Bringing Children & Pets

Only an expatriate earning more than QAR 10,000 (about $2,800 or £1,700) a month is allowed to bring their family with them. It’s also important to mention that women employed by private companies often struggle to sponsor their families and some companies do not allow family VISAs until six months into the employment. All successful sponsored spouses and children can be brought into Qatar on a special entry VISA then must complete the residence permit process by the end of the following week, this involves tests for Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and HIV as well as fingerprinting.

Unmarried couples are not allowed to live together in Qatar. This may cause complications if you have dependants and are not married to your partner who intends to move with you.

To bring a pet into the country, first you must obtain a permit from a veterinary clinic under the Department of Animal Resources, this will require your employer’s sponsor, a health certificate for the animal issued from the home country within 14 days of the animal’s entry into Qatar and an up-to-date vaccination against rabies, additionally:

Dogs must have vaccinations for:

• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Parvovirus
• Parainfluenza
• Leptospirosis

Cats must have vaccinations for:

• Calicivirus
• Rhinotracheitis
• Panleukopaenia.

All vaccinations must be given 30 days before travel and the animal can’t be more than four months old and permits are valid for one month at a time. Upon arrival in Qatar the pet will be held in a special facility in Doha International Airport until they have cleared customs. You should provide a container for the animal approved by the airline you are using, generally speaking any container which is properly ventilated and is big enough for the animal to stand and turn around is suitable. Finally, all pets must be micro-chipped and must have collars to identify them from strays in case of escape and/or loss.

The following breeds of dog are prohibited from entering the country:

• Afghan
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boxer
• Bulldog
• Bull Mastiff
• Bull Terrier
• Doberman
• Great Dane
• Japanese Akita
• Pug
• Rottweiler
• Shar Pei
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier