Moving to Qatar
People usually move to Qatar on a contract – in energy, construction, aviation, medicine or education. The employer arranges the visa, but you usually have to take care of your belongings yourself. Moves to Qatar have one feature that shapes the whole schedule: household goods cannot be cleared until you receive your Qatari residence card. In Wrocław we pack and ship your belongings, and in Doha clearance and delivery are handled by a partner from the FEDEMAC network.
The QID residence card and shipping time
The residence card (Qatar ID) is issued after arrival, a medical examination and fingerprinting. This usually takes from a few days to a few weeks. If the container arrives earlier, it waits at Hamad Port, and storage charges grow every day. So in practice we recommend one of two solutions:
Shipping just after you fly out
We pack your home on the day you leave or shortly before. The voyage takes about four weeks, so the residence card is usually ready before the container arrives.
Storage in Wrocław
We pack earlier, your belongings wait in our warehouse, and we ship them once you let us know you have your QID. This option suits people who have to hand back their flat before flying out.
The container's route to Doha
| Leg | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wrocław – Hamburg, Bremerhaven or Gdańsk | by lorry or rail |
| voyage through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf | often with transshipment at Jebel Ali or another port in the region |
| Hamad Port, south of Doha | clearance on presentation of your QID, inspection of contents |
| delivery to Doha, Al Wakrah, Lusail | partner in Qatar |
The whole move usually takes five to eight weeks, not counting the wait for your residence card.
Inspection of contents and prohibited items
- Alcohol – prohibited in household goods shipments.
- Pork and pork products – we do not ship any food.
- Books, films, games and data storage media – may be reviewed by officials. Content contrary to local law will be withheld.
- Religious materials in quantities beyond personal use.
- Medicines – only in your luggage, with a prescription; some substances are banned in Qatar.
The inventory in English should be precise. A box labelled “books and CDs” may be opened, but it will not delay clearance the way an unlabelled box does, which the customs officer has to unpack completely.
Documents worth preparing in Poland
A family visa and employment in Qatar usually require diplomas and birth and marriage certificates certified in Poland and attested for the Qatari authorities. These documents travel with you in your hand luggage, not in the container. For clearance, our partner will ask for a copy of your passport, your QID and a power of attorney. We write about documents for shipments outside the EU under customs clearance, and you can work out an approximate volume in the calculator.
Qatar – questions about your move
Can my employer collect my belongings for me?
Clearance is carried out on the basis of your QID and a power of attorney for the customs agent. Your employer can help, but the documents must be in your name.
What if the container arrives before my residence card?
It will stay at the port until clearance, and storage charges will keep growing. That is why we match the shipping date to the expected QID date.
Is it worth shipping furniture to Qatar?
Many flats for contract workers are furnished. In that case a shared container for personal belongings is usually enough, and the furniture stays in Poland.
How does the heat affect delivery?
In summer unloading is planned for early hours. Temperature-sensitive items, such as candles or cosmetics, are better left behind or taken by air.
Shipping to Doha timed with your residence card
We pack, store and ship at the right moment. The quote is free.
Free quote