Georgetown University: School of Foreign Service in Qatar

Upon arrival in Qatar, you and your dependents will undergo official medical tests and fingerprinting required by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. In addition, you can apply for a Qatari driver’s license, a liquor license, a national health card, and Education City and SFS-Qatar ID cards for yourself, your family and car. Please contact Hussein Aldobashi in SFS-Qatar Human Resources for assistance.

Please note:  You should plan on submitting your passport, and the passports of any family members who have relocated with you, to Hussein Aldobashi upon arrival.  This is a requirement by the Qatari Government for anyone applying for residency.  Your passports will be returned once your residence permits have been issued. 

Photographs

You will need 20 passport-sized photos on a non-white background to process your visa, ID cards and driver’s license.  Hussein Aldobashi will assist you in acquiring photos after you have arrived in Qatar.  

Medical Screening in Qatar

The required medical tests are basically a repeat of the medical tests you underwent in your home country. Children under the age of 14 are exempt from this requirement. Hussein Aldobashi will arrange for you and your dependents to go by bus with a group of other new Education City employees to a government medical center. The blood tests are followed by a chest X-ray. Before the X-ray, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Anyone, man or woman, not wishing to change into a gown can wear a plain white T-shirt for the X-ray. Pregnant women can have the X-Ray postponed. These tests are completed in one trip.

Fingerprinting

After the medical testing, all new residents must be fingerprinted. Again, you will be taken in a group by bus to a government center. The fingerprinting is done electronically. 

Time Frame for Completion

Completing all of the steps to get established in Qatar requires some time and patience. However, if you follow all of the instructions from HR, all of the necessary documents are issued efficiently. You should expect a wait of approximately 6-8 weeks, but the wait time varies.

NOTE: Residence permits for dependents are processed after the employee is processed, adding perhaps 1-2 weeks to the waiting period. Spouses intending to find work should anticipate that some employers require employees to have residence permits before they begin work.

During the immigration process, Qatar Foundation holds the passports of both employees and dependents, and people are encouraged not to leave Qatar. Doing so slows down the issuance of residence permits. However, passports can be retrieved from Qatar Foundation at any time for people who need or choose to leave Qatar during this initial phase.

 

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