Doha, 14th October 2018:   Under the mandate of the Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar, the first Qatar Visa Center (QVC)  was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr. Rashid bin Shafea Al-Marri, ambassador of the State of Qatar in Colombo last Thursday.

On behalf of Qatari government, opening ceremony was attended by Muhammad Hassan Al Obaidali, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs at Ministry of Administrative Affairs, Labor and Social Affairs, Muhammad Abdullah Al Sobaie, Director of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Major General Abdullah Salim Al Ali, Advisor to HE Minister of Interior, Major General Muhammad Ahmad Al Ateeq, Director of the General Directorate of Passports, Dr. Ibrahim Al Shar, Director of Medical Commission, Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Director of Visa Support Services Department were among the Qatari dignitaries who attended the opening the ceremony.

Eminent dignitaries from Sri Lankan government including H.E Ravindra Samaraweera, Minister of Labour & Trade Union Relations, H.E Abdul Hameed Muhammed Fawzi, Minister of State for National Unity and Co-Existence, Sri Lankan ambassador to the State of Qatar H.E. Panagoda Don Prince Soloman Anura Liyanage and Ravi Karunanayaka, Member of Parliament were also present in the opening ceremony.

Beginning October 12th, 2018, work visa applicants to the State of Qatar will be required to enroll their biometrics data, sign work contracts and undergo medical test at the Qatar Visa Center in Colombo. The move to get work visa applicants to complete the most essential part of their visa process in the country of origin is aimed at guaranteeing employees their rights in a manner consistent with the best international standards.

As part of the visa application process, work visa applicants  will be required to get a visa reference number from the Ministry of Interior of Qatar through their employers before approaching the Center. For starting the process in the Center, the applicant has to book an appointment online through the website of Qatar Visa Center. At the reception, the identity of the visa applicant will be verified, the list of required documents checked, and a token issued. Once the token is called, visa applicants will be able to digitally sign their work contract, enroll biometric data and undergo the required medical tests. Upon completion of the process at the visa center, visa applicants will be able to track the status of their application online or through their employer in the State of Qatar.

On this occasion, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Sri Lanka, H.E Dr. Rashid Bin Shafea Al Marri, said: “In the framework of the ongoing cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Sri Lanka, in order to achieve the common interest and strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, I'm pleased and honored to attend the inauguration of the Qatar Visa Center in the Republic of Sri Lanka. This initiative, which is the first of its kind, aims at facilitating the work procedures for Sri Lankan expatriates migrating to the State of Qatar, and also to preserve and protect their rights through the application of best practices and international standards'

'As part of Qatar's keenness to facilitate, ease and simplify the work recruiment process and protect the rights of expatriates, Qatar Visa Centers will be opened in a number of countries, starting with the Republic of Sri Lanka,' said Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi, Director of Visa Support Services Department at the Ministry of Interior, Qatar. 'Medical examinations, biometric data enrollment and the signing process of employment contracts for expatriates migrating to the State of Qatar will be done through the Qatar Visa Centers in the expatriate country of origin. This reflects the extent of Qatar's endeavors to ensure the protection and safety of expatriates under simplified and effective recruitment process' He added. 

The government of Qatar will be opening additionally 20 Qatar Visa Centers within couple of months in 7 countries including  Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan & Tunisia.

Located conveniently on the Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte trunk route, at No. 435/3, Sentra Super City, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, the visa center is equipped with state-of-the-art biometric enrollment & medical test facilities. The visa center is designed in line with international standards ensuring greater transparency, traceability and increased security for the visa applicants. The center operates between 08:30 am to 04:30 pm from Monday to Friday. 

Some of the key medical tests to be conducted at the center include blood tests, x-ray, visual assessments and physical examinations. The operations are backed by a team of highly qualified healthcare professionals with internal systems and processes based on the latest medical standards and best practices.
Qatar Visa Center maintains robust multi-lingual information services for the benefit of visa applicants across multiple touch points.