Guides / Family & education / Marriage & pets
Getting married in Qatar as an expat
How expats marry in Qatar: Muslim weddings at the Family Court, Christian weddings at the churches in the Religious Complex, civil weddings at some embassies, plus the premarital tests, documents, attestation, sponsoring your spouse and getting a marriage abroad recognised.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Where
- Family Court (Muslim), Religious Complex churches (Christian) or your embassy (civil, where offered)
- Time
- Usually 2 to 8 weeks, depending on route and documents
- Medical test
- Required for court and church weddings; residents test at approved private hospitals
- Cost
- From about QAR 200 at the court; churches and embassies charge their own fees
Expats can marry in Qatar, but how you do it depends on your religion. Muslim marriages (including a Muslim man marrying a Christian or Jewish woman) are concluded under Qatar's Family Law through the Family Court. Christian couples can marry at one of the churches in the Religious Complex in Mesaimeer, and some embassies hold civil marriages for their own citizens. Other religious ceremonies cannot be legally performed in Qatar, so many couples marry at their embassy or abroad. The usual order is: confirm which route applies to you, get your single-status papers from your embassy, do the premarital medical test, hold the ceremony, then register and attest the certificate so you can use it, for example to sponsor your spouse's residence visa.
Before you start
- Valid passports and Qatar IDs (QIDs) for both partners; a partner who is not resident needs a valid passport and visa
- Proof that each of you is free to marry: a single-status certificate, certificate of no impediment or embassy affidavit, recent and attested if issued abroad
- If either of you was married before: the final divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate, attested and translated
- Birth certificates, which some churches and embassies ask for
- Premarital medical certificates for both partners (for court and church weddings)
- For a Muslim wedding: the bride's guardian (wali) with ID and proof of relationship, two adult Muslim male witnesses with their IDs, and the agreed mahr (dowry)
- A certificate of conversion to Islam, if either partner converted
- For a church wedding: baptism certificates if your church asks for them, and time for the church's preparation sessions
- Certified Arabic translations of any foreign documents
- Passport photos, as some embassies ask for several copies
Step by step
Work out which route applies to you
Your religion decides where you can marry. If both of you are Muslim, or a Muslim man is marrying a Christian or Jewish woman, the marriage goes through the Family Court under Qatar's Family Law. A Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man in Qatar unless he converts to Islam first. Christian couples can marry in a church, and some embassies hold civil marriages for their own citizens. Other religious ceremonies cannot be legally performed in Qatar, and Qatar only recognises marriage between a man and a woman.
Ask your embassy what it needs
Contact your embassy in Doha early. Most couples need an embassy document proving they are free to marry, such as a single-status certificate, a certificate of no impediment or a sworn affirmation; the British Embassy, for example, takes these by appointment. Ask whether the embassy can marry you itself, because many cannot, and some only marry couples where both partners are its citizens. Also ask how you should report the marriage afterwards so it is recorded at home.
Collect and attest your documents
Gather your passports, QIDs, single-status papers and, if relevant, divorce or death certificates. Documents issued outside Qatar usually need to be legalised in the country that issued them, attested by the Qatari embassy there or the right authority, and translated into Arabic by a certified translator. Check that names and dates of birth are spelled the same on every document, because mismatches are a common reason for delays. Churches often want single-status papers issued within the last three months, so do not get them too early.
Do the premarital medical test
Qatar's Family Law requires a premarital medical certificate before a marriage contract is signed, and the churches require it too. Qatari and GCC citizens test at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres, but since 2012 residents have done their test at private clinics; the Anglican church, for example, lists Al Ahli Hospital, Doha Clinic Hospital and Al Emadi Hospital. The tests cover infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis, and inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell and thalassaemia. Results usually take 7 to 10 working days. A result that shows a risk does not stop the marriage: you are offered counselling, and the decision stays with you.
Muslim marriage: go to the Family Court
Muslim marriages are documented by the Family Documentation Department of the Supreme Judiciary Council, at the Family Court. The groom, the bride, her guardian (wali) and two adult Muslim male witnesses attend, and the contract records the mahr (dowry). If the guardian cannot attend, he may be able to appoint an agent by an authenticated power of attorney; if there is no guardian, the judge can act as guardian. The contract is now issued electronically and can be printed with an authentication number. Fees and appointments can be checked on the Supreme Judiciary Council website or its Family Documentation app (التوثيقات الأسرية).
Christian marriage: book with your church
The churches in the Religious Complex in Mesaimeer (often called Church City) hold weddings, and at least one partner must be Christian; a church will not marry a couple where either partner is Muslim. Contact your parish office early: the Anglican church, for example, requires at least three preparation meetings with a priest and suggests allowing at least six weeks. Weddings take place inside the church with two adult witnesses, and photography is limited to inside the complex. After the wedding, the church usually registers the marriage with the Ministry of Justice and arranges attestation; ask your church exactly what it does and what you must do yourself.
Civil marriage at an embassy, if offered
Some embassies hold civil marriages for their own citizens, conducted in your language and under your home country's law. According to UK government guidance, no Qatari medical test is required for an embassy marriage. Rules differ widely: the Philippine Embassy, for example, only marries couples where both partners are Filipino and posts a notice for at least 10 working days first. Ask for the full list of documents and fees, and how the embassy certificate can be attested for use in Qatar.
Attest the marriage certificate
To use your marriage certificate with Qatari authorities, for example for a family visa, it normally needs to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). You can apply online on the MOFA website or in person at the Department of Consular Affairs, Sunday to Thursday, 7:30 am to 1 pm. A church certificate usually needs Ministry of Justice registration first, and a court certificate written in Arabic may need a certified translation for use abroad. Keep several certified copies, as you will need them often.
Read guide: Attesting marriage and birth certificates for Qatar →Register the marriage with your home country
A marriage in Qatar is not automatically recorded in your home country. Most embassies have a process to report or register a marriage abroad, often called a Report of Marriage, which updates your civil records. Do this soon after the wedding, because late registration can mean extra fees and affidavits. Your home country may also need the certificate attested in a particular way, for example translated into English and attested by MOFA in Qatar.
Sponsor your spouse's residence
Once you have an attested marriage certificate, a husband or wife with a valid residence permit can apply to sponsor their spouse through the Metrash app (the Ministry of Interior's official app). Eligibility depends on the sponsor's salary, job title and housing, and rules can change, so check the current conditions before you apply. If your spouse is already in Qatar on their own work visa, they usually keep it; you do not have to sponsor them.
Read guide: Bring your family to Qatar →Decide whether to change your name
Getting married in Qatar does not change anyone's name; your contract and QID use the names in your passports. If you want to take your spouse's surname, that is done through your home country, usually by applying to your embassy for a new passport in your married name. After you receive the new passport, update your passport details with the Ministry of Interior so your QID and visa match it. Banks, your employer, Kahramaa and other accounts will then need the new passport and QID too.
Married abroad? Get it recognised here
If you married outside Qatar, the marriage can generally be used in Qatar once the certificate is properly legalised and attested. That usually means legalisation in the country where you married, attestation by the Qatari embassy there (or the method that country's documents require), then attestation by MOFA in Doha, plus a certified Arabic translation if needed. This attested certificate is what is asked for when you apply for a family visa or register children. Start this before you move, because it is usually faster in the country that issued the certificate.
Read guide: Attesting marriage and birth certificates for Qatar →
What it costs
| Marriage at the Family Court / government registration fee (as reported) | QAR 200 |
| MOFA attestation of a marriage contract | QAR 100 |
| Anglican church wedding contribution (example; other churches differ) | QAR 5,000 |
| Philippine Embassy marriage solemnisation (example; other embassies differ) | QAR 240 |
| Premarital medical test at a private hospital | Varies by hospital; ask for the current price |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Booking a venue or flights before confirming that your route (court, church or embassy) is actually open to you as a couple.
- Getting single-status papers too early: churches often want them issued within three months of the wedding date.
- Assuming your embassy will marry you; many only issue documents, and some only marry couples where both partners are their citizens.
- Leaving the premarital test to the last week, when results usually take 7 to 10 working days.
- Turning up at the Family Court without the bride's guardian, the witnesses or their IDs, or without having agreed the mahr.
- Not attesting the marriage certificate at MOFA, then finding it is rejected for the family visa.
- Forgetting to report the marriage to your home country, which can cause problems later with passports, children's citizenship or inheritance.
- Using different spellings of names across passports, certificates and translations.
Questions people ask
Can two non-Muslim expats get married in Qatar?
Yes, if they are Christian they can marry at a church in the Religious Complex, and some embassies hold civil marriages for their own citizens. Other religious ceremonies, such as Hindu weddings, cannot be legally performed in Qatar, so couples usually marry at their embassy where possible or in another country. Check with your embassy first.
Can a Muslim woman marry a non-Muslim man in Qatar?
No. Under Qatar's Family Law, a non-Muslim man must convert to Islam before he can marry a Muslim woman. A Muslim man can marry a Christian or Jewish woman, and that marriage goes through the Family Court.
The bride's father lives abroad. Does he have to come to Qatar?
Not always. The guardian may be able to appoint an agent through a power of attorney authenticated by the competent authority, and if there is no guardian the judge can act as guardian. Ask the Family Court which documents it will accept in your case before you book.
Do we need the premarital medical test if we marry at our embassy?
UK government guidance says no medical test is needed for an embassy marriage, while court and church weddings do need it. Your embassy may have its own requirements, so ask it directly.
Can a bad premarital test result stop our marriage?
No. The results are shared with both of you and you are offered counselling, but the decision to marry stays with the couple. The certificate is issued once you have been counselled and confirm you still wish to marry.
We married in our home country. Do we need to marry again in Qatar?
No. A marriage performed abroad can be used in Qatar once the certificate has been legalised, attested by MOFA and, if needed, translated into Arabic. This is the certificate you will need for a family visa.
Can an unmarried couple live together in Qatar?
Living together without being married is against the law in Qatar, and landlords, hotels and hospitals may ask to see a marriage certificate. Couples planning to live together usually marry first.
How long after the wedding can I sponsor my spouse?
As soon as your marriage certificate is attested and you meet the family residence conditions on salary, job title and housing. The application is made through Metrash. See the family visa guide for the current steps.
Official sources
- UK government: Family law in Qatar (marriage section) ↗
- PHCC: Premarital screening ↗
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Marriage contract attestation ↗
- Supreme Judiciary Council: Family services ↗
- Anglican Church in Qatar: wedding guidelines (PDF) ↗
- Philippine Embassy Doha: marriage services ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.