At the new Qatar Visa Center, work visa applicants for the State of Qatar will be able to sign on work contracts digitally, enroll their biometrics and undergo mandatory medical test all under one-roof, thus saving time and making it hassle free for the applicants.

The move to get work visa applicants to complete the most essential and critical part of their visa processes in the country of origin (India in this case) is aimed at guaranteeing prospective employees their rights in a manner consistent with the best international standards.

The visa center is in sync with international standards guaranteeing greater transparency, traceability and improved anti-fraud measures and security screening mechanisms for the visa applicants. The center will operate between 08:30 am to 04:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

As part of the visa application process, the employer in Qatar will ensure all necessary procedures and make the visa payments on behalf of the applicant. The applicants will only need to book an appointment online and visit the Qatar Visa Center fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time on a given day. Once at the center and after the identity of the visa applicant is verified and the list of required documents are checked a token gets issued.

Once the token is being referred to, the respective visa applicant will be explained the contract terms and can thereby digitally sign the work contract. Biometric enrollment and the mandatory medical tests will be done at the center. Upon completion of the processes at the visa center, the visa applicant then can choose to track the status of his application online or through their employer in the State of Qatar.

Saif Bin Ali Almohanndi, Consul General, The Consulate General Of The State Of Qatar, Mumbai expressed gratitude and said, “Our thanks and appreciation to the officials in the Ministry of External Affairs- Republic of India, and the Government Of the State Of Maharashtra for their continued support to achieve this goal by opening the Qatar Visa Centre (QVC) on Friday 29/03/2019 in Mumbai. This project is one of the advanced projects for the State of Qatar in the field of protection of labour rights, and would facilitate the recruitment procedures in countries where centers have been opened including the Republic of India, and would provide necessary services for obtaining visas, both for the purpose of visit and residence. For Indian expatriates who travel to Qatar for employment, can complete their medical tests and sign work contracts before their departure - and this stands confirm to the State of Qatar's keenness to ensure safety and protection for expatriates and residents.”

"As part of Qatar's willingness to facilitate the work process and protect the rights of expatriates, Qatar Visa Centers will be opened in a number of countries which include India," said Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Director of Visa Support Services Dept at the Ministry of the Interior, Doha, Qatar. "Medical examinations, biometric data enrollment and the signing process of employment contracts will be done through the Qatar Visa Centers in the expatriate country of origin at the 7 Indian centers including the one in Mumbai. All of this, reflects the extent and depth of Qatar's endeavors to ensure the protection and safety of expatriates under a simplified and effective recruitment regime upheld and facilitated by the visa center," he added.

Suhail Shaikh - Business Head said, “We are honored to launch the Qatar Visa Center in India in Mumbai on behalf of Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar. We take great pride in being able to provide transparent, standardized and streamlined visa services for Indians seeking work visas through a simple process managed by our capable colleagues.”