On February 2, 2026, the government announced the launch of two new categories of residency visa for high growth entrepreneurs and senior executives.
The Residency Visa for Executives is available to current residents (QID holders) in Qatar. It is tailored for senior executives who already hold Qatari residency and require a streamlined employer-led pathway to formalize their status, employment authorization and access to program benefits.
- Applicants must have a monthly salary of no less than QAR 50,000 for COO, CTO, CFO or CEO positions, and QAR 80,000 for other Executive director titles.
- They must have a minimum of five years of experience in a senior executive management position, inside or outside Qatar, within a company or other entity.
- They must have a valid local employment contract (direct contract) with a company classified under one of the following categories:
- Public shareholding companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange
- Banks and financial institutions licensed by Qatar Central Bank
- Insurance companies licensed by Qatar Central Bank or the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA)
- Consulting firms (scientific offices or visiting professional firms) operating in the fields of management, finance, legal, and accounting services for governmental and semi-governmental entities
Benefits include a five-year renewable residency permit without a sponsor, sponsorship of dependents and relatives, with the ability to issue family visit visas, sponsorship of domestic workers and ownership of assets.
The Residency Visa for Entrepreneurs provides a dedicated pathway for founders, partners and innovators who aim to establish their investment projects or expand their businesses.
This stream is aimed at early-stage and scaling entrepreneurs who are officially endorsed by a recognized local business incubator in Qatar, and who can submit a bank statement with a minimum balance of no less than QAR 36,500 or equivalent over the past three months.
Holders of this residency are offered an array of benefits, including long-term residency with renewal options, access to the national ecosystem of business incubators and accelerators, as well as additional benefits that help reduce cost of living through an extensive network of partners.
Further information is available here and here.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
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