Student Visa in Qatar Requirements

Being a student in Qatar is surely going to be an enriching experience. International students have to apply for student visa in Qatar to be able to pursue their education from there.

The universities in Qatar have an enrollment rate of 17.87% in higher education every year. Qatar is a sovereign country in Southwest Asia which is known for its great oil and gas reserves. To pursue education in Qatar, a student visa in Qatar is mandatory.

Studying abroad in Qatar might be an intriguing option for students who speak Arabic or wish to get better at it. Nonetheless, because of its numerous connections with American colleges, Qatar has been welcoming a large number of international students and providing a wide range of English-taught program options. 

For many young people worldwide, the prospect of studying abroad for a semester or finishing a program is immensely alluring. However, obtaining knowledge about the process of applying for a student visa is a prerequisite for anyone intending to study abroad. Additionally, Qatar Airways student discount make it feasible for international students. 

Key Takeaways:

• International students who wish to study in Qatar have to apply for a student visa in Qatar. 
• The documents for a Student visa in Qatar include a copy of a screenshot of the application summary page along with a copy of the passport, proof of financial documents, etc.
• Students can apply for a Qatar student visa through online facilities or apply for the same in the Embassy.
• To be eligible for a student visa in Qatar, students have to apply for graduate programs, self-funded programs, or scholarships.
• There are two types of student visas for Qatar which are a short-term stay visa and a long-term stay visa. 
• There are over 2 foreign consulates and 59 embassies throughout the world. 
• Usually, it takes about 7-10 working days for the visa to be processed after application. 
• Students do not require an IELTS language test to apply to universities in Qatar. However, submitting the score could help in the visa application process.
• Students in Qatar work up to 20 hours a week. However, they cannot work off-campus. 

What are the documents required for a Student visa in Qatar?

Before a student starts the student visa application process, they are required to check the following documents and ensure they are complied with properly:

1. A screenshot of the web application summary page of the applied university.
2. A copy of the applicant’s passport which is valid for a minimum of one year. The pages are required to have the student’s name, date of birth, and expiry date of the passport. 
3. A financial scholarship declaration to bear the costs of studying at the university. The sponsor must be a third party and the students are not allowed to sponsor for themselves. 
4. A copy of the passport of the financial sponsor. 
5. Financial supporting documents: These documents should prove the financial capacity of the sponsor to take care of the living and studying expenses of the student during thier tenure of the course.
   • If the financial sponsor is a resident of Qatar, the applicant should submit a bank guarantee which is issued by a local bank in favor of the university. 
   • The applicant must provide the financial sponsor’s bank account statement for the six months previous to submitting the visa request if the financial sponsor is not based in Qatar. The bank account statement, which must only be in English or Arabic, must demonstrate the sponsor’s consistent ability to cover the student’s living and educational costs while they are enrolled in university courses.
6. The student should submit a health evaluation form which should be signed by a medical physician and stamped by the medical clinic or hospital in the student’s country of residence. 
7. A certificate of ‘good conduct’ should be issued by the authorities from the country of residence of the student. 
8. For undergraduate students, parents or guardians should submit a consent letter and obtain a residence permit under the university’s sponsorship. 

What is the process for applying for Qatar Study Visa?

There are two ways to apply for a Qatar study visa as an international student. The first one is to apply at the Embassy in person. The second one is by applying online. 

1. Applying online:

• The first step is to receive an admission letter from the university for which students have to fulfill the admission criteria of the specific university.
• Next, the students have to correctly fill out online applications on the portal. They can click on the admission icon on the dashboard and click on the student visa link.
• After thoroughly going through the instructions, students can start uploading various documents which include the health evaluation forms, affidavit of financial sponsor, etc. 
• Students can easily track the progress of the applications by visiting the Ministry of Interior Qatar website. They have to enter their application number and date to confirm the status of their visa application.
• After this, students have to wait for the visa process which could take around a month. There is no fee charged for this specific application.  

2. Applying in-person and Qatar Embassy:

• After receiving an acceptance letter from the university, students have to visit the nearest Embassy of Consulate or Qatar in their home country. 
• Students will then have to fill out a visa application form to which all the necessary documents will be attached. In this process, students are required to pay visa fees. 
• After completing the application, the officials will start processing the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet the requirements.
• The application process could take a few days and the Embassy will notify the student to come and collect the student visa application.

Eligibility criteria for Student Visa in Qatar:

International students who do not have a valid residence permit in the state of Qatar should belong to one of the categories to be considered for admission to a university in Qatar:

1. Graduate studies applicants: 

This category is for Master’s and Ph.D. students. There aren’t any scholarships available for graduate students applying for Master’s & PhD programs. Within the deadline for overseas graduate applicants, they must apply online for a student visa from the university and upload the necessary paperwork.

2. Self-funded students: 

Prospective international students for undergraduate/Arabic studies who wish to study for themselves must apply online for a student visa from a Qatari university and submit the necessary paperwork during the same admissions period as other foreign applicants.

3. Scholarship applicants: 

This category is for undergraduate students only. The visa application does not need to be completed by international prospective students who are applying for academic scholarships and intend to attend a university only after receiving a scholarship from the university. For recipients of scholarships, the International Admissions and Scholarships Section will make arrangements for a student visa. 

Types of student visas in Qatar:

A student visa is a temporary visa which is issued to students who wish to pursue education at Qatar universities. The visa is often valid for the entire duration of the course. The student visa in Qatar is further divided into two subcategories. They are:

1. Short-term stay visa:

A short-term visa is issued for stays which are for about 90 days of duration. The applicant should inform the time frame of the study during the visa application process. 

International students should further apply for a tourist visa if they want to continue their educational course in Qatar. The Ministry of Interior handles the visa procedures in Qatar.

2. Long-term stay visa:

The applicants have to apply for a long-term stay visa in Qatar if the duration of their stay is more than 90 days. These visas are further divided into investor visas, Qatar family visas, and education residence visas. 

A long-term stay visa is required for students who wish to enroll in Master’s or Ph.D programs at Qatar universities. Additionally, international students should also apply for a residence permit visa after getting selected in a university. 

Qatar embassies and consulate for students:

The Qatar Embassy Worldwide page lists the Qatar Consulates and Embassies that are present all over the world. These embassies issue student visas in Qatar for international students. 

Overall, there are about 2 foreign consulates and 59 embassies in the territory of Qatar. Students can easily connect with their nearest Qatar Consulate or Embassy and get detailed information and contact details about the process and the visa. 

What is the processing time for a Student Visa for Qatar?

Students who do not have a Qatar residence permit are required to apply for a Qatar permit visa. This application excludes the GCC citizens. Additionally, students can apply for this online and the processing time for this is around 72 hours.

All Qatar visas take a processing time of 7-10 working days after the visa fee is submitted. The processing period for short-stay visa holders is about 2 weeks.

For a long-term visa, the duration time is around 3 months.

Is IELTS required for a Student visa in Qatar?

The IELTS language test is an optional submission for international students. However, bear in mind that an IELTS test will support the visa application massively. In case a student scores a 5.5 band or above, they should submit the original IELTS language certificate through the post office. 

Can students work in Qatar while on a student visa?

Numerous colleges have programs for student employment. They’re made to assist students in obtaining practical work experience while they’re in school. The majority of students can work up to 20 hours a week in these programs. 

However, international students using a student visa are not permitted to work off campus. Obtaining a separate work visa for this can be challenging.

What are some of the common interview questions for a Qatar student visa?

Some of the most common questions that international students have to face during their visa interviews include:

1. What is the purpose of going to Qatar?
2. Have you already searched for opportunities in your home country?
3. Where is the university in Qatar?
4. Who is your sponsor? What is your relationship with them?
5. What is the structure of the course?
6. What course are you going to undertake at the university?
7. Why did you choose university and subject in particular?
8. How will this course help your career?
9. How did you find this university?
10. What are your plans after the course is done?
11. Where will you be staying and how much does it cost?
12. Did you complete the examination and test arranged by the university?
13. Who are you in contact with at the university?
14. Where will you stay in Qatar?

How to get a residence permit for international students in Qatar?

Within two weeks of entry to Qatar, applicants will have to physically submit the following documents:

• Original passport
• Three passport-sized photographs
• Copy of document which shows the blood type

Students will have to complete a blood examination and get new passport-sized photos during the New Student Orientation program. 

Once the residence permit application is initiated, the student will be scheduled for medical tests for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and fingerprinting at the Ministry of Interior. 

The process takes around 3-6 weeks to get done with and during this period, students cannot leave Qatar. 

What is the cost of studying in Qatar?

Studying in Qatar will often be less expensive than studying at home. Undergraduate course expenses in Qatar range from QAR800 to QAR1,000 per credit hour. The College of Medicine is an exception. The cost of a credit hour is QAR 1,000–2,000 here.

The average tuition cost for graduate students is QAR2,000 per credit hour. Typically, fees are paid online using safe university portals. International students can also use bank transfers to pay their fees. It makes sense to open your bank account in Qatar for this reason.

You should factor in the additional expenses of textbooks and housing when studying in Qatar, as these might add up quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion:

There are 45 bachelor’s degrees available from Qatar University in a variety of fields. The school offers four PhD programs and 25 master’s programs for graduate students. 

Furthermore, students have the choice to pursue a PharmD or four diploma courses. This makes Qatar one of the most popular destinations among students.