ONE-STOP QATAR VISA CENTER. The Qatar Visa Center at the NU Mall of Asia building in Pasay City is launched on Wednesday (Sept. 25). The new visa center will serve as a one-stop center for both work and resident visa applicants where they could have their biometrics enrolled and medical checkup. (PNA photo by Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)
MANILA – Jobseekers or those applying for residency in Qatar will now have an easier time following the launch of the Qatar Visa Center in Pasay City on Wednesday.
Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, director of the Visa Support Service Department of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, said the new visa center will serve as a one-stop center as the new facility allows for the enrolment of biometric data of applicants—a requirement for visa applicants—and medical tests.
“This will unify the channel of granting visas to Qatar and will simplify the granting of residence permits,” Mohannadi said.
He added that the 1,500 square meter visa center at the NU Mall of Asia building in Pasay is capable of processing 350 applicants daily.
In the past, a work visa applicant in the Philippines must first be given a visa reference number from their employer in Qatar after submitting the required documents.
These applicants are then brought to Qatar to have their biometrics enrolled in their system and have their medical checkup.
However, those found to be unfit for work will have to be sent back to the Philippines, a loss of both time and money.
Dr. Ibrahim Al Shaar, director of the Medical Commission Department of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, said the center will not only minimize the cost and time of the application process, but it will also minimize the cost and time invested by applicants.
He added the process for work and residence visas can be completed within 48 hours through the new center.
H. E. Ali Ibrahim Al Malki, Qatar Ambassador to the Philippines, said the creation of the visa center underscores the growing desire for Filipino workers due to their significant contributions to the Middle Eastern state.
He added the visa center was the result of Qatar’s policy which aims to enhance the state’s relationship with the Philippines.
“It reflects the interest of the state of Qatar to strengthen the relationship with the Philippines,” Malki said.
Mohammed Ali Al Meer, labor expert from Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, added the visa center will also serve in the preservation of rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
For those seeking jobs in Qatar and have received their visa reference number from their prospective employer, the next step would be to book an appointment at the Qatar Visa Center at www.qatarvisacenter.com.
When the applicant reaches the visa center, he or she would sign the employment contract digitally, followed by the enrolment of fingerprints, iris scan, and facial image during the biometric enrolment phase.
The applicant must also have their medical tests within the facility which includes a vision test, submission of a blood sample, vaccination, x-ray scan, and physical examination. (PNA)
