Government Liaison (PRO)
Need a trusted and reliable government liaison service in Qatar? Afreno can act as your professional and trusted PRO (Public Relations Officer or Government Liaison Officer) of your company in order to officially represent you with the necessary government departments. We can take care of all of the required paperwork when it comes to applications, making sure that your submissions are complete and on time for approvals and renewals.
Acquiring official documents can be a long and tedious process, and you may have to go back and forth between different departments in order to obtain the necessary documents that you need. Afreno can help you save time and effort from falling in line to spending hours in queue when you could be doing something else more productive with your time. Our solid government liaisons are fully reliable, backed by many years of having a good working relationship with the relevant government authorities. We value quality customer service above all else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need help with government liaison service?
Afreno has longstanding relationships with the necessary bodies of authority in the government. We can help facilitate submissions and renewals for you.
Why do I still need assistance even after initial set-up?
For instance, plenty of registrations and certificates need to be renewed regularly (e.g. the Establishment Card only lasts for three years). While some of these renewals can be done online, some still require physical appearances or even regular inspections of premises like the civil defense certification renewal, which has to be scheduled with the MOI.
My company is already up and running. Why do I still need government liaison?
Aside from our offered government liaison service, we can also help supervise the proper procedures for the liquidation or de-registration of a company. These processes can be as complex as setting the company up.
What else should I know about liquidation?
There should also be documents translated in Arabic for the reasons of the dissolution. On top of that, the tax clearance must be submitted to the Commercial Registry as well.
What are the different visa renewals for employees should I know about?
Your employees need to have proper work visas, as well as family visas for their wives and children (this must include residence visas as well).
What should I know about business visa renewals?
Your company or recognized commercial entity must submit an application to the Immigration Department.
What are the complexities involved in commercial registration renewals?
You have to submit the necessary documents to the Commercial Registration and Licenses Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI).
What should I know about tax card renewals?
You need to have your tax card renewed within a given deadline and submit a copy of the commercial registration, the Qatar Identification Card of all of the partners, and the articles of association of the company.
When can I have my vehicle registrations renewed?
You need to renew your vehicle registrations every year.
Why can’t I just renew everything online?
While some services can be done through the e-services platform of the appropriate government authorities, you will need a trusted business consultancy partner to help you with the physical aspect of inspections, submissions, and ensuring that all of your submissions are done completely, promptly and in one go with no back and forth submissions and unwanted delays.
01
Establishment Card Renewal (EC)
From the Ministry of Interior, you can renew your Establishment Card upon expiry or even add a new branch to that card. The fee is QAR 200. You must fill up the prescribed form and have it signed by an authorized signatory. You should also attach a copy of your company’s commercial register, as well as the commercial license of the company. Afterward, you will need to attach a copy of all of the ID cards of the authorized signatories. This must be submitted promptly and with complete details to the General Directorate of Passports and its Services Centres.
Afreno can help facilitate all of the submissions in this regard in order to make sure that all of the required documents are complete. With us as your trusted partner, you won’t have to worry about going back and forth between government offices for missing data, wrong information, and inaccurate submissions.
02
Commercial Registration Renewal (CR)
In order to have your Commercial Registration properly renewed, local investors need to submit a request to the Commercial Registration and Licenses Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). Via the Service Centre, applicants must download the application form and have this duly filled out. This must be signed by an authorized signatory, and submitted to the public service officer of the MOCI. You can also head to any of its branches for convenience, and pay the appropriate fees.
This can also be done online, or through the MOCI mobile app. You must have a copy of the ID of the applicant. If the company is a limited liability or Partnership Company, you must have a collective acknowledgment from the company’s partners. If the company is a public or private joint stock company, then you should submit the chairman’s resolution or the minutes of the meeting as well.
03
Commercial License Renewal (CL)
With a commercial license renewal, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) can conduct specific site inspections at your company to ensure that the location is approved for declared licensed activities. Your company’s commercial license is one of the most important documents you need to have with you as you go about your company’s regular day-to-day activities. With your commercial license, you can continue conducting your company operations smoothly and without a hitch.
Afreno can help process your commercial license renewal the best way we know how. We can facilitate the whole process for you with our ever-reliable government liaison, making sure that all of the requirements are met and that submissions are complete and accurate. We can have your commercial license renewed promptly and efficiently to avoid any unnecessary delays in your company operations, leading to a more productive year with less unexpected costs on your company’s bottom line.
04
Tax Card Renewal
Any fully functioning business entity that derives taxable income from regular daily operations is a taxpayer, and needs to submit a request to the General Tax Authority to have a tax card renewed. Within 30 days of acquiring approval from the necessary government authorities to begin company activities, or on the first day of the realization of any income (whichever is earlier), the card must already be issued.
Taxpayers can renew their tax card online by submitting all of the required information and attaching a copy of the commercial registration, the Qatar Identification Card of all of the partners, and the articles of association of the company. These can also be submitted to the Service Center at the Commercial Registration Building in Lusail. Make sure that the information provided is complete and accurate, such as the full name as it appears in the individual’s passport to avoid any unwanted delays.
05
Civil Defense Renewal
Companies operating in Qatar need to have a Civil Defense approval for certain industries. In order to have this approval renewed accordingly, applicants can head on over to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s headquarters in Lusail. You can also visit any of the ministry’s branches, and submit the required documents such as the renewal application form (make sure that all of the information here is complete without any omissions or any amendments). You should also have a copy of the identification papers of the business owner, as well as any third party approvals for specific company activities. You have to submit certain fees for the processing as well.
At Afreno government liaison service we can not only provide you with quality and speedy customer service when it comes to civil defense renewals, but we can also assist you with any other document requirements such as translations into the official language of Arabic and attestations of paperwork to ensure full authenticity of documents.
06
Vehicle Registration & Renewal
Every year, you are required to have your vehicle registrations renewed accordingly in order to continue with your daily operations. Keep in mind that before you apply for a renewal, you have to make sure that all of your traffic fines are properly cleared. You should have passed any yearly technical inspections for any vehicles that are older than three years. Make sure that you renew your vehicle insurance (be ready to provide proof of this renewal).
The Traffic Department of the Ministry of Interior is responsible for handling all of the issues that concern licensing and traffic violations. Have your duly filled application form ready, and bring your vehicle along with the original registration to the Traffic Department of the MOI. Pay the appropriate fees. You may also opt to check the Metrash2 app to see if you have any unresolved traffic violations or if you need to contest them before renewal.
07
Registration & Licensing
Doing business in Qatar requires that you have a commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI). With the Law No. 25/2005 or the “Commercial Registry Law”, no single entity may fully engage in any commercial activity before registering in the Commercial Registry. It is also important to note that under the QFC, QSTP, Manateq, and Free Zones are various nuances as to the separate licensing laws that govern the aforementioned sectors in order to attract direct foreign investment. However, regardless of the locations and the circumstances surrounding your business, registration requirements and licensing procedures must be fully adhered to.
Afreno takes pride in its longstanding relationships with the necessary bodies of government in order to help facilitate processes in the registration and licensing of any commercial entity. Our offered government liaison service is reliable, first-hand experience of all of our professional experts can make sure that requirements are submitted on time, completely, and accurately.
08
De-Registration & Liquidation
There are many nuances when it comes to company liquidation, even after you submit a request to the Commercial Registration and Licenses Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). Aside from the necessary paperwork which includes the official reasons for liquidation, you must submit a collective approval signed by all of the partners, as well as a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman, or Managing Director for joint stock companies. You should also have the approval of the Companies Control Department on the required procedure. Online, you can log into the government e-portal under Investor Services, and choose “Business Liquidation”.
You should have a copy of the personal identification document of both the applicant and the partners, and a letter from the liquidator accepting the said liquidation. Be ready to submit a copy of the Qatar ID of the liquidator. Review all of the data to make sure everything is in order. Afreno can help you with all of these and so much more.
09
HR & Immigration
The government of Qatar always makes sure that all of the Human Resources and work papers of individuals are in order. Appropriate work visas are issued to companies, employees, private entities, and individual sponsorships. All of these need to be approved by the Ministry of Interior. You should also be able to provide visas for the wives and children of employees for stays that are longer than a year. This visa grants permission for the family members of the residents working in government departments and civil service employees as well.
In order to boost tourism and foreign investment, Qatar adopts a visa-exemption policy for approximately more than 30 countries. Business visas are issued to entrepreneurs who have already applied in advance. All of these HR and immigration concerns can be handled promptly and efficiency if you have a trusted business consultancy partner like Afreno to assist you with all of the nuances.