Before you move to Qatar: documents, attestation and packing checklist

Where this checklist starts and stops

This is the before you fly half of a move to Qatar. It covers what to sort out in your home country while it is still easy: attested documents, medicines, pets and what goes in your bags or a shipment. It stops at the airport. From landing day, our First 30 days in Qatar guide takes over.

The landing date matters, because a clock starts then. The Ministry of Interior has reminded residents that residence-permit procedures must be completed within 30 days of entry, with a fine of up to QAR 10,000 for missing it. Your employer or sponsor usually drives that process (medical exam, fingerprints and the QID, Qatar's residence card), but it goes much faster if your paperwork is ready before you board.

A simple timeline

Real timings depend on your country, your job and whether you bring family or a pet. Use this as an order of work, not a promise.

Documents: attest them at home first

Qatar does not accept a foreign certificate at face value. It needs a chain of stamps: first in the country that issued it, then by that country's foreign ministry, then by the Qatar embassy there. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) adds the final stamp in Doha. MOFA's own page says the document must end "with a seal and signature from Qatari missions abroad", so an apostille on its own is not the end of the chain.

The home-country steps are the slow part, often weeks, and they are much harder to arrange once you live in Doha. If you arrive without them, MOFA runs an attestation completion service ↗ that sends the document back through the chain for you. Its page lists QAR 150 plus QAR 120 for the Qatari mission, plus whatever the foreign ministry abroad charges, and it takes longer. For educational certificates the university must be on the Ministry of Education's recognised list.

Also pack in your hand luggage: your passport with the entry visa, the job offer and contract, your driving licence (see driving in Qatar for whether you can transfer it), vaccination records, especially children's, and some passport photos. Keep scans of everything in cloud storage.

Medicines: check before you pack

Many medicines that are ordinary at home are controlled in Qatar. In August 2026 the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) launched an online permit for travellers carrying controlled medicines, at fli.moph.gov.qa. It published a list of 140 medicines allowed with conditions: 61 narcotic and 79 psychotropic.

Look up the active ingredient, not the brand name. Ordinary prescription medicines do not need this permit, but keep them in their original packs with a prescription and in personal-use amounts. Our medicines guide walks through the application.

Pets: the longest lead time

A cat or dog needs an import permit from the Ministry of Municipality before it flies. In September 2026 the ministry added cat and dog import permits, re-entry permits and export health certificates to its Oun app, so you can apply without a visit. Vaccines, tests and the airline booking can take months, so start as soon as the move is likely. The pets guide covers breeds, vaccines, flights and finding a home that allows pets.

What to pack, what to leave, what to ship

Leave behind: alcohol (you cannot bring it in, even from duty-free), pork products, drugs and weapons. Don't pack vapes or e-cigarettes either, and check current customs guidance if you are unsure about an item.

Know the limits:

• Personal items and gifts are duty-free, but the value of any single gift must not exceed QAR 3,000.
• Tobacco: up to 400 cigarettes, or 20 cigars, or 300 g pipe tobacco, or 500 g raw tobacco, or 2 kg shisha.
• Declare cash, gold or precious stones worth QAR 50,000 or more, arriving or leaving.

Shipping household goods: a non-Qatari moving to live or work can bring used personal effects and household goods duty-free if they arrive within six months of first entry. You need an employer letter showing your job and nationality, proof of residence and a list of items, and you pledge not to dispose of them for at least a year. New appliances or furniture may not be covered. See our customs guide.

Practical packing: Qatar uses UK-style three-pin plugs (Type G) on 240V, so bring a couple of adapters. Pack light, breathable clothes that cover shoulders and knees, plus a light layer for air conditioning. Bulky furniture is often cheaper to buy locally than to ship.

Common situations and traps

Three common situations

Traps people fall into

• Flying first, attesting later. It can be done from Doha, but it costs more and takes longer.
• Names that don't match. A different spelling on a degree or marriage certificate and your passport is a common reason for rejection.
• Trusting "it's sold over the counter at home". Check the active ingredient against MOPH's list.
• Duty-free alcohol on arrival. It is still not allowed in.
• Shipping too late. The household-goods exemption only covers goods that arrive within six months.

Check before you act: fees, lists and limits change. Each guide linked above shows its sources and the date it was checked.