Qatar ambassador to the Philippines Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki (second from left) with officials during the launch of this first visa center in the country.

Qatar ambassador to the Philippines Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki (second from left) with officials during the launch of this first visa center in the country.

The Government of Qatar formally opened the newly built Qatar Visa Center (QVC) in Pasay City to facilitate visa and employment applications of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) seeking employment in Qatar.

The QVC is directly supervised by Qatar Government authorities where OFW can complete their medical test and biometric enrolment requirements within a shorter period.

Mandated by the Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar, the Qatar Visa Center was inaugurated by Qatar Ambassador to the Philippines —– His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki, and Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, director of Visa Support Service Department, and Mr Ali Mohammed Al Meer, the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs amid the presence of other dignitaries.

Once the initial visa approval is issued by Qatar authorities, applicants can complete the contracts digitally, enrol their biometrics, undergo mandatory medical tests all under one roof, thus saving time and making it hassle-free for applicants at the center without having to wait for the process to be completed in Qatar.

The old visa process required medical testing done at accredited laboratories plus a host of other requirements that could sometimes take weeks to get completed.

According to Qatar officials, the Qatar Visa Center will make it obligatory for workers to sign work contracts and undergo medical tests and make their recruitment more rewarding and systematic in a manner consistent with the best international standards.

The QVC is in sync with international standards guaranteeing greater transparency, traceability and improved measures and security screening mechanisms for visa applicants. It will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

As part of the visa application process, the employer in Qatar will ensure all necessary procedures and make the visa payments on behalf of the applicant. The applicant or employer will need to book an appointment online and visit the Qatar Visa Center 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time on a given day.

Once at the center and after the identity of the visa applicant is verified and the list of required documents are checked, a token gets issued. Once the token is called, the contract terms will be explained to the visa applicant which is provided in Arabic and Filipino and can digitally sign the work contract.

Biometric enrolment and the mandatory medical tests will be done at the center. Upon completion of the processes at the visa center, applicants can track the status of their application online or through their employers in the State of Qatar.

During the inauguration, the director of Visa Support Service Department, Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said, “As part of Qatar’s willingness to facilitate the work process and protect the rights of expatriates, Qatar Visa Centers have opened in a number of countries which include the Philippines.”

The launching of Qatar Visa Center in Manila, underscores Qatar’s growing desire for Filipino work force, as well as for other foreign migrants to work or live in Qatar.