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A
FRIENDLY BUT IMPORTANT REMINDER/NOTICE! |
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Driving license |
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The Driving Test
You have to pay QR50 to register for
the test. The test has 4 parts, an
oral test for the road and traffic
signs, then the L-parking, pocket
parking, and the actual road test.
Take note that each test part is a
pre-requisite for the next, you need
to pass the first before you can
proceed to the next. But after
having passed one part, you do not
have to repeat it again. The tests
are conducted in manual transmission
cars and there may be up to four
people in the car, each one taking
turns to drive. During the Holy
month of Ramadan ladies are not
permitted to take a road test. |
List of Driving Schools
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Al Rayah Driving School |
487 7774 |
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Doha Driving School |
479 2263 |
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Gulf Driving School |
465 2822 |
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United Driving Company |
468 1003 |
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On your arrival to Qatar, you are permitted to drive in the
country if you hold any valid driving
licence for 7 days only (which includes your
day of arrival). For those who expect to
remain in Qatar for longer than 6 months, it
is necessary to apply for either a temporary
or Permanent Qatari driving licence. If you
are a resident of the G.C.C. countries, your
Gulf license will be valid for 3 months from
the date of your arrival in the country. If
you are a resident of Qatar you must have a
Permanant Qatari License.
A temporary licence allows you to drive rental cars, however
you may not be insured to drive a privately
owned car - (this is at the discretion of
the insurance company and they should be
contacted to ensure coverage). Once you get
your residence permit you can convert a
temporary licence into a permanent license.
A permanent licence, which you can get only
if you have a residence permit, is valid for
5 years.
If you do not have a licence
If you do not hold a valid driving licence
from any country you will have to enroll
yourself into a driving school. Depending on
your driving skills, you may be required to
take a full course (25 classes) or a half
course (12 classes). The duration and
timings are usually flexible. The instructor
will decide whether you're ready to take the
test. They may also provide transport to
pick and drop you. |
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Visa Fees |
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Business Visa
A 14-day business visa extendable for up to 3 months
is issued to visitors who visit Qatar for business
purposes. For this, the visitor must have a valid
passport and a return ticket. In addition, a letter
signed by a sponsor in Qatar stating that the visit
is for business purposes only, must be submitted to
the immigration authorities at the airport 48 hours
prior to the visitor's arrival.
Tourist Visa/Visit Visa
Valid for 14 days and extendable for another
14 days, Visit Visas are available on arrival for
nationals of 33 different counties, mostly from OECD
countries. A 14-day visa costs QR 55 ($15).
Foreigners with valid residence permits from GCC
states and of certain professions do not require a
visitor's visa. On arrival in Qatar they will be
granted an entry visa that will be valid for 14
days; however, the residence permit stamped on their
passport must be valid for at least 1 month.
Holders of a British passport with the right of
abode in Britain may obtain a visitor's visa for
Qatar for up to 6 months on application to the
Qatari Embassy in London, as well as other Qatari
embassies overseas. A 7-day business visa may also
be obtained from the embassy in London. A letter
should accompany the application for the business
visa from a sponsor in Qatar stating that the visit
will be for business purposes only. British citizens
will, on application be granted a multiple entry
visa for a maximum five year period, depending upon
the validity of the passport.
U.S. Citizens are entitled to a multiple entry visa
valid for 10 years. However, the maximum length of
stay in the country is 6 months after which the
holder of the visa must leave the country. The
application for the multiple entry visas must be
made to a Qatari Diplomatic mission outside Qatar.
The visa is valid for business and tourism purposes.
There is also a Joint Visit Visa valid for both
Qatar and Oman, valid for 21 days and extendable for
another 7 days, that costs QR 55, on condition hat
the holder visit Qatar first.
In February 2000, new expatriate-friendly measures
were taken. Holders of "Work Visit Visas" can bring
their families to Qatar, get an official ID card
from the Bureau of Immigration, obtain a health
card, driving license and enroll their children in
schools. The new "Work Visit Visa" is valid for one
year, renewable every year after that. Two other two
types of visa were also introduced; namely "Personal
Visit Visa" and "Commercial Visit Visa" The former
applies to an expatriate's spouse and relatives and
is valid for six months or one year. Upon expiry, it
can be renewed for another year after exit from the
country, with a renewal fee of QR 300.
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How to get a Domestic Helper |
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There are a few agencies here that assist in employing domestic
help both part time and on a full time basis. The
advantage of recruiting from an agency is that if
things don't seem to be working out a replacement is
made at no extra charges as long as it is within six
weeks. Agencies also handle all visa formalities.
A no objection letter is required from your sponsor
to higher a maid which will be given only if the
spouse has a resident visa. Single men are not
allowed to have a live-in maid. Once a no objection
letter is given you can start on the process of
acquiring a resident visa, and the medical testing
and fingerprinting.
Maids are usually paid between QR1200-QR2000 per
month. Some owners also subsidise their salary by
buying food and clothing.
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Carefully
observe the sensitivity in
Qatar |
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Do not take photos at sensitive places or high security places or
their woman, etc. |
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New Procedure
of Application of Letter of Good Conduct |
Please be informed that effective from 3rd March, 2008,
application for certificate of good conduct from
Malaysian citizen would be processed by the Embassy.
The certificate could be issued on the same day or
at the latest by the following day.
The application for certificate of good conduct must
be accompanied with a statutory declaration attested
by a commissioner of oath.
In addition the following particulars are required
from the applicant:
a. two (2) copies of the duly completed application
form for the certificate of good conduct. The
application form could be obtained at the counter of
the consular division at the Embassy. Alternatively,
it could also be downloaded from Wisma Putra's
website: http://www.kln.gov.my;
b. two (2) recent passport size photographs;
c. two (2) certified copies of identification card;
and
d. two (2) certified copies of passport namely
pages that contain details of the applicant (front
page and last pages) |
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