Skip to content
The Gulf Expat

How long is probation in Qatar?

Up to 6 months, and only once with the same employer (Art. 39). Your employer must give you at least 1 month's notice to end it.

Checked 21 October 2026

The 6 months is the most the law allows. Your contract sets your own period, so check it before you sign.

Get your datesFor when this job ends: every deadline as a date.

What to do now

  1. Find the probation length in your offer and check it is no more than 6 months.
  2. Check the notice your contract sets for leaving Qatar in probation.
  3. If you change employer in probation, give 1 month's written notice and keep a copy.
  4. When a job ends, build your leaving plan for the dates that follow.

What to ask HR

  1. On what date does my probation end?
  2. What basic pay is written in my contract?
Send to WhatsApp

If your employer ends it

Your employer can end the contract during probation, with at least 1 month's notice.

If you move to another employer in Qatar

Give your employer at least 1 month's written notice.

Your new employer then repays your old employer for your ticket and recruitment costs. That payment is capped at 2 months of your basic pay.

If you leave Qatar

Give the notice agreed in your contract. It can be no more than 2 months.

If either side skips the notice

The side that skips it pays the other the basic wage for the notice period (Art. 39).

After probation

Either side can end the contract without giving a reason, with written notice (Art. 49):

  • 1 month during your first 2 years of work.
  • 2 months after your second year.
  • Pay in place of notice is your basic wage for that period.

If you leave Qatar without keeping to these notice rules, you cannot get a new work permit for 1 year.

Your gratuity

Gratuity is due once you complete 1 full year of work (Art. 54). It is at least 3 weeks' last basic pay for each year.

If your job ends near the 1-year mark, ask the Ministry of Labour whether your probation counts towards that year.

Fixed-term contracts

A fixed-term contract can last up to 5 years (Art. 40). If you keep working after it ends without a renewal, it becomes open-ended.

Before you sign

  • Check the probation length is 6 months or less.
  • Check the notice your contract sets for leaving Qatar during probation.
  • Check your basic pay on its own, because notice pay and gratuity use it.