Qatar Golden Visa: Residence Through Property, Business and Jusour

Qatar has no single statute called a golden visa. The term covers three routes to long-term, self-sponsored residence. The real estate residence comes from Law No. 16 of 2018, which opened property ownership to non-Qataris, and from Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, which set the zones, the two value thresholds and the residence conditions^[9][20]. Qatar's permanent residency card was created separately by Law No. 10 of 2018 and is capped at 100 grants a year^[13][15]. The Jusour residence programme for entrepreneurs and senior executives opened in February 2026^[16].

Several agencies share the work. Aqarat, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, sets market rules and promotes the scheme. It lists two ownership classes: a "first class" from QAR 3,650,000 with permanent residency benefits, and a "second class" from QAR 730,000 with "residency tied to property"^[1]. When the Lusail office opened in 2021, the ministry described the lower tier as a permit "for themselves and their family" for as long as they own the property^[23]. The Ministry of Justice registers the title and issues the real estate residence approval, which it describes as a free digital service^[2]. The Ministry of Interior then issues the residence permit and Qatar ID. A one-stop Office for Non-Qatari Real Estate Ownership and Use in Lusail handles both ministries' steps^[3].

Status: open. In October 2025 Aqarat's chairman announced a fast-track under which buyers from US$200,000 receive the title deed and residence "within days". The Ministries of Interior, Justice and Labour and the Investment Promotion Agency all take part^[7]. In June 2026 Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026 replaced the list of designated areas. In January 2026 Minister of Justice Decision No. 5 of 2026 cut several registration charges^[24][5][6].

Route 1: property from QAR 730,000 (residence permit)

Buy property in a designated area, or another permitted unit, whose value is at least QAR 730,000. The Ministry of Justice and Hukoomi say the owner can then get a residence permit "without a sponsor", on condition that they live in Qatar for at least 90 days a year, either in one stay or across several visits^[3][8]. Al Jazeera's report on the 2020 decision describes the permit as renewable and covering the buyer's family^[20]. Legal commentators say eligibility is judged on the value stated in the title deed, not on the asking or market price^[9].

Route 2: property from QAR 3,650,000 (permanent residency privileges)

At QAR 3,650,000 or more, the official wording is that the owner gets "the privileges prescribed for holders of the permanent residency card", namely health care, education and investment^[1][3][23]. This is the basis for the long-tail "Qatar permanent residency by investment". The text grants the card's privileges. It does not say the buyer receives the Law No. 10 of 2018 card itself, which has its own conditions (see below). Some advisers say the property tier counts toward the 100-a-year cap and needs Arabic^[10][11]. We found no official confirmation of either point.

Route 3: Jusour Entrepreneur and Executive Residency (since February 2026)

This is not an investment route, but it is Qatar's newest long-stay option for business people. Founders endorsed by an approved incubator (Qatar Development Bank's QFTH, QBIC and Scale7, Qatar Science & Technology Park, or Startup Qatar) can apply from abroad if they show a bank balance of US$10,000 for overseas applicants or QAR 36,500 for residents, held over the last three months. Executives must already hold a Qatar ID, be nominated by their employer (a company listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, a licensed bank, financial institution or insurer, or an eligible consultancy serving government bodies), and have five years of senior management experience and a salary of QAR 50,000 a month (CEO, chair, CFO, CTO, COO) or QAR 80,000 (other executive directors)^[4]. The press and Deloitte describe a residence of up to 10 years with renewal^[16][17]. Jusour's own programme pages say only "long-term residency" with a renewal option and publish no fee, and one adviser quotes 5 years for entrepreneurs^[11], so treat the term as unconfirmed^[4].

Route 4: company ownership (the business investor visa)

Under Law No. 1 of 2019, foreigners can own up to 100% of a company in most sectors. Ownership above 49% needs approval from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which must decide within 15 days of a complete file. Banking, insurance and commercial agencies remain restricted^[22]. A shareholder can then hold residence sponsored by their own company. No official minimum investment for this route has been published (see the business investor section).

Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026 was published in Official Gazette Issue 9 of 2026 in June 2026 and took effect the day after publication. It replaced the area list in Decision No. 28 of 2020 with ten designated locations^[5][6]:

• West Bay (Legtaifiya, zone 66) and The Pearl Island (zone 66)
• Al Khor Resort (zone 74)
• Al Dafna administrative areas (zones 60 and 61)
• Onaiza administrative area (zone 63)
• Lusail, Al Kharayej and Jabal Thuaileb (zone 69)
• Simaisma Resort and Beach project (zone 70), newly added

The 2020 decision also listed usufruct areas, such as Msheireb, Al Sadd and Fereej Bin Mahmoud, where foreigners can hold use rights for up to 99 years^[9]. Reports on the 2026 resolution do not say whether those areas changed. Check the current map with the Ministry of Justice before you buy a usufruct unit. Aqarat says non-Qataris can own shops and offices in malls and residential complexes^[1], and a Ministry of Justice-based guide says eligible units in residential complexes and commercial spaces outside the zones may also be available^[8].

Practical points

• Value basis: the threshold is tested against the value in the registered title deed^[9]. If you buy below QAR 730,000 and later refurbish, you do not qualify.
• Several units: agents commonly say several units can be combined to reach the threshold. Official sources do not address this, so get written confirmation from the Office for Non-Qatari Ownership first.
• Mortgages and off-plan: some banks lend to foreign buyers^[8]. Aqarat regulates off-plan sales through escrow accounts and project licensing^[1]. No official source says whether a mortgaged or off-plan unit qualifies before full payment and title registration. One legal guide lists confirmation that the property is unmortgaged as part of the residence file^[9]. Assume residence starts only once a title deed in your name shows at least QAR 730,000.
• Land: buyers of vacant land are reported to have a four-year construction obligation^[9].
• Prices: units near the QAR 730,000 threshold are mostly apartments, typically in Lusail and parts of The Pearl. Villas and waterfront units usually cost far more. Rental yields and resale liquidity matter more here than in Europe, because the property is the whole investment.

For the property routes, the Ministry of Justice service page lists only three documents: a Qatari ID card or passport, a copy of the original title deed, and a certificate of good conduct for applicants not already resident in Qatar^[2]. In practice you must also meet these conditions:

• Ownership: property in your name, in a designated area or other permitted category, with a title deed value of at least QAR 730,000 or QAR 3,650,000^[1][8].
• Presence: at least 90 days in Qatar each calendar year, continuous or cumulative. Commentary links this to Article 7 of Decision 28/2020^[3][9].
• Security and health: Ministry of Interior screening, a medical exam and fingerprints at a service centre, as for every Qatari residence permit.
• Retention: the permit lasts only as long as you own the qualifying property^[1][8]. A sale ends the basis for residence.

No minimum age, income, education or language test is published for the QAR 730,000 tier. Some agents say Arabic is required for the permanent tier^[10][11]. That is a condition of the Law No. 10 of 2018 card^[14]. Official texts on property privileges do not mention it.

Permit validity is unconfirmed. Several advisers describe the QAR 730,000 permit as valid for one year and renewable^[10][11][12]. Neither Aqarat nor the Ministry of Justice states a term. Plan for annual renewal until the Ministry of Interior confirms otherwise in your case.

Al Jazeera's report on the 2020 decision, and the ministry's 2021 announcement of the Lusail office, say the property permit covers the buyer and their family^[20][23]. Under Law No. 10 of 2018, a permanent residency card holder's spouse and minor children share its benefits^[15]. Jusour residents can sponsor dependants and relatives and issue family visit visas^[4].

What official sources do not spell out for property owners is the dependant list, any income test, or fees per person. Advisers commonly apply Qatar's general family-residence rule: a monthly income of about QAR 10,000 and suitable housing^[12]. An owner without a Qatari salary may need to show income or savings from abroad. Expect each family member to pay the standard residence permit, medical and Qatar ID charges, reported at around QAR 500 a year plus about QAR 100 for medicals^[21]. Ask the Office for Non-Qatari Ownership which relatives qualify before you buy, especially for adult children and parents.

The 2025 fast-track joined up the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Interior steps. Aqarat says ownership documents can be issued in under a day^[1].

Qatar taxes on a territorial basis. Individuals pay no income tax on salaries and allowances. Income from a Qatar-source business is taxable. For individuals, rental income, bank interest and capital gains on real estate and securities are exempt when they are not part of a business. Non-residents pay 10% on Qatar-source capital gains^[18]. Holding residence does not create tax on your foreign income. There is no wealth, inheritance or annual property tax. Qatar had not introduced VAT as of October 2026, though a GCC-wide 5% VAT remains expected^[26].

Companies pay 10% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share of profits. Since 1 January 2025 a 15% domestic minimum top-up tax under OECD Pillar Two applies to large multinational groups^[19]. The Qatar Financial Centre has its own regime, also at 10%^[22].

A Qatar permit does not by itself make you non-resident at home. The UK, Canada, Australia and most of Europe judge tax residence by days spent and ties, and US citizens stay taxable worldwide. Spending only the 90-day minimum in Qatar usually leaves you tax-resident elsewhere. Qatar also issues tax residency certificates only under its own rules. Take advice before relying on treaty benefits.

Qatar's permanent residency card was created by Law No. 10 of 2018. The normal criteria are 20 consecutive years of legal residence for people born abroad, or 10 years for those born in Qatar, with no more than 60 days abroad a year, plus sufficient income, good conduct and adequate Arabic^[14][15]. Children of Qatari mothers, foreign spouses of Qataris and people with needed skills or exceptional service can be exempted^[14]. No more than 100 cards are granted a year^[13]. The Ministry of Interior has cited fees of QAR 3,000 to apply and a further QAR 3,000 when the card is issued^[14].

Cardholders get free government health care and education, can own property, can invest in many sectors without a Qatari partner, rank right after Qataris for public-sector jobs, and need no sponsor. Their spouse and minor children share these benefits^[13][15].

The QAR 3,650,000 property tier is a shortcut to the privileges only. Aqarat and the Ministry of Justice describe it as giving "the privileges prescribed for holders of the permanent residency card"^[1][3]. They do not describe it as issuing the card or waiving the 20-year test. So buying at QAR 3.65 million gives secure, self-sponsored residence with state health care and schooling, as long as you keep the property. Whether the privileges outlast a sale, and whether they count toward the 100-a-year cap, is unconfirmed. Get a written answer before you buy for this reason.

Investment gives no route to Qatari nationality. Naturalisation is discretionary and rare, as explained on our page on Qatari nationality and naturalisation rules.

Many investors say "business investor visa" when they mean residence as the owner of a Qatari company. Law No. 1 of 2019 lets foreigners own up to 100% of most mainland companies with Ministry of Commerce and Industry approval, decided within 15 days of a complete file^[22]. Banks, insurers and commercial agencies remain closed or restricted. The Qatar Financial Centre offers full foreign ownership under its own rules^[22], and the free zones have separate regimes. Once the company is licensed, a shareholder-manager can be sponsored for residence by their own company, and company-sponsored permits are reported at about QAR 1,000 a year^[21].

No official minimum capital or investment has been published for this residence. Figures in agent marketing, such as QAR 100,000 of registered capital, are not backed by any official source we found. The route also requires real activity: an office lease, staff, accounts and 10% corporate tax on profits^[19]. It suits people who are actually running a business in Doha. It is a poor fit for a passive holding. Founders at an early stage now have a cleaner option in the Jusour Entrepreneur Residency, which needs an incubator endorsement and a US$10,000 bank balance rather than a fixed investment^[4][16].

It suits GCC-based professionals, regional business owners and families who already spend time in Doha. For them, owning a Lusail or Pearl apartment and dropping employer sponsorship is a clear gain, and the 90-day rule is easy to meet. Buyers of QAR 3.65 million or more who want state schooling and health care for their family will also find value. So will investors who want a low-cost, tax-free base close to Doha's airline hub.

Look elsewhere if you want residence with no physical presence, a permit that leads to a passport, or EU access. A Europe-focused investor will be better served by the Greek golden visa from €250,000 or Portugal's fund-based residence. Anyone who wants a long, clearly documented permit should compare the UAE's 10-year investor residence. Buyers on a budget near US$200,000–300,000 can also consider Panama's property residence from US$300,000.

• UAE investor residence: AED 2 million in property or deposits for 10 years, with no minimum stay. It costs more but is far better documented.
• Saudi Arabia's premium residency: property and fee-based tiers in the largest Gulf market.
• Oman's investor residence: 5- and 10-year tiers in a quieter market.
• Bahrain's golden residency: property-linked residence with a low cost of living.
• Turkey residence by property: Istanbul and coastal real estate with a separate investor route.
• Jordan investor residence: an Arab-world option tied to investment.

To compare budgets across regions, see our ranking of the lowest-cost residence programmes, the full golden visa directory and our explainer on how residence by investment differs from buying a second nationality.