Title

Qatar: Law No. 38 of 2005 on the Acquisition of Qatari Nationality

Date of adoption

30 October 2005

Entry into force

29 December 2005

Text versions

Arabic

English

Sources:

–  Official Journal Issue No. 12 (29 December 2012) p. 348. Retrieved from: Al-Meezan Qatar Legal Portal, accessed: 20 July 2013.

–  http://www.almeezan.qa/LawView.aspx?opt&LawID=2591&TYPE=PRINT&language=ar

–   http://www.almeezan.qa/LawView.aspx?opt&LawID=2591&TYPE=PRINT&language=en

Abstract

1. Those residents of Qatar who have been resident in the country since 1930 and who maintained regular legal residence in the country until the enforcement date of the aforementioned Law No. 2 of 1961.
2. Any person who is proved to be of Qatari descent, albeit in the absence of the conditions set forth in the preceding sub-article, and additionally, any person in respect to whom an Emiri decree has been promulgated.
3. Persons to whom Qatari nationality has been reinstated in accordance with the provisions of law.
4. Any person born in Qatar or in a foreign country to a Qatari father in accordance with the preceding Articles. (Art. 1)

Art. 2 sets out the conditions that need to be met in order to acquire Qatari nationality:

1. On the application date for Qatari nationality he has been a regular resident in Qatar for not less than twenty-five consecutive years.  During those years the applicant is allowed to leave the country for two months per year only and those months are to be deducted from the overall calculation of the 25 years. Should the applicant leave Qatar following the submission of the nationality application, and remain absent from Qatar for longer than six months, the Interior Minister reserves the right to disregard his previous residence, and discount his application.
2. He has a lawful means of income.
3. He has a good reputation and has not been convicted anywhere of any honor or integrity related offence.
4. Has good knowledge of the Arabic language.

Priority is given to those applicants who have a Qatari mother.

Qatari nationality may be granted to those who have rendered great service to the country, or who have particular skills the country need, or students who excel by showing promising scientific ability. Based on the requirements of the public interest, Qatari nationality may be granted in such cases to the persons concerned, who may also retain their original nationality (Art. 6).

A woman may acquire Qatari nationality by virtue of being married to a Qatari citizen with whom she has maintained her marital status for a period of at least five years from the date of the marriage announcement (Art. 8).

The law also lists the circumstances under which a Qatari national or a naturalized person may lose their Qatari citizenship (Art. 11 & 12 respectively).