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Are you planning to leave Qatar or switch to a different Visa? Cancelling your current Qatar visa is mandatory. Whether you are a resident or a worker, it is essential to have your visa canceled before leaving the country or applying for another visa category. Understanding this process is crucial to ensure a successful cancellation without legal or financial complications.
This guide covers everything you need to know on how to cancel Visa in Qatar, including who is responsible for the cancellation, when it is necessary, how to request it online or offline, and the rules available on Qatar exit permits and grace periods.
What Are The Different Visa Types in Qatar?
The Qatari government has introduced different types of visas to meet the various needs of residents and tourists. Understanding them is crucial to knowing how to cancel yours:
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Tourist Visa: For visitors from certain countries who want to enter Qatar for leisure.
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Family Residence Visa: For Qatar residents who want to bring their family members to stay with them. If they are only visiting, they can apply for a family visit visa, which can be converted into a family residence visa. Check our guide for more details on applying for a Qatar family visit visa.
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Work Visa: For individuals with an employment contract with a company in Qatar.
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Business Visa: Applies to individuals coming for business-related activities and other professional engagements.
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Student Visa: For students attending educational institutions in Qatar.
Tourist and business visas are usually short-term and expire automatically after the end of the validity period. However, for the other types of visas, work, student, or family residence, you need to go through the formal cancellation process.
When Is It Required To Cancel A Visa In Qatar?
Visa cancellation refers to the official termination of your visa in Qatar. Once canceled, you are no longer legally allowed to stay in the country on that particular visa. This process is mandatory in the following situations:
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If you’re leaving Qatar permanently.
If you are an expat or a Qatari resident planning to relocate and leave the country for good, you are legally required to cancel your visa to comply with Qatar’s immigration laws. -
Switching to a different visa type.
It is necessary to first cancel your current visa before applying for a new one to avoid having two active visas in the system. -
Resigning or changing your job.
If you resign or have your contract terminated, your employer can sometimes cancel your visa. You will then have to leave the country, apply for a new visa, or have a new employer sponsor your work visa.
Who Is Responsible For The Qatar Visa Cancellation?
As the visa owner, you are not always responsible for canceling it. The responsibility will depend on the type of visa you have.
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For work visas: The employer is in charge of canceling the visa in most cases.
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For family residence visas: The family sponsor, usually the head of the household, has to initiate the visa cancellation process. Check our detailed guide, if you need more information on how to apply for a Qatar family residence visa. If you’re the sponsor and you want to cancel your visa, you must first cancel the visas of your sponsored family members before canceling your own, as their residency is linked to yours.
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For tourist visas: Generally, no cancellation is required.
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For student visas: The sponsoring university or institution may need to officially cancel your visa.
How to Сancel a Visa in Qatar
Now that you know the different types of visas and when to cancel them, let’s go through the whole process step-by-step.
Step 1: Settle Financial Obligations
The following elements need to be checked before applying for the visa cancellation:
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After your visa is canceled, some Qatari banks will freeze your account, especially if you have unpaid loans, such as credit card debt or car loan. To avoid issues, It is best to check directly with your bank and confirm if your account can remain active or should be closed. They can also issue a financial clearance letter you may need during the cancellation process.
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If you have outstanding bills — for instance, for phone, electricity, or home internet — make sure to pay them and cancel the service agreements.
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Ensure you receive your final salary and end-of-service benefits. Companies usually offer bonuses to employees who have worked for the company as an appreciation gesture for their services. If this is included in your contract, make sure to retrieve it before applying for a cancellation not to lose it.
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If you own a car registered under your Qatar ID (QID), you must sell it or transfer ownership to someone else before leaving Qatar.
If you do not settle these financial requirements, your visa cancellation process may be impacted and delayed.
Step 2: Settle Legal Obligations
If you’re unsure about your legal situation or if you have a travel ban that could affect your ability to leave the country, you can check it online:
Using the Ministry of Interior (MOI) service portal:
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Log in and go to the “travel ban inquiry” section.
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Choose the inquiry type “personal” or “company.”
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Click “General Services” and choose “Inquire About Travel Ban”.
Or using the Metrash app:
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Log in to the app and go to the person icon at the top right corner of the screen.
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Select “Travel Ban”.
If you have unpaid traffic fines, you can check and pay them online through the MOI Traffic Services Portal.
Step 3: Prepare The Required Documents
For all visa types, the following documents are likely to be required for visa cancellation:
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A passport that is valid for at least 6 months.
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Qatar ID (QID) card.
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Completed Visa cancellation request form if you are opting for an offline cancellation. This form can be retrieved via the MOI portal or at the immigration offices.
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Clearance letter from the bank if you had financial obligations (loans, debts,…)
If you have a work visa or family resident Visa, you will additionally need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer or sponsor in some cases. If you have a work Visa, you will also need an employment termination letter.
Step 4: Submit the Visa Cancellation Request
The person responsible for submitting the visa cancellation request can do it in three ways.
Option 1: How to submit your cancellation request via the MOI portal
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Visit the official MOI Qatar service portal.
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Register or log in using your Qatar ID (QID) and personal details.
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Once logged in, select “Residency Services” and select “Residency Termination”.
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Fill out the form with the details of the individuals whose visas you wish to cancel.
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Attach the supporting documents if requested.
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Double-check your information, as this process is irreversible.
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Pay the cancellation fees online: 20 QAR for personal cancellation and 50 QAR for company cancellation.
Option 2: How to submit your cancellation request via the Metrash app
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Click on “Residency” and select “Residency Cancellation.”
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Select the service type: “personal” or “company.”
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Fill in the Qatar ID (QID) of the individuals whose visas you wish to cancel.
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Double-check your information.
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Press “Next” to submit your request.
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Pay online cancellation fees: 20 QAR for personal cancellation and 50 QAR for company cancellation.
Option 3: How to submit your cancellation request offline
If you prefer to cancel your Qatar visa offline, visit the nearest Ministry of Interior (MOI) service center and submit the required documents to the officer (as detailed in Step 2). After paying the cancellation fees, the officer will process your request. If everything is in order, you'll receive a cancellation confirmation on the spot.
Here’s a list of the main MOI service centers in Qatar:
Step 5: Track Your Visa Status
Once you file your request, you can follow up on the cancellation progress via the MOI tracking portal. Visit the website, fill in your application number, date and the QID of the sponsor, then click “search” to check your visa cancelation status update. Learn more how to check Qatar visa status online.
Step 6: Get the Visa cancellation Confirmation
When the request is approved, an official visa cancellation confirmation is released. It is recommended that you always have a copy of the cancellation confirmation, as you may need it when leaving the country or applying for a new visa.
Step 7: Get an Exit Permit if Applicable
Most workers in Qatar no longer need an exit permit to leave the country. However, employers are still allowed to choose up to 5% of their employees as requiring an exit permit. These employees usually hold sensitive positions for which they should not be allowed to leave the country without approval.
If you are unsure whether you fall under this bracket, check with your employer or HR department to confirm if an exit permit is required. If you got confirmation that you need it:
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Inform your employer of your leave in advance (at least 3 days).
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File a written request if requested by your company.
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Make sure you have no outstanding financial or legal obligations that could delay the approval.
Some companies will apply for the permit on your behalf, while others may require you to apply independently. If you need to apply for an exit permit yourself, follow these steps:
If you’re applying through MOI’s portal:
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Register or log in with your QID (Qatar ID) in the MOI portal.
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Go to the “Exit and Entry Permits” section, then to “Leave Notification Application Form”.
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Provide the required information precisely.
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Submit the form through the portal.
If you’re applying through the Metrash app:
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Sign in to the Metrash app (available on both Android and IOS) using your Qatar ID (QID).
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Head to the “Exit Services” section of the application.
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Complete the “Leave Notification” application form with the necessary information.
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Submit your application.
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You will get an SMS regarding the approval status of your exit permit.
If you’re applying offline at an MOI center, visit the nearest MOI Service Center. Fill out the exit permit application form and submit it along with your other documents to the officer. You will be informed once your exit permit is approved.
It’s important to remember that exit permits are only valid for three days once they are issued. So, make sure to plan your travel accordingly.
Step 8: Exit Qatar or Apply For a New Visa.
If you are applying for another kind of Visa, it is recommended that you obtain the next visa within the time allowed to avoid paying penalties for overstaying. If you need assistance with your next visa application, check our step-by-step guide how to apply for Qatar visit visa.
Most visas allow a 30-day grace period. However, this can vary depending on the type of visa. It is recommended to check the cancellation confirmation email for the specific details.
If you’re planning to re-enter Qatar again and apply for a new visa, don’t forget to apply for mandory Qatar health insurance being a traveller.
