Your first 30 days in Qatar mostly revolve around one document: the Qatar ID (QID). Get the medical exam and fingerprints done, pick up a local SIM, and once your QID is issued you can open a bank account, sign a lease, get home fibre and apply for a health card. This moving to Qatar checklist walks you through each step in a sensible order.
1. Residence permit and QID: the first priority
If you arrive on a work entry visa, your employer (your sponsor) drives the residence permit (RP) process with the Ministry of Interior. Your job is to turn up to appointments with the right documents and not leave the country while it is in progress. Several expat guides warn that travelling out of Qatar before your QID is issued can cancel the application, so confirm with your HR or PRO team before booking any trip.
The usual QID steps in Qatar
- Medical examination. Your employer books you in at a medical commission centre. Expect blood tests and a chest X-ray to screen for conditions such as tuberculosis and hepatitis. Results usually take a few working days.
- Fingerprints. Biometrics are taken at a Ministry of Interior service centre, again usually arranged by your employer.
- RP issuance. Once medical results and fingerprints are cleared, the employer submits the residence permit application. The QID is then printed or collected, and a digital version is available in the Metrash app.
Typical documents: passport (with plenty of validity left), entry visa, passport photos, signed employment contract and, for many roles, an attested degree certificate.
Set up Metrash as soon as you can
Metrash is the Ministry of Interior’s official app for residency, traffic, visa and other services. The older Metrash2 app was discontinued on 1 March 2025, so download the current “Metrash” app rather than any older version. You will need your QID number to register, which is why most people activate it right after their QID is issued.
2. Get a local SIM card and mobile plan
A Qatari number is needed for almost everything: bank one-time passwords, delivery apps, government services and landlord calls. Qatar has two licensed mobile operators, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar, both offering prepaid, postpaid and eSIM options.
How to get a SIM card in Qatar
- Before your QID: a prepaid SIM can be registered with your valid passport.
- After your QID: residents use their QID to open or update a mobile account. Postpaid plans, family bundles and phone instalment deals generally require a QID.
- Register the line in your own name. Do not rely on a SIM registered to a colleague or a shop employee. You need ownership of the number for account recovery and number portability.
Compare shops, plans and outlets in our telecom directory for Qatar.
3. Home internet and fibre
Home broadband is separate from your mobile plan. The two main fixed providers are Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar, and fibre availability depends on your building and address, so check coverage before you sign a lease if fast internet matters to you. The Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN), a government-owned company, builds passive fibre infrastructure that licensed operators use on a wholesale basis.
What you typically need to sign up:
- Your QID
- Your Kahramaa (electricity and water) account or premises number, which providers use to check coverage at your address
- Your full address and, sometimes, occupancy details
If fibre is not available, both operators have offered 4G/5G home broadband as an alternative. Plans and installation times vary, so check current offers directly with each provider. Our internet services category lists providers and resellers across the country.
4. Health card and health insurance
The public health card
The health card gives residents access to Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) facilities at subsidised rates. According to PHCC, you can apply through the Nar’aakom app or at your nearest PHCC health centre. Adult residents need a valid QID, a photo, proof of address (such as a utility bill) and payment. At the time of writing, PHCC lists the fee for a new card for non-Qatari residents as QR 100.
Mandatory health insurance: what applies now
Law No. 22 of 2021 set up a mandatory health insurance framework for non-Qataris. Its first phase, compulsory insurance for visitors, started on 1 February 2023. The law also makes employers responsible for covering expatriate employees, but at the time of writing there is no single confirmed, fully rolled-out scheme covering all residents, and implementation has been phased. In practice:
- Check your contract and ask HR which insurer covers you and your dependants.
- If you sponsor family members, ask what cover is required for them.
Rules may change, so check the Ministry of Public Health website for the latest position. For hospitals and clinics near you, browse hospitals in Qatar, and see our guide to pharmacies in Qatar for prescriptions and 24-hour options.
5. Open a bank account in Qatar as an expat
Most employers pay salaries through the Wage Protection System, so you will need a local account quickly. You open it directly with a commercial bank, not through Metrash or Hukoomi, and a physical QID is normally required.
Documents banks usually ask for
- QID (original)
- Passport with visa or residence details
- Salary certificate or salary transfer letter on company letterhead, signed and stamped, showing your job title, start date and salary
- Proof of address (tenancy contract or utility bill), if requested
- Passport photos, for some banks
Once documents are complete, activation often takes a few working days. The most common delays are a missing company stamp on the salary letter and a QID that has not been issued yet.
6. Renting a home
Note that “Ejari” is Dubai’s tenancy registration system, not Qatar’s. In Qatar, lease contracts are governed by Law No. 4 of 2008 on property leasing, and the landlord is responsible for registering the contract with the government lease registration office, which offers an online service. Ask your landlord or agent for the registration certificate, because you may need a registered lease for family visas, Kahramaa connection and some other services.
What to expect
- Documents: copy of your QID and passport, and often a salary certificate.
- Payment: landlords commonly ask for post-dated cheques covering the rent period, which is why a bank account and chequebook usually come first.
- Deposit: a security deposit is typical. Agree in writing how and when it will be returned.
- What is included: check whether Kahramaa bills, internet, parking, maintenance and furnishing are included.
- Where people look: property portals, licensed real estate agents, employer housing teams and community noticeboards.
7. Driving licence conversion
Holders of licences from GCC countries and from a list of other countries can usually exchange them for a Qatari licence without a full driving test, subject to an eye test and document checks. Others need to take lessons and a test at a licensed driving school. The eligible list changes from time to time, so check with the General Directorate of Traffic or through Metrash before assuming your licence qualifies.
Typical requirements include your original foreign licence, QID, passport, photos and an eye test. Until you have a Qatari licence, check whether your current licence or an International Driving Permit is accepted for the rental period, and read our car rental guide for Qatar. You can also compare car rental companies in Qatar.
8. Getting around without a car
- Doha Metro: run by Qatar Rail, with the Red, Gold and Green lines. The Red Line connects Hamad International Airport, central Doha, Lusail and Al Wakra. Pay with a rechargeable travel card, which you can top up at machines or through the Qatar Rail app.
- Metrolink: free feeder buses linking many neighbourhoods to metro stations.
- Karwa buses and taxis: operated by Mowasalat. Buses use a Karwa smart card, and taxis can be booked through the Karwa Taxi app.
Fares and card prices may change, so check the Qatar Rail and Mowasalat websites for current figures.
9. Attesting documents
Foreign documents often need attestation before Qatari authorities accept them. Common examples are degree certificates (for work permits and some professional licences), marriage certificates (for sponsoring a spouse) and children’s birth certificates (for family residence and school enrolment).
The usual chain is:
- Authentication by the relevant authorities in the country that issued the document, usually its foreign ministry.
- Attestation by the Qatari embassy or consulate in that country.
- Final attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Qatar.
Start this early, ideally before you move, because some steps can only be done in your home country. Attestation agents, legal translators and PRO firms can help: find them under business services in Qatar.
10. Useful official apps and portals
- Metrash: Ministry of Interior services, including residency, visas and traffic.
- Hukoomi: Qatar’s official e-government portal, with information on and links to many government services.
- Nar’aakom: PHCC’s app for health card applications and health centre appointments.
- Karwa and Qatar Rail apps: taxis, buses and metro.
First 30 days in Qatar: timeline
| # | When | What to do | Needs QID? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Week 1 | Buy a prepaid SIM with your passport, set up temporary accommodation, learn the metro and Karwa options | No |
| 2 | Week 1 | Attend the medical examination and fingerprint appointments booked by your employer | No |
| 3 | Week 1 | Hand over attested documents to HR and start any missing attestations | No |
| 4 | Week 2 | Receive QID, register on Metrash, move your SIM into your QID or switch to postpaid | Yes |
| 5 | Week 2 | Get a salary certificate and open a bank account | Yes |
| 6 | Week 2 | Start flat hunting and check fibre coverage at shortlisted addresses | Helpful |
| 7 | Weeks 3–4 | Sign the lease, hand over cheques, confirm the landlord registers the contract, set up Kahramaa | Yes |
| 8 | Weeks 3–4 | Book home fibre installation | Yes |
| 9 | Weeks 3–4 | Apply for your health card on Nar’aakom and confirm your insurance with HR | Yes |
| 10 | Weeks 3–4 | Start your driving licence exchange or driving school registration | Yes |
Quick checklist
- Passport, entry visa, photos, contract and attested certificates in one folder
- Medical exam and fingerprints done
- QID received and Metrash registered
- SIM in your own name
- Bank account open and salary transfer set up
- Lease signed and registered, Kahramaa account in place
- Home internet booked
- Health card applied for and insurance confirmed
- Driving licence exchange started, or a rental car arranged
- Local essentials found: a nearby supermarket, pharmacy and clinic
Ready to set up? Browse the companiesinqatar.com directory to find telecom shops, clinics, attestation services and more across Qatar, or go straight to the Telecom category to get connected.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first things to do in Qatar after arriving?
Get a prepaid SIM with your passport, attend your medical exam and fingerprint appointments, and wait for your QID. Most other tasks, such as banking, renting and home internet, depend on having the QID.
How long does it take to get a QID in Qatar?
It depends on your employer and appointment availability, but many new residents receive it within a few weeks of arrival. Avoid travelling abroad until it is issued unless your employer confirms it is safe to do so.
Can I get a SIM card in Qatar without a QID?
Yes. Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar let you register a prepaid line with a valid passport. Postpaid plans and many other services require a QID.
Can I open a bank account in Qatar as an expat before my QID?
Some banks let you start an application early, but a physical QID and a salary certificate from your employer are normally needed before the account is fully active.
Does Qatar use Ejari for tenancy contracts?
No. Ejari is Dubai’s system. In Qatar, the landlord registers the lease with the government lease registration office, which offers an online service. Ask your landlord for proof of registration.
