Summary
Qatar announced the launch of two new residence visa categories. These residence permits are valid for up to 10 years.
Elena Ruda, Chief Development Officer at Immigrant Invest, explained who can apply for the new visas.
The Government of Qatar introduced the new residence visas at Web Summit Qatar 2026. Foreign nationals can now obtain a residence status that allows them to extend their current stay or relocate to the country[1].
Who can obtain Qatar Golden Visa
Foreign entrepreneurs are granted a 10-year residence permit in Qatar with the possibility of renewal. Startup founders and entrepreneurs at the launch or business scaling stage can apply if their project is supported by an accredited Qatari business incubator[2].
Programme partners include QBIC, Scale7, Qatar FinTech Hub, and Qatar Science & Technology Park.
Key requirements:
- Letter from an accredited business incubator.
- Bank statement for the last 3 months showing a minimum balance of at least QAR 36,500, or €8,500.
Senior executives are granted a 10-year residence permit in Qatar if they already work in the country and meet the minimum salary requirements:
- QAR 50,000+, or €11,650+ per month, for a Chairperson of the Board or Chief Executive Officer;
- QAR 80,000+, or €18,680+ per month, for other senior positions.
A mandatory requirement is at least 5 years of management experience and a valid employment contract with a company listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange. These include banks, insurance, and consulting companies.
Benefits of the new residence visas in Qatar
Qatar residence visas allow applicants to change their employer or start their own business. Main applicants can sponsor close family members so they can also obtain residence permits.
Residence permit holders gain access to the Privilege Programme, which includes more than 320 partners and offers discounts of up to 60% on goods and services. This reduces living expenses in Qatar by around 20%.
Elena Ruda,
Chief Development Officer at Immigrant Invest
The new visa is aimed at foreign nationals who already live in Qatar or are planning to relocate.
Investors who want to invest in income-generating assets and obtain a residence permit may consider investment programmes in the European Union. In this case, work experience and education are not required, and relocating to the country is not mandatory.
Which EU countries grant residence permits by investment?
Residence by investment suits foreign nationals who want to travel across the Schengen Area without visas, provide their children with education in European schools and universities, diversify assets, and later obtain European Union citizenship by naturalisation.
Greece and Cyprus offer residence permits by real estate investment, while Portugal provides options linked to investment in funds or cultural projects. Malta has two main routes available: one for tax residents and another granting permanent status to investors.
Residence permits for foreigners in the EU
Country
Status
Investment
Timeframe
Residence
RP
€50,000+
3+ months
Not required
PR
€169,000+
6+ months
Not required
RP
€250,000+
12+ months
7 days per annum
RP
€250,000+
4+ months
Not required
RP
€250,000+
4+ months
Not required
RP
€250,000+
5+ months
Not required
PR
€300,000+
9+ months
Visit every 2 years
The Immigrant Invest team helps select the most suitable programme, prepare the required documents, and obtain residence status in line with a family’s and business’s goals. Owing to our in-house compliance department, the company reduces the risk of refusal to just 1%.
Sources
- Press release on the new residence visas in Qatar, Invest Qatar
- Residence permit requirements in Qatar, Invest Qatar
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