Last updated: September 2026
Your Qatar ID (QID) is the card that proves your Residence Permit (RP) is valid. You can check its expiry date for free on the Metrash app or the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website, and your employer is responsible for renewing it and paying the fee. If your QID expires, fines can follow, so check it a few months before the date on your card.
Quick summary
- QID = your Qatar residence card. RP = the permit behind it.
- Check validity on the Metrash app or the MOI website using your QID number.
- For company workers, the employer renews the RP and pays the cost.
- Late renewal can bring a fine of up to QR10,000 under the residency law.
- Since 2020 you can change jobs without an NOC and leave Qatar without an exit permit.
- Minimum pay: QR1,000 basic + QR300 food + QR500 housing (if not provided).
What Is a QID and a Residence Permit?
When you come to Qatar on a work visa, your employer must complete your residence procedures. After your medical test and fingerprints, the MOI issues a Residence Permit. The QID card is the physical (or digital) proof of that permit.
You need a valid QID for almost everything: opening a bank account, getting a SIM card, visiting a health centre, sending money home and travelling in and out of Qatar.
The residency system is governed by Law No. 21 of 2015 on the entry, exit and residence of expatriates. The MOI allows residence permits to be renewed for one to three years at a time.
How to Check Your QID Validity and Status
Checking is free and takes only a few minutes. Keep your QID number ready. It is the 11-digit number on your card.
Option 1: Metrash app
Metrash is the official MOI mobile app. It replaced the older Metrash2 app, so download the new version from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Install Metrash and register with your QID number and your Qatar mobile number.
- Log in and open the Residency services section.
- Choose the inquiry option for your residence permit or ID details.
- Check the expiry date and the status shown on the screen.
- Take a screenshot so you have a record.
Option 2: MOI website
- Go to the Ministry of Interior website (moi.gov.qa) and open the e-services section.
- Find the Inquiries area and select the residence permit inquiry.
- Enter your QID number and the security code.
- Read the expiry date and permit status.
If your employer has already applied for renewal, you can also follow progress through the “Residence Permit Renewal Tracking” service listed on the Hukoomi government portal.
Menu names can change after updates. If you cannot find an option, ask your company PRO.
Who Renews the QID?
For company-sponsored workers, renewal is the employer’s job. The company usually applies through its establishment account on Metrash or the MOI e-services portal. You normally do not need to do anything except keep your passport valid.
Your employer should not ask you to pay for your residence permit. If money is being cut from your salary for RP renewal, you can raise it with the Ministry of Labour (see the complaint section below).
What is usually needed
- A valid passport (make sure it is not close to expiry).
- Your current QID number.
- A valid establishment card and active company account.
- Payment of the renewal fee by the employer.
Fees and Late Penalties
Official fee lists can change, so always confirm the current amount on Metrash or the MOI website before paying. The table below shows figures reported in 2026 and the penalties stated by MOI.
| Item | Amount (reported) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| RP renewal, company sponsorship | About QR1,000 per year | Employer |
| RP renewal, domestic worker / personal sponsor | About QR300 per year | Sponsor |
| Legal maximum fine for failing to complete residence procedures | Up to QR10,000 | Sponsor / employer |
| Settlement (reconciliation) for delay, as stated by MOI | QR10 per day, capped at QR6,000 | Sponsor / employer |
| Employer keeping a worker’s passport | Fine up to QR25,000 | Employer |
Reports indicate the MOI allows renewal up to 90 days after the expiry date before fines apply. Do not rely on this grace time. An expired QID can block your bank card, travel and other services.
If your employer does not renew your QID, keep copies of your card and passport, take a screenshot of the expired status, and file a complaint.
Changing Jobs After the 2020 Labour Reforms
In 2020 Qatar made major changes to the old kafala (sponsorship) system. The changes were published in the official gazette in September 2020.
- No NOC needed: Most workers can move to a new employer without a No Objection Certificate.
- Notice period: One month’s written notice if you have worked two years or less with the employer, and two months if you have worked more than two years.
- Probation: Probation cannot be longer than six months. If you change jobs during probation, the new employer may have to pay the old employer part of the recruitment cost, up to two months of your basic wage.
- How to apply: You submit the change-of-employer request through the Ministry of Labour’s online system using your QID and registered mobile number. The notice period starts from that submission.
Before you resign, make sure the new job offer is real and in writing. Keep your QID valid until the transfer is complete.
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Exit Permits Are Abolished
You do not need your employer’s permission to leave Qatar for a holiday or to go home for good. Exit permits were removed for most private sector workers in 2018. In January 2020 this was extended to domestic workers, government employees and other groups.
A small number of people still need approval, such as members of the armed forces and a limited number of workers in key company posts.
Minimum Wage in Qatar
Qatar’s non-discriminatory minimum wage started on 20 March 2021. It covers all workers of all nationalities in all sectors, including domestic workers.
| Situation | Minimum monthly pay |
|---|---|
| Employer gives food and housing | QR1,000 basic wage |
| Employer gives housing only | QR1,300 (QR1,000 + QR300 food) |
| Employer gives neither | QR1,800 (QR1,000 + QR300 food + QR500 housing) |
Your employer cannot cut an existing higher salary down to the minimum wage. Overtime and end-of-service pay must be calculated on a basic wage of at least QR1,000.
Wage Protection System and New Salary Deadline
The Wage Protection System (WPS) tracks salary transfers to workers’ bank accounts. In September 2026, Minister of Labour Decision No. 50 of 2026 was published. It says workers paid monthly or yearly must receive their wages through WPS within seven days of the due date. The monthly due date is the first day of each month.
How to File a Complaint with the Ministry of Labour
- Collect proof: your contract, bank statements, payslips, QID copy and any messages.
- Go to the Ministry of Labour website (mol.gov.qa) and open the complaints service.
- Log in with your QID (or visa number) and your mobile number, then enter the OTP code.
- Choose the complaint type, such as unpaid wages or expired residence permit.
- Describe the problem clearly and upload documents.
- Save the complaint number and follow up online.
You can also call the Ministry of Labour hotline 16008, or send an SMS to 92727 by typing 5 followed by your QID or visa number. Nepali workers can also get help from the Embassy of Nepal in Doha.
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FAQ
How can I check if my QID is expired?
Use the Metrash app or the MOI website inquiry service with your QID number. The expiry date is also printed on your card.
Do I have to pay for my QID renewal?
For company-sponsored workers, the employer is responsible for residence permit procedures and costs. If your salary is cut for this, you can complain to the Ministry of Labour.
What happens if my QID expires?
Your sponsor can face fines of up to QR10,000, and you may have problems with banking, health services and travel. Ask your employer to renew it immediately.
Can I change jobs in Qatar without an NOC?
Yes. Most workers can change employers without an NOC by giving one or two months’ notice through the Ministry of Labour system.
Do I need an exit permit to leave Qatar?
No, most workers do not. Only a few groups, such as armed forces members and some key company posts, still need approval.
When must my salary be paid?
Under Decision No. 50 of 2026, monthly wages must be paid through WPS within seven days of the first day of the month.
Sources
- Hukoomi: Renew Residence Permit for Expatriates
- The Peninsula: Fine up to QR10,000 for not completing residence permit procedures
- The Peninsula: Qatar amends Wage Protection System rules (September 2026)
- ILO: Qatar’s new minimum wage enters into force
- ILO: Exit permits consigned to history for almost all migrant workers in Qatar
- Human Rights Watch: Qatar’s 2020 labour and kafala reforms
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change, so always confirm with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour or your embassy.
