Cancelling your Qatar Visa

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How to cancel your Qatar Visa

First, while we do our best to keep our visa section up-to-date, things can change rapidly. Your employer should be able to give you the most up-to-date information.

A Nightmare Process?

There are various nightmare stories about leaving Qatar, but most of these are related to company policy designed to ensure that you have no debt in Qatar (which the company then becomes responsible for.) However, actually cancelling your visa is a simple and straightforward process.

Visa Cancellation Process

First you'll need to collect the relevant form. You will need one for yourself and one for every person you sponsor. The form is in Arabic, but there are notes on the back in English. My sponsor gave me the form, but you can also get it from most typists.

Take the form to a typist (there are many dotted around the city) and get it completed in Arabic. When I did it the typist did not complete the section in English (Surname and Given Names). The typist told me that this was not necessary, and my sponsor later confirmed this.

Your form now needs to be signed and stamped by your employer. However, you need to sign the form for people you sponsor (wife, children etc)

When this has been done, proceed to the immigration in Madinat Khalifa. (According to Qatar Explorer you can also do this at the immigration department at the airport.) You need to enter gate 1 and approach the desk, explain you want to cancel your visa and take a ticket.

After your number comes up you approach the desk and then hand in the form, your identity card (and the identity card of anyone you sponsor) and your passport. Your identity card will be taken and not given back. The form you completed will be taken but you will be given the pink duplicate from the backside of the form. Make sure you hold on to this - your employer may need it.

The visa cancellation should be entered into the computer system, enabling you to leave the country without a problem. However, we advise taking a photocopy of the visa cancellation form in case of a computer error.

Leaving Qatar

You now have seven days to leave the country. If you exceed this period, you will face a fine of QAR10 for each day. (Occasionally, large employers may negotiate a longer period - my employer had negotiated a 15 grace period for employees to leave.)

Extra Info

According to Qatar Explorer you need to pay QAR20 to cancel your visa. My sponsor also told me I might need some money to pay for stamps. In the event I didn't need to pay anything, but this could be because I am a government employee.

The instructions in English tell you that you need photographs of yourself and the people you sponsor. I didn't need these, but it might be an idea to take some along just in case.

Try to clear all debt before you leave. I do know people who have managed to leave with debt, but this was arranged with the bank and the employer, and an upcoming bonus which would clear the debt. It is possible that if you do not clear your debt you may not be allowed to leave.

Related Visa Links

Qatar Visas: All the essential information,
Tourist Visa via QatarAirways
Qatar Visa Questions: On the Qatar Chatter Forum
Qatar Visa Forms (Qatar Embassy)
Doha International Airport: Comprehensive Guide