Can we go to other GCC countries if we do not cancel our visa in Qatar?

The question many expatriates in Qatar ask themselves is whether or not they are able to travel to other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) without cancelling their temporary residence visa in Qatar. The answer is partly yes — you can travel to other GCC countries while keeping your Qatar residence visa active, but you still need to apply for a separate tourist or entry visa according to each country’s policy. Nevertheless, four significant conditions and considerations should be taken into account.

Travel with active Qatar residence visa

If you hold a valid Qatar residence permit (RP), you can travel to other GCC countries for tourism or business purposes without canceling your Qatari visa, provided you obtain the necessary entry visa for your destination country. Your Qatar residence visa remains active during your travels, and you're expected to return to Qatar within the validity period of your permit.

Key requirements for GCC travel:

You should have a valid Qatar residence permit having adequate remaining validity. The majority of GCC nations demand between three to six months of residence permit validity to enter the country. Your passport should also be valid with reasonable validity of six months or so.
Qatar residents can generally apply for tourist visas to other GCC countries with relative ease. GCC countries offer facilitated entry, but each has separate visa policies, but every country has its own visas policies and demands.

GCC country-specific policies

United Arab Emirates: Residents of Qatar can apply online for UAE tourist visas, or obtain a visa on arrival depending on their nationality. Having a Qatar residence permit may simplify the process but does not grant automatic entry. It is also a simple process and the success rates are high when the Qatar residents involved are in a stable employment.
Saudi Arabia: Qatar residents are allowed to use the online portal to apply for either Saudi tourist visa or business visa. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has become rather open to tourism, which has become more accessible to GCC residents.
Oman: Oman allows many nationalities who are residents in Qatar to obtain a visa on arrival or an e-visa, making travel relatively simple, which are granted as a visa at the port or by an e-visa system. The borders of GCC residents are rather open in Oman.
Kuwait and Bahrain: Visa applications are done through the respective embassy systems or online websites of these countries. Qatar residents are usually offered preferential treatment with regard to residential permits.

When visa cancellation becomes necessary

You must cancel your Qatar residence visa only in specific situations:

Permanent leave: In case you are leaving Qatar permanently and you will not be coming back to work it is the responsibility of your sponsor to cancel your residence permit. Maintaining an active visa in another country where a person is permanently staying is against the immigration law.
Termination of employment: Once your employment is terminated in Qatar, your employer starts the visa cancellation. You normally have a grace period (usually 30-90 days) during which you can either get a new job or leave the country.
Changing employer: Changing the employer in Qatar means cancelling the current visa and obtaining a new residence permit on the new sponsor.

Important considerations

Exit permits: Although Qatar has eliminated the exit permits of most employees, some groups might still be compelled to seek permission with the employer to travel. Confirm before making international trips.
Validity of your visa when travelling: Do not allow your Qatar residence permit to run out when travelling overseas. The re-entry of Qatar with an expired residence permit presents serious challenges and possible fines.
Restrictions to work: Although your Qatar residence visa permits you to work in Qatar, you cannot work elsewhere. It is illegal because working in other GCC countries under a Qatar residence visa may lead to deportation and bans.
Travel frequency: Frequent or prolonged absence from Qatar can raise some questions on the side of the immigration officials or your sponsor regarding your level of employment and the validity of your stay.

Practical advice

Keep your employer informed about travelling. Always carry with you all the documentation such as passport, residence permit, as well as the QID card. Keep watch of expiration dates and schedule vacations so as to avoid border or re-entering Qatar complications.

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