Guides / Visas & residency / Long-term residency
Residency through property ownership in Qatar
How non-Qataris can get a Qatar residence permit without an employer sponsor by buying property worth QAR 730,000 or more in a designated area, and what extra benefits come at QAR 3.65 million.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Minimum value
- QAR 730,000 (about USD 200,000) for a residence permit; QAR 3.65 million (about USD 1 million) for extra benefits
- Where
- Only in designated freehold or usufruct areas, such as The Pearl, Lusail, West Bay (Legtaifiya) and Simaisma
- Stay rule
- At least 90 days in Qatar each year
- Cost
- Transfer fee 0.25% of the value plus QAR 100; residency approval itself is free
Qatar lets non-Qataris buy property in a set list of areas, and owning property of enough value can give you a residence permit that does not depend on an employer or a family sponsor. There are two levels: property worth at least QAR 730,000 (about USD 200,000) gives a residence permit linked to the property, and property worth at least QAR 3.65 million (about USD 1 million) adds benefits similar to those of permanent residency card holders, such as government healthcare and education. The order is always the same: check that the property is in an eligible area, buy it and register it with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), apply to the MOJ for real estate residence approval, then complete the Ministry of Interior (MOI) steps for your residence permit and Qatar ID. This guide is for residents who want independence from their job, and for buyers coming from abroad. The rules were updated in 2025 and 2026, so confirm details with the MOJ before you pay anything.
Before you start
- A clear budget: the property value on the title deed must reach QAR 730,000 (or QAR 3.65 million for the higher level), so check how the price is recorded before you sign
- Your passport, and your Qatar ID (QID) if you already live here
- A certificate of good conduct (police clearance) if you do not live in Qatar yet; it usually needs to be attested for use in Qatar, so ask the MOJ which attestation it accepts
- The property's zone number and ownership type (freehold or usufruct), taken from the title deed or the developer, so you can check it is in an eligible area
- Proof that the seller can sell: a copy of the current title deed, and for off-plan units the developer's licence and escrow account details
- A mortgage pre-approval letter if you are borrowing; banks set their own rules for expatriate buyers
- A login for Qatar's national government login (Tawtheeq) if you will use the MOJ online services
- Marriage and birth certificates for your spouse and children, attested, if you plan to bring family
Step by step
Decide which level you are aiming for
Property worth QAR 730,000 or more gives you a residence permit tied to the property, without an employer or relative as your sponsor. Property worth QAR 3.65 million or more gives the same plus privileges similar to permanent residency card holders, including healthcare, education and some investment benefits. The value that counts is the value recorded for the property, not what you spent on fees and furniture. Decide early, because a unit just under a threshold will not qualify, however close it is.
Read guide: Permanent residency in Qatar: who qualifies and how to apply →Check the property is in an eligible area
Non-Qataris can buy freehold only in designated areas. Since Cabinet Resolution No. 21 of 2026 (in force from June 2026) the list is: West Bay (Legtaifiya, Zone 66, which includes West Bay Lagoon), The Pearl Island (Zone 66), Al Khor Resort (Zone 74), Al Dafna (Zones 60 and 61), Onaiza (Zone 63), Lusail, Al Kharayej and Jabal Thuaileb (all Zone 69), and the Simaisma Resort and Beach Project (Zone 70). Separate usufruct areas, where you buy the right to use a property for up to 99 years, include Msheireb, Al Sadd, Fereej Bin Mahmoud, Al Mansoura, Umm Ghuwailina and the old airport area. A district name in an advert is not enough: check the zone number on the title deed against the official map, and ask the developer in writing whether the unit is freehold or usufruct.
Read guide: Where to live in Doha: areas, rents and how to choose →Do your checks before paying a deposit
Ask for a copy of the seller's title deed and check for mortgages, unpaid service charges, owners' association rules and any existing tenant. For off-plan property, make sure the developer and project are licensed by Aqarat, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, and that you pay into the project's escrow account. Use a broker licensed by Aqarat; the Aqarat app lists licensed brokers and developers. Avoid non-refundable deposits until you are sure the unit qualifies for residency.
Sign the sale agreement and arrange finance
Sign the sale and purchase agreement (SPA), which should state the price, payment schedule and what happens if either side withdraws. If you need a mortgage, some Qatari banks lend to expatriate buyers, but approval depends on your income, age, residency status and the property. Ask the bank and the MOJ how a mortgage affects the residency application before you commit, because rules on financed property are not clearly published. Keep copies of every payment receipt.
Read guide: Personal loans and credit cards in Qatar: rules, limits and travel bans →Register the transfer with the Ministry of Justice
Ownership only becomes yours when the MOJ Real Estate Registration Department issues the title deed in your name. The buyer and seller (or their authorised representatives) complete the transfer with ID, the original deed, any power of attorney and proof of payment. The MOJ has non-Qatari ownership offices and says the transfer itself takes minutes once documents are complete. You pay a transfer fee of 0.25% of the property value plus QAR 100 for the title deed or plan, though some transactions are exempt.
Gather the residency documents
For the MOJ's real estate residence approval you need your QID or passport, a copy of the original title deed, and, if you do not live in Qatar, a certificate of good conduct. Get the good conduct certificate from your home country or country of residence, and attest it as the MOJ requires. Scan everything clearly as PDFs, because the service is online. If the property is owned jointly or through a company, ask the MOJ first, since the service is described as being for individuals.
Read guide: Police clearance certificate (good conduct) in Qatar →Apply for real estate residence approval
Apply through the MOJ's online service "Obtaining Real Estate Residence Approval", which is free and listed as taking about 2 days. You log in with the national login, upload the documents and follow the request. If something is unclear, the MOJ Office of Non-Qatari Property Ownership can be reached on 40216669 or nqo@moj.gov.qa. Aqarat has also announced a one-stop service through which qualifying buyers should get title deeds and residency within days, so ask your developer whether it applies to your purchase.
Read guide: Tawtheeq (National Authentication System): signing up and logging in →Complete the MOI residence permit steps
MOJ approval is not the residence permit itself. The Ministry of Interior then issues your residence permit, which in practice means the usual steps for new residents: medical examination and fingerprints, then the Qatar ID. If you already hold a QID through an employer, ask the MOI whether your residence will be transferred to the property route, and do not cancel your current residence until the new one is confirmed. You can follow your residence status in the Metrash app.
Read guide: Residence medical exam and fingerprints in Qatar →Bring your family
Residence through property ownership covers the owner and family, without needing an employer. In practice you apply for your spouse and children as dependants once your own residence is issued, with attested marriage and birth certificates. What each family member gets, especially the healthcare and education benefits at the QAR 3.65 million level, should be confirmed with the MOI when you apply, because official pages do not list it in detail. Sponsoring parents is decided case by case.
Read guide: Bring your family to Qatar →Keep the permit valid
You must spend at least 90 days in Qatar each year, in one stay or several, to keep the residence. Renew your QID before it expires, and keep the title deed, owners' association payments and utilities in order, because renewal depends on you still owning the property. Keep your mobile number and address up to date in Metrash so you receive reminders. If you plan a long period abroad, check the effect first.
Read guide: Renew your Qatar ID →Plan before you sell or transfer the property
The residence is tied to the qualifying property, so selling it, or transferring it so that you no longer hold enough value, removes the basis for your permit. Before you sell, arrange another route, such as a new employer, a family sponsor or another qualifying property, and ask the MOJ and MOI how long you have to switch. If you are leaving Qatar for good, cancel the residence properly so you have no fines or open records.
Read guide: Cancelling a residence permit in Qatar: dependants, employer and the 14-day rule →Compare the other long-term routes
Property is not the only way to stay in Qatar without an employer sponsor. The Permanent Residency Card is for long-term residents and certain other groups, and is a separate application. In February 2026, Invest Qatar (the Investment Promotion Agency) launched self-sponsored residency visas for entrepreneurs and nominated senior executives, described as five years and renewable. Choose the route that fits how you plan to live and work, and remember that property residency does not by itself give you the right to work for any employer.
Read guide: Permanent residency in Qatar: who qualifies and how to apply →
What it costs
| Property transfer (registration) fee | 0.25% of the property value (QAR 2,500 on QAR 1,000,000) |
| Title deed or plan | QAR 100 |
| MOJ real estate residence approval | Free |
| Minimum property value for residence permit | QAR 730,000 |
| Minimum property value for permanent-residency-style benefits | QAR 3,650,000 |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Trusting an advert that says "freehold" or "residency included" without checking the zone number on the title deed against the official list
- Buying a unit valued just under QAR 730,000, or recording a lower value on the deed, and then finding it does not qualify
- Paying a large non-refundable deposit before confirming that the unit and you are eligible
- Paying an off-plan developer directly instead of into the project's escrow account
- Cancelling your work residence before the property-based residence is issued
- Spending less than 90 days a year in Qatar and putting the residence at risk
- Selling the property without first arranging another residence route
- Assuming property residency lets you work anywhere; employment rules still apply
Questions people ask
Can I get residency by buying any apartment in Doha?
No. The property must be in one of the designated freehold areas or usufruct areas, and its value must be at least QAR 730,000. Many popular areas such as Al Sadd and Msheireb are usufruct (up to 99 years), not freehold. Always check the zone and ownership type on the title deed.
Is the USD 1 million level the same as the Permanent Residency Card?
Not exactly. Property worth QAR 3.65 million or more gives privileges similar to those of permanent residency card holders, such as healthcare, education and some investment benefits. The Permanent Residency Card itself is a separate MOI programme with its own rules. Ask the MOI exactly which benefits apply to you and your family.
Can I combine two cheaper properties to reach QAR 730,000?
Some advisers say several properties can be combined, but this is not clearly stated on official pages. Ask the MOJ Office of Non-Qatari Property Ownership in writing before you buy on that basis.
Can I buy with a mortgage and still get residency?
Some Qatari banks lend to expatriate buyers, and a mortgage is registered on the title deed. Whether and how a mortgaged property counts towards the threshold is not clearly published, so confirm with the MOJ and your bank before signing.
Can my wife and children live with me on this residency?
Yes, the scheme covers the owner and family without an employer sponsor. You apply for them after your own residence is issued, with attested marriage and birth certificates. Confirm with the MOI which benefits they receive at your property level.
Do I have to live in Qatar to keep it?
You must spend at least 90 days a year in Qatar. You do not have to live in the property you bought; many owners rent it out.
Can I work in Qatar if my residency is through property?
Property residency is about the right to live in Qatar, not a work permit for any employer. If you want to work, check the current rules with the Ministry of Labour or your future employer, or look at the Invest Qatar entrepreneur visa if you plan to run a business.
What happens to the property if the owner dies?
Freehold property passes to heirs under Qatari inheritance rules, and usufruct rights can also pass to heirs. An heir's own residency depends on their situation, so take legal advice.
Official sources
- Sharek: Obtaining Real Estate Residence Approval (Ministry of Justice) ↗
- Aqarat: Own real estate (thresholds and one-stop service) ↗
- The Peninsula: Qatar updates list of 10 areas open to non-Qatari ownership (June 2026) ↗
- Pinsent Masons: Qatar expands foreign real estate ownership (July 2026) ↗
- Al Tamimi: Title deeds and real estate residency within days (October 2025) ↗
- Invest Qatar: New residency visas for executives and entrepreneurs ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.