, there should be no involvement in crimes in the country of origin, and not so much in Qatar. Also, applicants for residency or citizenship must provide proof of an employment contract and a salary, as part of the process. Medical certificates are also required, and to know the conditions better, it is important to contact our team of immigration lawyers in Qatar.
Is dual citizenship permitted in Qatar?
No, it is important to note that Qatar does not recognize dual citizenship. Please bear in mind that if you have another citizenship, the authorities have the power to revoke the Qatari citizenship. You can discuss more on this topic with our specialists.
You can discover this video presentation that explains how Qatari citizenship can be gained:
Losing the Qatari citizenship
Unfortunately, the Qatari legislation referring to foreigners is relatively strict, so it is best to ask for legal assistance and guidance if interested in permanent residence, investor visa in Qatar, or citizenship in Qatar. As an example, a person can lose Qatari citizenship if he/she decides to join military service in a foreign state or works in a country that does not have good political relations with Qatar.
The Qatari passport is powerful
According to the Guide Passport Ranking Index, the Qatari passport ranks 57th and it allows visa-free travel to 94 countries around the world. In other words, you can travel without restrictions or needing a visa. Even so, with these advantages, there are countries for which a visa is needed. If you would like to know more about the benefits of a Qatari passport in 2025 and about how to obtain one, please feel free to get in touch with our specialists.
About Qatar’s immigration and tourism
Qatar is an ideal destination for foreign citizens who want to live in a safe and prosperous country. On the other hand, the country welcomes millions of tourists each year. Let’s review some statistics about immigration to Qatar:
- About 7,803 per 1000 population is the current net migration rate for Qatar in 2025.
- About 8,233 per 1000 population was the net migration rate in Qatar for 2024.
- Qatar was visited by almost 4 million tourists in 2023.
- About 3,284 million tourists visited Qatar in 2024.
- It is estimated that there will be around 4.9 million tourists in Qatar in 2025.
- Qatar allows visa-free entry to the country for citizens of 102 countries.
We have a dedicated team of company formation agents in Qatar who can help foreign entrepreneurs open a company in Qatar in 2025 by handling all the formalities implicated in the process. If you are interested in company incorporation in Qatar and want to benefit from a good start on the market, you can also opt for the services offered by our accountants in Qatar. Feel free to contact our company formation agents in Qatar who can also help foreigners start a business in this country at affordable prices.