Can Children Travel to Qatar on a Family Visit Visa?

                    ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
                    │       Can Children Travel on a Visit Visa?       │
                    │       YES — Under the Following Conditions:      │
                    └─────────────────────────┬────────────────────────┘
                                              │
         ┌────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────┐
         ▼                                    ▼                                    ▼
┌─────────────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────────────┐
│  PASSPORT INDEPENDENCE  │      │  ATTESTED CERTIFICATE   │      │ PARENTAL CONSENT / NOC  │
│ Child MUST hold their  │      │ Birth certificate       │      │ Required if traveling   │
│ own individual machine-│      │ attested by MoFA of     │      │ with one parent or      │
│ readable passport.     │      │ both countries.         │      │ an authorized guardian. │
└─────────────────────────┘      └─────────────────────────┘      └─────────────────────────┘

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsoring Children

An expatriate residing in Qatar can sponsor their biological children for a Family Visit Visa under specific rules:

1. Age Limits: Children can be sponsored up to the age of legal majority (18 years). Male children over 18 can still be sponsored under adult visit provisions, provided the father or mother meets higher salary criteria and supplies explanatory verification. Unmarried daughters can be sponsored across wider age brackets under established family reunification rules.
2. Parental Employment & Salary Threshold: The sponsoring parent must possess a valid Qatar ID (QID) showing a recognized technical or professional designation. Laborer or semi-skilled work categories cannot issue visit visas for dependents. The sponsor’s monthly salary, reflected via WPS, should be at least QAR 5,000–6,000.
3. Proof of Adequate Housing: The sponsor must show registered housing suitable for minor dependents, proven through an officially attested Ministry of Municipality (Baladiya) lease or an employer-issued housing allotment letter.

Documentation and Attestation Requirements

Immigration departments across the GCC apply strict document checks to verify legal parenthood and protect minors from child trafficking and international custody disputes.

   ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │                 BIRTH CERTIFICATE ATTESTATION PIPELINE                 │
   └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                                      │
                                      ▼
             Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Home Country
                                      │
                                      ▼
             Embassy of the State of Qatar in Origin Nation
                                      │
                                      ▼
             Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) inside Qatar

1. The Child’s Passport

• The child must possess their own separate, machine-readable passport. Endorsements where a child is simply listed inside a parent’s passport are not accepted by Qatar immigration or international carriers operating to Hamad International Airport (HIA).
• The passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from the projected date of departure for Doha.

2. Attested Birth Certificate

To prove the relationship, you must provide a clean copy of the child’s birth certificate naming both parents. For the initial electronic application via Metrash2, a clear, high-resolution color scan is required.

However, upon arrival or during any mandatory extension past 30 days, the physical document must be fully legalized:

1. Attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in the child’s country of birth.
2. Attested by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in that country.
3. Authenticated upon arrival by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) within Qatar.
4. If the original certificate is issued in any language other than Arabic or English, an official, sworn translation must be bound to the attested copy.

Traveling Configurations: Both Parents, One Parent, or Unaccompanied

Clear distinctions must be made between Qatar Immigration legal mandates and airline boarding conditions (such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, or British Airways policies).

                             Who is Accompanying the Child?
                                         │
             ┌───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┐
             ▼                           ▼                           ▼
       Both Parents                 One Parent              Third-Party Relative
             │                           │                     or Airline Escort
             │                           │                           │
             ▼                           ▼                           ▼
     ┌──────────────────┐       ┌──────────────────┐       ┌──────────────────┐
     │ Standard entry;  │       │ NOC / Consent    │       │ Unaccompanied    │
     │ verified with    │       │ Letter from non- │       │ Minor (UM) form; │
     │ matching birth   │       │ traveling parent │       │ Notarized parent │
     │ certificate.     │       │ recommended.    │       │ legal consent.   │
     └──────────────────┘       └──────────────────┘       └──────────────────┘

Scenario 1: Child Traveling with Both Parents

This is the simplest entry scenario. Present the child’s valid visa printout, individual passport, and carry the original attested birth certificate to clear passport control desks at Hamad International Airport.

Scenario 2: Child Traveling with One Parent (Father or Mother Alone)

When a child travels with only one parent, issues can arise regarding international custody and parental kidnapping prevention laws.

• Qatar MOI Immigration Stance: As long as the child holds an approved Family Visit Visa linked directly to the sponsoring parent residing in Qatar, MOI border officials will typically clear the minor.
• Airline & Departure Border Regulations: Many departure jurisdictions (such as India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and the United States) strictly enforce parental consent protocols. Airlines routinely deny boarding if a lone parent cannot produce a Notarized Consent Affidavit / No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the non-traveling parent, along with a certified copy of the absent parent’s passport and signature page.

Scenario 3: Traveling with an Extended Relative (Grandparents, Aunt/Uncle)

If a minor travels under the supervision of an extended relative:

• The child cannot be sponsored directly by an aunt or uncle unless that relative holds full legal guardianship certified by a court.
• The parents (who sponsored the child) must execute an Unaccompanied Minor Form or Designated Guardian Escort Authorization. The escort must carry an original notarized affidavit from both biological parents authorizing the trip, accompanied by full parental passport scans and certified birth documentation.

Step-by-Step Metrash2 Application for Children

The process to apply for a child’s visit visa on the Metrash2 app is as follows:

1. Open Metrash2: Log into the application using your smart card or credentials.
2. Navigate to Visa Services: Select Visa > Issue Visa > Family Visit Visa.
3. Dependent Classification: Select “Son” or “Daughter” from the relational drop-down menu.
4. Data Population: Enter the child’s passport details, date of birth, nationality, and legal identity information precisely as shown on their machine-readable passport zone.
5. Document Uploads:
   • Child’s passport personal detail page.
   • Child’s official birth certificate (showing parentage).
   • Marriage certificate of the parents.
   • Sponsor’s active tenancy contract.
   • Sponsor’s employment contract/salary certification.
6. Review and Verification: Review the entered information and submit the application.
7. Processing & Notification: Approval typically takes between two to seven business days. The status can be tracked under Application Inquiries.
8. Payment: Once approved, pay the QAR 200 issuance fee through the app.
9. Insurance Purchase: Access the MOPH Health Insurance Portal to select a plan covering the initial 30-day window for QAR 50. The visa is officially released for entry once insurance registration is verified.

Health Insurance and Medical Commission Policies for Minors

Health coverage and medical screening rules differ significantly for children compared to adults:

When the initial 30-day period expires, parents can extend the child’s visa directly through Metrash2 by simply purchasing another month of insurance and paying the QAR 200 extension fee, without taking the minor to a medical facility.

Comprehensive Child Travel Checklist

Before arriving at the airport for departure to Doha, ensure you have the following documents:

Common Mistakes Parents Make

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)