Qatar 10 Year Long Term Residency Visa 2026 Who Qualifies

The Residency Game Changed in February 2026

For years, expats in Qatar faced the same cycle. Renew your residency. Stay tied to your employer. Repeat.

That model is shifting.

Qatar announced two new long-term residency permit categories in early February 2026, designed to attract senior global talent and high-potential entrepreneurs. The new Executive and Entrepreneur residence permits allow eligible foreign nationals to live and work in Qatar for up to 10 years. 

This is not a minor update. It is a structural change in how Qatar approaches long-term expat residency.

This guide covers who actually qualifies, what the salary thresholds are, and exactly how the application works in 2026.

What Is the Qatar 10-Year Long-Term Residency Visa?

Qatar's long-term residency program gives eligible foreign nationals the right to live and work in Qatar for up to 10 years. Your residency is not tied to a single employer. You do not go through the standard annual or biannual renewal cycle.

Additional benefits of the program include the ability to sponsor dependents and domestic workers, asset ownership, and merchant discounts. 

The program currently covers two categories. These are the only two categories eligible in 2026.