The amount of paperwork to be completed is onerous by European standards, making many of the simplest procedures very slow. This can make your first term frustrating, but once you have all the necessary "bits of paper", it ceases to be a major intrusion on daily life.

Residence Permit

All foreigners require a residence permit to live and work in Qatar. One of the first steps after your arrival is to convert your entry visa to a Residence Permit. The School provides staff with every assistance in obtaining this, for which you will have to undergo a medical examination (including HIV blood test and chest X - Ray), blood-grouping and fingerprinting.

A Residence Permit is required before you can obtain an Exit Permit, Liquor Licence, own a car, have a telephone installed etc.

We attempt to have your residence permit processed as quickly as possible (typically 4 - 5 weeks) as we understand it can be a frustrating wait.

Exit Permit

To leave the country, an Exit Permit is required. These are readily available, but the School requires one week's advance notification to process the paperwork.

Driving Licence

A local driving licence is required to drive in the country. This requires an eye test and identification of a few traffic signs. Bring your overseas driving licence with you, otherwise you will have to take the local test (which is both expensive and difficult).

You cannot obtain a full Qatari driving licence until your Residence Permit has been completed, although they will issue a 3-month temporary licence in the interim.

The school assists those staff keen to start driving immediately after arrival, by putting you in contact with a car leasing company. The company will also assist you with obtaining a temporary driving licence.