Qatar Visit Visa Extension 2026: How to Extend Through MOI Portal or Metrash
If your visit visa in Qatar is close to expiring and you want to stay longer, you can extend it before the expiry date through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) portal or the Metrash app, without leaving the country. A Qatar visit visa extension is available to most tourist and family visit visa holders who are still inside Qatar on a valid visa, and the process is done entirely online once your documents and, in many cases, a medical test are ready. This guide walks through the official fee, the eligibility rules, the documents you need, and the exact steps to submit your extension request.
Who Can Apply for a Qatar Visit Visa Extension
Not every visa category is extended the same way. Before starting the request, confirm which situation applies to you:
- Standard visit visa holders (issued for one month) who are still inside Qatar and whose visa has not yet expired.
- Family visit visa holders sponsored by a resident relative, where the sponsor applies for the extension from their own Metrash account.
- Visitors who entered on visas issued through the Hayya platform follow a separate Hayya-specific extension flow, which is not covered by the standard MOI visit visa extension service described in this guide.
If your visa has already expired, this is not a renewal request anymore. It becomes an overstay case, and daily fines apply until the situation is regularised through MOI.
Qatar Visit Visa Extension Fee and Duration
The extension is a paid service, and the fee is charged per 30-day period rather than as a flat one-time amount. This matches both MOI’s own fee structure and the fee shown directly inside the Metrash extension flow, which lists it as QAR 200 per 30 days.
Duration depends on the relationship between the visitor and the sponsor. This is confirmed directly on MOI’s own family visas page: family visit visas are “granted for one month and extendable for five months for first-degree relatives,” bringing the total possible stay to six months. First-degree relatives are father, mother, spouse, and children.
- A family visit visa is issued for an initial validity of one month.
- Where the sponsor is a first-degree relative (father, mother, spouse, or children), it can be extended by five additional months, for a total of six months.
- For any other relative, MOI states that the extension “differs in accordance to the degree of relation,” so the exact allowance for second-degree or third-degree relatives is decided case by case rather than published as a fixed number.
- Standard (non-family) visit visas typically follow shorter add-on periods; check the duration offered on your own extension screen before planning around it.
If the visa is not extended and expires while the visitor remains in Qatar, the overstay fine is QAR 200 per day, capped at a maximum of QAR 12,000. This is a different, higher fine structure than the one that applies to an expired residence permit, so do not assume the two are interchangeable when budgeting for a delay.
Note on temporary waivers: MOI has, at points during 2026, announced short-term automatic extensions for all entry visas during exceptional regional circumstances. One example: from 28 February 2026, MOI automatically extended all categories of expired or near-expiry entry visas by one month, fee-free and with no application needed, following a temporary closure of Qatari airspace. These measures are temporary and expire once the situation is resolved. The fee and duration rules described in this guide are the standard, ongoing process, not an emergency waiver, so always check MOI’s current announcements if regional conditions are unstable at the time you are reading this.
Documents and Requirements Before You Apply
Have these ready before starting the online request, since an incomplete application is one of the most common reasons an extension gets delayed:
- The visitor’s original passport, valid for the remaining stay period.
- The sponsor’s Qatar ID (QID), which must be valid and in good standing.
- Proof of the sponsor’s ability to support the visitor financially for a family visit visa extension.
- A valid visitor health insurance policy, which is compulsory for the extended stay period.
- A medical checkup, which MOI requires when the visitor is renewing for more than one month. This is done through a separate Ministry of Public Health service, the Medical Examination for Extension of Visit, carried out in person at the Medical Commission for a fee of QAR 100, paid by card. The result is sent electronically to MOI’s residency system, so there is no paper certificate to upload yourself.
Because the medical test and insurance requirements are treated as strict eligibility checks rather than optional steps, it is worth completing both before the visa’s expiry date rather than a day or two beforehand.
Qatar Visit Visa Extension: Quick Reference Table
| Detail | Information |
| Extension fee | QAR 200 per 30 days |
| Initial visa validity | 1 month |
| Maximum extension (first-degree sponsor) | 5 extra months (6 months total) confirmed on MOI’s family visas page |
| Where to apply | MOI portal or Metrash app |
| Medical checkup | Required when renewing for more than 1 month; QAR 100 fee, done at the Medical Commission (Ministry of Public Health service) |
| Visitor insurance | Compulsory for the extension period |
| Overstay fine | QAR 200 per day, capped at QAR 12,000 |
| Processing | Online, no office visit needed unless a medical checkup or biometric update is required |
How to Extend a Qatar Visit Visa Through Metrash
The sponsor applies for the extension from their own Metrash account, since the visitor is linked to the sponsor’s profile rather than having a separate login. Exact menu names can shift slightly between app versions, so if a label below does not match what you see, look for the closest equivalent option rather than assuming the service has moved.
- Open Metrash and sign in with your Qatar ID (QID). There is no separate account to create for this service.
- From the home screen, tap the Visa icon, then tap Operations from the options underneath it (Request Application, Operations, Follow up, and QVC).
- Open the Service Type dropdown on the Operations screen and select Extend Visa. The same list also includes Pay Visa Fees, Pay Overstay Fines, Renew Visa, and a separate Apply For Visa Extension Request option, among others, so make sure you pick Extend Visa specifically. Tap Continue.
- Select the visa you want to extend from the list linked to your profile. Each entry shows the expiry date and a running overstay/extension day count. Tap the entry to select it.
- Confirm the visa and choose the stay duration. This screen shows the overstay fine (if any) and the extension fee, billed at QAR 200 per 30 days, next to a number picker where you choose how many days to add. Tap Done once you’re happy with the duration.
- Tap Pay to move to the payment screen, choose a payment method, Apple Pay, a saved NAPS debit card, or add a new card and review the total payable amount.
- Pay and save the confirmation. The updated visa validity typically reflects in the system shortly after payment is confirmed.
How to Extend a Qatar Visit Visa Through the MOI Portal
If you prefer using a browser instead of the app, the same service is available on the official Ministry of Interior website:
- Visit the MOI portal and go to MOI Services > Inquiries > Visa Services. You can reach the extension form directly from the sidebar, or through the Visa Services landing page’s Description tab, where it appears as Visa Extension / Fine Payment.
- Open the Visit Visa Extension service.
- Choose whether to search by Visa Number or Passport Number using the radio buttons, then enter the value along with the visitor’s Nationality.
- Enter the verification code shown in the image, or use the audio option if you need it read aloud.
- Click Extend to review the eligibility result and the extension fee before confirming payment.
- Pay online and save the confirmation for your records.
What Happens If the Extension Is Rejected
An extension request can be rejected if the sponsor’s documents are incomplete, the medical test has not cleared, or the visitor does not meet the eligibility profile for the requested duration. If your request is declined, check the specific reason shown in the system before reapplying, since resubmitting the same incomplete request usually produces the same result. For a full breakdown of why applications get rejected and how to fix them, see our guide on Qatar visa rejection reasons.
Extension vs. Overstay: Why Timing Matters
Submitting the extension request even one day after expiry changes the case from a routine renewal to an overstay, which carries the QAR 200 per day fine mentioned above. It also puts the sponsor’s own record with MOI at risk, since sponsors are accountable for visitors under their QID. If you are unsure whether your current visa is still valid, you can confirm the exact status first through our guide on how to check your Qatar visa status online before starting the extension request.
Family Visit Visa Extension: A Few Extra Notes
If you originally applied under a family visit visa rather than a standard tourist visit visa, the sponsor’s proof of income and accommodation is checked again at the extension stage, not just at the initial application. If you have not yet gone through the original application process, our complete walkthrough on the Qatar family visit visa covers eligibility, fees, and the Metrash application steps in detail. Families who instead want to bring a relative in on a long-term basis, rather than a short visit, should look at the separate Qatar family residence visa process, since the residence route has different sponsorship and salary requirements.
Visitors who need to show proof of funds as part of either the original visa or the extension request can check our breakdown of the Qatar tourist visa cash requirements to see how much is typically expected.
The Medical Checkup for a Visit Visa Extension
MOI requires a medical checkup when a visitor is renewing their stay for more than one month, most relevant for family visit visa extensions that go beyond the standard 30 days. This is handled through a dedicated Ministry of Public Health service called Medical Examination for Extension of Visit.
The process is in person: the visitor submits their original passport and a clear copy of the current visit visa at the Medical Commission, pays a QAR 100 fee by card, and the result is sent electronically straight into MOI’s residency system, so there is no separate certificate to attach when you submit the extension itself. If you have already been through a medical exam for another Qatar service and want to understand how a report and result process generally works, see our guide on the QVC medical report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I extend a Qatar visit visa after it has already expired?
No. Once the visa expires, the case is treated as an overstay rather than an extension, and a fine of QAR 200 per day applies, up to a maximum of QAR 12,000. Extensions must be submitted while the current visa is still valid.
How much does it cost to extend a Qatar visit visa?
The official fee is QAR 200 per 30 days of extension, shown directly inside the Metrash extension flow. The total cost depends on how many days you request, which you choose using a day-count picker rather than fixed month blocks.
Do I need to create a new account to extend my visa on Metrash?
No. There is no separate account creation step. The sponsor logs into their existing Metrash account using their Qatar ID and manages the extension from there.
Is a medical checkup always required for a visa extension?
It is required when you are renewing for more than one month, which covers most family visit visa extensions. It is done through a Ministry of Public Health service at the Medical Commission for a QAR 100 fee, and the result is sent electronically to MOI, so you do not need to attach a certificate yourself.
How long can a Qatar visit visa be extended in total?
For family visit visas sponsored by a first-degree relative (father, mother, spouse, or children), MOI’s own page confirms a total of six months (one month plus a five-month extension). Extensions for other relatives are assessed case by case rather than published as a fixed number.
Can I extend the visa from outside Qatar?
No. The visitor must be inside Qatar on a currently valid visa for the extension service to apply.
Note: Always verify fees, extension durations, and app screens with the Ministry of Interior, as these are set by MOI and can change. Confirm current figures in the Metrash app before you apply.
