Guides for your move to Qatar

Practical guides for the move itself, your first months in Qatar, and what to sort out at home before you leave. Each one names its sources and the date we checked them.

Your move and your first months in Qatar

• Your first 72 hours in Qatar: From landing at Hamad International Airport to your first working days: getting into the city, a SIM, money, the medical and fingerprints, and the rules that catch new arrivals out.
• Qatar residence permit: the steps, in order: From job offer to Qatar ID: what happens, who does it, what it costs where we could confirm it, and what waits until you have it.
• Finding a home in Doha: areas, rents and your lease: What rent buys in each area, what to check before you sign, and the rules that protect you as a tenant.
• Healthcare in Qatar: your health number, insurance and seeing a doctor: How to register for public healthcare once you have your Qatar ID, what your employer’s insurance should cover, how to bring medicines, and what to do in an emergency.
• Getting around Doha: metro, buses, taxis and driving: How the metro, trams, buses and taxis work, what they cost, and what you need to drive in Qatar, from your first week to your Qatari licence.
• Starting your new job in Qatar: contracts, pay, leave and changing jobs: What Qatar’s Labour Law gives you and what to check in your contract: probation, hours, leave, when you are paid, your end of service gratuity, changing jobs and where to complain.
• Moving to Qatar with children: schools, fees and admissions: How private school admission works, what fees look like by curriculum, the documents to prepare, and the school rule tied to residence permits.

Moving from your home country

• Moving to Qatar from the UK: documents, tax, pensions and driving: What to sort out before you leave the UK: the current travel advice, legalising documents, telling HMRC, National Insurance, student loans, renting out your home, Child Benefit, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from the US: documents, taxes, Social Security and driving: What Americans should sort out before they leave: the current travel advisory, authenticating documents, filing US taxes from abroad, reporting foreign accounts, Social Security, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Canada: documents, tax, CPP and driving: What Canadians should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, authenticating documents, your tax residency, benefits, pensions, health cover, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Ireland: documents, tax, PRSI and driving: What Irish citizens should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, legalising documents, tax residence, renting out your home, PRSI, Child Benefit, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Australia: documents, tax, HELP debt and driving: What Australians should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, legalising documents, tax residency, HELP debt, Centrelink, Medicare, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from New Zealand: documents, tax, student loan and KiwiSaver: What New Zealanders should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, authenticating documents, tax residency, your student loan, KiwiSaver, Working for Families, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from India: emigration, attestation, NRI tax and licences: What Indian professionals should sort out before they leave: emigration clearance, the Qatar Visa Centre, attesting documents, NRI tax status, bank accounts, professional licensing, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Pakistan: emigrant protection, attestation, tax and licences: What Pakistani professionals should sort out before they leave: registering with the Protector of Emigrants, the Qatar Visa Centre, attesting documents, tax residence, banking from abroad, professional licensing and driving.
• Moving to Qatar from Bangladesh: emigration clearance, documents, tax and licences: What Bangladeshi professionals should sort out before they leave: BMET emigration clearance, documents for Qatar, tax residence, the tax treaty, professional licensing, family residence and driving.
• Moving to Qatar from France: documents, tax, social security and driving: What French citizens should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, consular registration, legalising documents, French tax when you move abroad, health and pension cover, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Germany: documents, tax, social security and driving: What German citizens should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, deregistering, legalising documents, German tax when you move abroad, health and pension cover, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Italy: documents, tax, social security and driving: What Italian citizens should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, AIRE registration, legalising documents, Italian tax residence, health and pension cover, driving and voting.
• Moving to Qatar from Spain: documents, tax, social security and driving: What Spanish citizens should sort out before they leave: the current travel advice, consular registration, legalising documents, Spanish tax residence, pension cover, driving and voting.