Expat Guide: When and How to Get a Return Visa to Qatar

Legal

Lost Passport?
You will need the return visa if you lose your passport while abroad also. The requirements, however, are stringent in this case. Visa is issued only after a circular on the lost passport is issued to include it in the black list system. The below documents are also to be submitted:
•   Submission of the application from the sponsor.
•   Passport copy or the ID card copy of the sponsor in case of personal sponsor.
•   Copy of the establishment card of the company in case of company sponsor
•   Copies of new and old Passports of the sponsored person
•   Copy passport lost certificate from the concerned authorities
The fee for visa is QR 200 and you can process this either on arrival or through Metrash2 Mobile App, MOI E-Services Portal or MOI Services Centres.
Family Visitors
The return visa can be useful for visitors who entered country on family visit if they want to exit the country during the validity of their visit visa. They can come back again in the same visa using the re-entry permit provided the reminaing period of visit visa is more than 30 days. The fee to be paid is QR 200. The facility can also be used more than once during the validity period of the visit visa. The visa can be processed at Expat Affairs & MOI Services Centre, Metrash2 Mobile app or MOI E-Services Portal
Lost Qatar ID itself?
A valid Qatar ID is essential to process return visa. So, what will you do if you lose the QID itself? Here, time plays a crucial part since one can stay up to six consecutive months abroad without their Qatar residence permit gets invalid. So, when you come back to Qatar within this stipulated time, you will be allowed to enter the country, with a return visa issued directly at the entry. The QID will be marked as lost in the Immigration system and you should proceed to a service center to obtain a new card.
If a resident has stayed for more than six months and lost QID, then he/she has to get a return visa processed by the employer/sponsor. This is not at all an easy task. One has to file a report in the country where the card was lost, get it attested by authorities there and send a copy to employer/sponsor in Qatar. The re-entry permit, which costs QR200, is then sent to the resident abroad to be able to enter the country. The QID will be marked as lost in the system during the entry, the resident need to get a new card immediately. In this scenario, one has to sign an undertaking also, promising not to exceed the time limit again.
If one ventures into the country without a QID and a return visa, it’s a violation of the law and will obviously attract the enforcement officers. So, it’s much safer to return to the country before the expiry of your residence permit.