Qatar

QAT

Qatar is a small high-income Gulf state with no personal income tax, world-class infrastructure, and a population that is ~88% non-citizen. Long-stay residency is via employer sponsorship (work visa), family of a sponsored worker, or the Permanent Residency Permit (introduced 2018) for a small annual quota of high-earner / exceptional-talent / property-investor applicants.

Citizenship is essentially unobtainable for non-Arabs by residence; even Arab Gulf nationals require 25 years of residence and case-by-case Emiri approval. The 2022 World Cup and Vision 2030 have intensified inward-investment programmes.

Naturalisation: 25 years
Tax system: No Income Tax
Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR)
Dual citizenship: Not allowed
Capital: Doha
Region: middle east
Population: 2,980,000
Cost-of-living: 78 /100

Passport Rank

#51

Visa-Free

105

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Qatar passport has visa-free access to 103 destinations. See the full Qatarpassport breakdown →

Passports that enter Qatar without a prior visa (97)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chile+79 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

Country Details

Capital: Doha
Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR)
Languages: Arabic, English
Population: 2,980,000
Tax System: No Income Tax
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 25 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Hot desert
English Proficiency Rank: #65

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

158

Tax Summary

Tax System: No Income Tax
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 25 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Doha	$1,700	$1,200	$380	$200	$80

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist eVisa
GCC Visa
Employment Residency Permit
Family Residence Permit
Permanent Residency (Limited)
Investor Residence Permit
Student Visa
Visit Visa

Authority: Ministry of Interior - Search and Follow Up Department
Official Portal: portal.moi.gov.qa
Phone: +974-2347444
Email: info@moi.gov.qa

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 25
Language Test: Yes (Arabic)
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: —
Processing: —

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
Doha College	Doha	British / IGCSE / A-Level	$14,000–$24,000
American School of Doha	Doha	American	$22,000–$38,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

230 Mbps median

99% fibre coverage

eSIM: Ooredoo Qatar, Vodafone Qatar

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Not legal
Civil Partnerships: Not recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: No
ILGA Rank: —

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Limited
Prayer Facilities: Common

Related Guides

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Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.