If you sponsor a domestic worker in Qatar, renewing her QID (Qatar ID, which is her residence permit) is your responsibility, not hers. It is a quick, low-cost task once you know the steps, and Qatar has made it largely digital, but letting it lapse means a daily fine, so it pays to renew a little early.
This guide covers renewing a domestic worker’s QID in 2026: who does it and through which channel, what you need in place first, the fees in real Qatari riyals, how long it takes, and the penalties for renewing late. Because the government does not publish every figure on one page, we flag what to confirm on Metrash or with the Ministry of Interior at renewal time.
Who renews the QID, and how
The sponsor renews the worker’s QID; the worker cannot renew it herself. There are three ways to do it, and the Ministry of Interior is the authority in every case:
- The Metrash app (Metrash2), the fastest route: open Residency, then Residency Renewal, select your personal sponsorship and the worker’s QID, choose the renewal period, and pay by card. You can have the new card delivered.
- The MOI e-services portal (moi.gov.qa), for the same renewal online from a browser.
- An MOI service centre in person, if you prefer, where payment is by card only.
Note that Qatar has no Tadbeer system, which is a UAE arrangement. In Qatar you deal with the MOI directly, or through a mandoub (liaison) or a licensed recruitment agency if you would rather not handle it yourself.
Before you renew: what you need in place
Renewal can be held up if the basics are not ready, so check these first:
- A valid passport for the worker, with at least six months remaining.
- An active, non-cancelled QID and correct sponsorship details on the file.
- A valid health card, and a medical check if the system flags one at renewal.
- Health insurance, which may be required, and no outstanding legal blocks or unpaid dues on the file.
Paying the worker through Qatar’s Wage Protection System is a legal obligation in its own right, enforced by the labour ministry, though it is handled separately from the QID renewal step rather than being a gate on it.
The fees, in Qatari riyals
QID renewal for a domestic worker is inexpensive. The confusion usually comes from mixing up the residence-permit fee with the separate work-permit fee, or applying the higher family-member rate by mistake. Here is what a domestic-worker renewal actually involves.
| Item | Fee (QAR) |
|---|---|
| Residence permit (QID) renewal, per year (personal sponsorship) | About 300 |
| Work-permit fee (labour ministry), family sponsor | About 100 (reduced from 500 in late 2025) |
| Health card (PHCC), non-Qatari | About 100 |
| Medical examination, if required | About 100 |
| QID card delivery via Metrash | About 20 |
A few things to keep straight. The QID can be renewed for one, two or three years, and you pay per period. The roughly QAR 300 per year is the domestic-worker (personal sponsorship) rate; the higher figures some guides quote (around QAR 500) are the family-member tier and do not apply to a maid. And the residence permit and the labour work-permit are two different fees. Because these amounts are not all published on a single official page, confirm the live total on Metrash when you renew.
How long it takes, and renewing early
The electronic approval is usually same-day to a few days, and a new physical card is typically delivered within about 3 to 10 working days. You can renew early, up to about 90 days before the QID expires, which is the safest habit given the daily fine for lapsing.
Late renewal: the fine and the grace period
Late renewal is charged at QAR 10 per day. On the grace period after expiry, the picture changed recently: reporting in mid-2026 indicated Qatar reduced the grace window to 14 days (from the 30 days some older guides cite), after which the daily fine applies. Because this is an area in flux, treat 14 days as the current guide and confirm the exact grace period with the Ministry of Interior or on Hukoomi when you renew. Either way, the safe move is the same: renew before the QID expires.
Qatar is not the UAE or Saudi Arabia
A quick orientation if you have hired elsewhere in the Gulf. The document is the QID (Qatar ID), issued by the Ministry of Interior, not an Iqama or an Emirates ID. There is no Tadbeer here. And domestic workers are governed by Qatar’s Law No. 15 of 2017, which sets working hours, weekly rest and an end-of-service benefit. If you are not renewing but bringing someone new on, our guide to hiring a maid or nanny in Qatar walks through it, and our directory of licensed recruitment agencies lists your options.
And when a contract ends, the gratuity calculator works out the end-of-service benefit due under Qatari law.
