Skip to main content
MumExpat

Settling in

Settling in Doha

In Qatar, everything starts with the residence permit and the Qatari identity card, the QID: without it, no yearly lease, no bank account, no mobile contract and no school enrolment. The employer opens the way, then the family follows. Here are the steps in the right order, checked against the French embassy website and official Qatari sources.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival: residence permit, QID and the embassy

The employee is sponsored by their employer, then sponsors their spouse and children in turn. For French citizens there is no separate consulate: the embassy's consular section in West Bay keeps the register and issues passports and ID cards.

Good to know

  • For a scouting trip, French citizens enter visa-free for under 90 days, with a passport valid for more than six months, a return ticket and proof of accommodation. Health insurance is mandatory for any stay over 30 days. Source
  • The residence permit is the first formality on arrival: it is required to open an account, sign a lease, buy a car or enrol the children at school. It relies on local sponsorship, usually the employer's, and only the Immigration Department issues it; the embassy plays no part. Source
  • Medical tests are mandatory for the residence permit, family members included: a blood test and chest X-ray at an approved centre, for HIV, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and syphilis. Source
  • A spouse may work on a family visa without changing status; if they wish, switching from a family visa to a work visa is requested on the Interior Ministry's Metrash app, together with the new employer. Source
  • Registering with the register of French nationals abroad is not compulsory but strongly recommended: free and valid for 5 years, it is done online on Service-Public.fr with French ID, proof of residence in Qatar and a recent photo. Spouse and children can be linked to your file. Source
  • Passport and ID card applications are made by appointment, Sunday to Thursday mornings; legalisations, civil status and nationality are handled by appointment booked by email. For general questions, the France Consulaire service answers by phone, visas excepted. Source
  • Week 1, in order: medical test and fingerprints for the residence permit, QID, then bank account, SIM card in your name, lease and utilities, health card for the family and registration with the French consular register.

Addresses

  • Ambassade de France au Qatar, section consulaire

    Consulate

    West Bay, Diplomatic Area, Doha

    Your town hall and prefecture: passports, ID cards, civil status (births, marriages), electoral rolls, school grants and emergency assistance. Open by appointment depending on the service.

    Website Source

Go further

Housing: family neighbourhoods and renting

French families organise themselves around the two lycées: West Bay for Bonaparte, Al Waab, Salwa and West Bay for Voltaire's three campuses. Most choose a villa in a compound, with pool and playgrounds, or a large flat in West Bay or The Pearl.

Good to know

  • Two main formats: the flat, often in a tower in West Bay or The Pearl, sometimes with hotel-style services, and the villa, usually in a secure compound with pool, gym and playgrounds, much sought after by families. Source
  • No yearly lease without a QID: on a tourist visa, plan a serviced apartment until your residence card arrives. Source
  • To rent, you show your passport, QID and employment contract; rent is often paid with post-dated cheques. Visit, record the condition of the property with photos before signing, and check who covers maintenance and air conditioning. Source
  • Local pitfall: a bounced cheque is prosecuted as a criminal offence in Qatar and can lead to a prison sentence. Never sign rent cheques unless you are sure the funds will be there at each due date. Source
  • The lease is registered with the lease registration office; Law No. 8 of 2026 amended the 2008 leasing law, set a registration fee per unit and revised the procedures for settling rental disputes. Source
  • Choose the school before the neighbourhood: at rush hour, crossing Doha by car takes time, and a compound close to campus changes daily life.

Addresses

  • West Bay

    Neighbourhood

    The business and embassy district: towers overlooking the bay, Lycée Bonaparte, a Voltaire campus and the Corniche on foot. Mostly flats, practical for families with young children.

    Source

  • The Pearl

    Neighbourhood

    The man-made island north of West Bay: marinas, promenades, cafés and modern flats, much loved by expats. Among the highest rents in Doha.

    Source

  • Al Waab

    Neighbourhood

    Large villas and family compounds, a Voltaire campus, several international schools, with Aspire Park and Villaggio nearby.

    Source

  • Salwa

    Neighbourhood

    Along Salwa Road, south-west of the centre: villas and compounds, close to the Lycée Voltaire Salwa campus.

    Source

  • Al Rayyan, Al Gharrafa et Education City

    Neighbourhood

    To the west, around Education City: villas and compounds surrounded by green spaces, Sidra hospital, the National Library and many international schools.

    Source

  • Lusail

    Neighbourhood

    The new city to the north, served by metro and tram: planned districts, marinas and green spaces, about twenty minutes from Doha's hospitals. Further from the French lycées.

    Source

  • Al Wakrah

    Neighbourhood

    South of Doha, a calmer pace, more affordable rents, a public hospital and a beach; expect longer journeys to the lycées.

    Source

Go further

Phone and insurance

Two mobile operators, a line to link to your QID, and compulsory health insurance provided by the employer: check what it covers for the children before you sign.

Good to know

  • Two mobile operators, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar. Visitors open a line with their passport, residents with their QID; remember to link a line opened as a visitor to your QID, it is not automatic. The number linked to your QID is then used for all online procedures. Source
  • Health insurance is mandatory for all expats: employers must insure foreign staff with an insurer approved by the Ministry of Public Health, and the basic cover obligation extends to resident family members. Check what the policy covers for children before signing. Source
  • The French state does not cover health costs abroad, neither hospital stays nor repatriation: many families top up local insurance with international cover or the Caisse des Français de l'étranger. Source

Go further

Banking and money

Salaries are paid into a Qatari account, which you can open as soon as you hold your QID. Day to day, a bank card covers almost everything, often contactless or from your phone, and transfers between individuals go through in seconds using a mobile number.

Good to know

  • To open an account, banks ask for your QID, passport, proof of employment (work contract or salary certificate from the employer) and your address in Qatar. Several banks now open the account directly in their app, without a branch visit, once the QID has arrived. Source
  • Until the QID arrives, cover the first weeks with your French card and some cash. On arrival, any amount above 50,000 riyals in currency, jewellery or precious metals must be declared at customs. Source
  • Day to day, people mostly pay by card. The national Himyan card, issued by local banks as a debit or prepaid card, only works in Qatar (shops, ATMs, local websites); it can be added to Apple Pay. Keep a Visa or Mastercard for travel abroad. Source
  • Fawran, the Central Bank's instant payment service, runs around the clock between Qatari banks: you send money using the recipient's mobile number or alias, without an IBAN. You register in your banking app, and a number can only be linked to one bank. Source
  • To send money to France or pay an expense in euros, banking apps offer international transfers; compare the fees and above all the exchange rate with an online transfer service, as the gap can be significant. For school fees, ask the school how it takes payment. Source
  • Keep a bank account in France, as reopening one from abroad is harder. Tell your bank before you leave: your accounts must switch to non-resident status, and some savings products, such as the LEP, must be closed. Source
  • Local pitfall: a bounced cheque or refusing to pay a debt leads to legal proceedings, and even prison. Never sign a cheque you cannot cover. Source

Addresses

  • QNB (Qatar National Bank)

    Bank

    Qatar's national bank; QNB Mobile app, registered with Fawran.

    Website Source

  • Commercial Bank (CBQ)

    Bank

    Qatari commercial bank; Himyan card issued when you open a current or savings account.

    Website Source

  • Doha Bank

    Bank

    Qatari commercial bank; accounts can be opened from the app.

    Website Source

  • Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB)

    Bank

    Islamic bank; account opened in the app as soon as the QID arrives.

    Website Source

  • Dukhan Bank

    Bank

    Qatari Islamic bank; Himyan card and Fawran from the Dukhan Mobile app.

    Website Source

  • Wise

    Multi-currency account (Wise is not a bank): useful to send and receive money with France; no Wise card in this country.

    Website Source

Go further

Getting set up

Doha has its IKEA, at Doha Festival City in the north of the city, and hypermarkets that offer online grocery shopping. The French chain Monoprix has several stores in town; for second-hand items, browse the Qatar Living classifieds and ask around.

Addresses

  • IKEA Doha

    Furniture and home

    Doha Festival City, Al Shamal Road

    Qatar's IKEA, inside the Doha Festival City mall.

    Website Source

  • Monoprix Qatar

    Supermarket

    West Bay, The Pearl, Msheireb, Lusail (Place Vendôme), Doha Festival City…

    The French chain, present in several Doha neighbourhoods.

    Website Source

  • Carrefour

    Supermarket

    Hypermarkets and supermarkets in several malls; online grocery shopping in the app.

    Website Source

  • LuLu Hypermarket

    Supermarket

    Large hypermarkets; online grocery shopping in the app.

    Website Source

  • Al Meera

    Supermarket

    Qatari supermarket chain; online grocery shopping in the app.

    Website Source

  • Doha Festival City

    Shopping mall

    Al Shamal Road, Umm Salal

    IKEA and Monoprix under one roof, with Angry Birds World, the Snow Dunes indoor snow park and children's play areas.

    Website Source

  • Mall of Qatar

    Shopping mall

    Over 480 shops and entertainment areas designed for children.

    Website Source

  • City Center Doha

    Shopping mall

    West Bay

    One of Doha's largest malls, in the heart of West Bay: shops, restaurants and entertainment.

    Website Source

  • Jumbo Electronics

    Appliances

    Electronics and home appliances, in store and online at JS.QA.

    Website Source

  • Qatar Living, petites annonces

    Second-hand

    Classifieds website and app: furniture, appliances, cars, children's things.

    Website Source

  • Doha Accueil

    Second-hand

    The support network of French-speaking families: ask there for what you need before buying new.

    Website Source

Transport, licence and car

The Doha Metro is modern, air-conditioned and easy with children, but the car remains the main way to get around, especially in summer. A French licence is exchanged for a Qatari one.

Good to know

  • The metro has three lines (Red, Green and Gold). Each train has a Standard car, a Family car for families and women, and a Gold Club car; the Standard card gives access to both Standard and Family cars. Source
  • Children aged 4 and under travel without a card with a paying adult; from age 5, each child needs their own card, at the adult fare. Children may only travel alone from age 9. Source
  • As a resident, you must exchange your French licence for a Qatari one at the Traffic Department in Madinat Khalifa, with your licence, QID and any documents requested (eye test, photos). Request the French driving-rights certificate on Mes points permis before you leave. Source
  • While waiting for the QID, a temporary licence of up to three months is requested at the Traffic Department within 7 days of arrival; on a short stay, a French licence is valid for 2 weeks and an international licence for 6 months. Source
  • Zero tolerance for drink-driving. After an accident, do not move the vehicle, call 999 and wait for the police; also beware of tyre blowouts in the heat. Source
  • Without a car, Uber, Careem and Karwa taxis complement the metro; Metrolink shuttles link neighbourhoods to stations, using the same card as the metro. Source

Go further

Paperwork, taxes and the embassy

In Qatar, procedures go through the QID and official apps, such as Metrash for the Ministry of Interior. On the French side, the embassy handles civil status and ID documents, not your status in Qatar.

Good to know

  • The QID is your identity number for everything: bank, health, school, traffic fines. Most residence procedures are done on the Metrash app. Source
  • Taxes in a nutshell: Qatar levies no tax on salaries. In France, you become a non-resident in the year you leave and afterwards declare only French-source income. Source
  • A birth in Qatar is declared at the consulate within 30 days, by appointment, with the hospital's declaration of birth or birth notification; after that, you request transcription of the local certificate. The birth must also be registered with the Qatari authorities. Source
  • What the embassy does: passports, ID cards, civil status, legalisations, school grants, assistance after an arrest or serious accident. What it does not do: issue or defend a residence permit, pay medical bills or enforce a French court decision in Qatar. Source
  • AEFE school grants are requested from the consulate between January and March for the following school year, on the Scolaide platform; child and parent must be on the consular register, and proof of de-registration from the CAF is required. Source
  • Labour law allows employers to dismiss an employee on a permanent contract without cause, with one month's notice, two months after five years: keep a safety cushion, as the family's residence permit depends on that job. Source

Go further

Budget: what changes compared with France

Doha is not a cheap city, but the absence of tax on salaries and often generous packages change the equation. The big items are housing and school; the rest depends a lot on your habits.

Good to know

  • Housing: much more expensive than outside Paris, especially a compound villa or a flat on The Pearl; check whether your contract includes a housing allowance. Source
  • School: French lycées and international schools charge fees; check whether the employer covers tuition, and see our School fees page. Source
  • Tax: no tax on salaries in Qatar, which noticeably increases disposable income compared with France. Source
  • Transport: fuel, ride-hailing and the metro are cheap compared with France; a car is nonetheless almost essential for a family.
  • Groceries: local and regional products stay affordable, imported European products often cost double; alcohol, tightly regulated, is only available in licensed venues, and personal imports are banned. Source
  • Leisure: the National Museum of Qatar is free for residents with a QID and for children aged 16 and under, and National Library membership is free; indoor summer activities, however, quickly weigh on the budget. Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Doha will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France au Qatar, section consulaire
  2. 2 Ambassade de France au Qatar, inscription au registre
  3. 3 Ambassade de France au Qatar, permis de conduire
  4. 4 Conseils aux voyageurs, Qatar : entrée et séjour
  5. 5 Conseils aux voyageurs, Qatar : informations utiles
  6. 6 lepetitjournal.com Qatar, se loger au Qatar
  7. 7 The Peninsula, réforme de la loi sur les baux (2026)
  8. 8 QNA, lancement du paiement instantané Fawran

Get updates to the Doha guide

Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Doha guide changes, never more than once a week.

Other sections of the Doha guide

Report a change

A place has closed, a number has changed, something is no longer right? Please tell us: we check and fix the Doha guide.

What is going on?