The QR 300 home licence: who can apply, the 63 allowed activities, the online steps, food rules, what you may and may not do at home, penalties and contacts.
1
Eligibility
18+, living in the home; nationality to confirm
MOCI
2
One activity
From MOCI's list of 63 home activities
Single Window
3
Home papers
Title deed, address plate, KAHRAMAA, landlord consent
Owner · KAHRAMAA
4
Apply & pay
Online; QR 300 a year, no minimum capital
Single Window
5
Food extras
Health certificates and Watheq for food activities
MOPH
Golden rule: a home licence is for one person and one quiet, skill-based activity, run by people who live in the home. If you need staff, stock or customers walking in, you need a company instead.
Updated Oct 2026Compiled from Law No. 5 of 2015, Ministerial Decision No. 242 of 2016, MOCI, Single Window, MOPH and MSDF sources. Whether expatriates can apply is not settled in official texts, so confirm with MOCI first.
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Resource No. 006
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Overview
The big picture
A home licence lets a resident run a small, skill-based business from home for QR 300 a year, without an office or a company. It has strict limits on what you can do and who can work.
What the official sources say
A licence for skills, not shops
Law No. 5 of 2015 allows temporary licences for home businesses; Ministerial Decision No. 242 of 2016 sets the rules.1,2
Activities must be low-cost, rely on personal skills, and use no disturbing equipment or hazardous materials.2
QR 300 to issue and QR 300 a year to renew; no minimum capital.3,5
MOCI expanded the list to 63 activities on 12 August 2024.4
Open question
Can expatriates apply?
The official rules require you to be 18 or older and live in the home, but we found no official text that settles nationality.2 Many advisers say "Qataris only"; MSDF's support programme for productive families is Qatari-only.11
Practical effect: if you are not Qatari, ask MOCI in writing before you prepare anything. The e-commerce licence or a small LLC may suit you better.
Who does what5,6,9,11
MOCI · Single WindowIssues and renews the home licence; checks the home and the activity
Landlord · KAHRAMAANo-objection if you rent; utility certificate for the address
MOPHFood-safety approval and food-handler certificates for food activities
MSDFSupport programme for Qatari productive families; not a licence
YOUR HOME BUSINESSOne person · one activity
Contents
Choose your path: decision flowchart4
Document checklist8
Activities: allowed and not allowed5
Running it day to day9
Applying on the Single Window6
Costs, penalties and contacts10
Food businesses at home7
Email template and action plan11
Sources · 1 Law No. 5 of 2015 (SJC consolidated) · 2 Ministerial Decision No. 242 of 2016 (Al Meezan) · 3 MOCI fee guide · 4 MOCI news, 12 Aug 2024 · 5 MOCI home business guide · 6 Single Window: home licence service · 9 MOPH food safety · 11 MSDF productive families guide, 2026
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Step 0
Choose your path
Answer four questions to see whether a home licence fits, or whether you need a different licence.
Several people, one home: the same home can hold more than one licence for different residents, but each person may hold only one home licence, with one activity.5,6
Sources · 2 Ministerial Decision No. 242 of 2016 · 4 MOCI news, 12 Aug 2024 · 5 MOCI home business guide · 6 Single Window: home licence service
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What you can do
Activities: allowed and not allowed
Examples of the 63 home activities MOCI has announced. Pick your exact activity from the current list on the Single Window.4,5
Category
Examples on MOCI's list
Tailoring
Women's and men's tailoring, embroidery, fabric preparation
Gifts
Decorative objects and gifts, parcel and gift wrapping
Digital
Website design, software design and maintenance, programming
Documents
Photocopying, document packaging, bookbinding
Perfume and beauty
Perfumes and incense, cosmetics preparation, trading perfumes and beauty products
Food
Coffee, spices and seasonings, pies and meals, event food, roasted nuts, dates
Repairs
Bags and luggage, electrical appliances, copiers, computers
Trading
Computers and accessories, clothing, footwear, men's accessories
Shop-style selling No walk-in retail, crowds, traffic or goods displayed outside
Nuisance No disturbing machines, noise, smoke, odour, dust or vibration
Hazards No hazardous materials, medicines, toxic or harmful food stored
Outside workers Only people who live in the home may work
Extra activities Only the activity on your licence
Renting it out The licence cannot be leased or transferred
Sources · 4 MOCI news, 12 Aug 2024 · 5 MOCI home business guide (hb_guide), checked 20 Oct 2026
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Single Window
Applying on the Single Window
The whole application is online. The Single Window shows an approximate cycle time of one day and a cost of QR 300, before any inspection or other approvals.6
1Sign inNational Authentication System, then "Comprehensive Establishment"
2Choose the routeProfessional Establishment, then "Home Licence"
3ApplyPick your one activity, fill the form, upload documents
4Approve and payReview, any inspection or approvals, then pay QR 300
Key rules
Validity and renewal
Fee QR 300; renewal QR 300 a year.3
MOCI's guide gives one-year validity; the law calls it a temporary licence, so follow the expiry date on your certificate.1,5
Renew 30 days before expiry.5
No commercial registration (CR) to renew.6
No minimum capital.5
Your address
The home must match
The licence holder's address must match the home's registered address (Onwani plate).4
Rented homes need the landlord's no-objection.5
Villas and apartments are judged case by case; no blanket rule was found either way.5,6
MOCI may inspect the home before approval.4
Selling online: a social-media page is not a licence. Your activity must be licensed, and you must give a copy of the licence to anyone who advertises for you.1 MOCI's separate e-commerce licence (QR 500, Decision No. 25 of 2026) covers online selling for 194 activities and may suit you better.8
Sources · 1 Law No. 5 of 2015, Arts 9, 14 · 3 MOCI fee guide · 4 MOCI news, 12 Aug 2024 · 5 MOCI home business guide · 6 Single Window: home licence issuance and renewal · 8 MOCI: e-commerce licence, 17 Sep 2026
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Food activities
Food businesses at home
Food is one of the most popular home activities, and it needs more than the MOCI licence. MOPH oversees food safety for every food business.2,9
1MOCI home licenceFor a listed food activity, such as pies, spices or event food
2Medical certificateFor you and anyone preparing food; QR 20 exam
3Food-handler licensingMOPH's food-handler examination service
4WatheqRegister with MOPH; registration is not a licence
MOPH expects
Food-safety basics
Clean preparation area and equipment9
Pest control in place10
Staff hygiene and valid health certificates9
Safe packaging and labelling9
Supplier records and traceability10
Delivery time and temperature control10
Not published
Ask MOPH before you start
We found no official home-kitchen checklist: no minimum kitchen size, separate-entrance rule, inspection time or all-in health fee.9 Factory-level HACCP certification is required for food factories, not necessarily for home kitchens.10
Call MOPH on +974 4407 0000 and ask for the food-safety requirements for your activity.9
Qatari productive families: MSDF's 2026 programme supports registered Qatari home producers. It requires a licence and medical certificates no older than a year, but it does not replace the MOCI licence.11
Sources · 2 Ministerial Decision No. 242 of 2016 · 9 MOPH: food safety department and medical certificate service · 10 MOPH: Watheq guide, Oct 2023 · 11 MSDF productive families guide, Sep 2026
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Paperwork
Document checklist
Tick off each item before you submit. Scan everything to PDF and name files clearly.
You and the home
Your ID (18+)2,7
Property owner's ID7
Title deed of the property7
Address (Onwani) plate4
Building completion certificate or approved plan7
KAHRAMAA "to whom it may concern" certificate7
Consents and undertakings
Landlord's no-objection, if rented5
Licence-holder undertaking7
Property-owner undertaking7
Household no-objection, where it applies5
National Authentication login4
Activity approvals
Your chosen activity code4
Food: medical certificates9
Food: food-handler licensing9
Food: Watheq registration10
Any other authority's approval for the activity2
Home business data sheet (prepare once, reuse everywhere)
Field
Example
Used in
Business name
Short name that reflects the activity
Application · social media
Activity
One activity, e.g. "preparing pies and meals"
Application5
Home address
Zone, street, building number (Onwani)
Application · inspection4
Owner or landlord
Name, ID, title deed details
Application7
Who works
Household members only
Compliance5
Sales channels
Instagram, WhatsApp, delivery app
Advertisers need your licence copy1
Example values are illustrative only.
Sources · 1 Law No. 5 of 2015, Art 14 · 2 Decision No. 242 of 2016 · 4 MOCI news, 12 Aug 2024 · 5 MOCI home business guide · 7 MOCI procedures manual, Apr 2023 · 9 MOPH · 10 MOPH Watheq guide
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Day to day
Running it day to day
The licence keeps the home a home. Your business must not change how the neighbourhood lives.2,5
Licence valid
+
One activity
+
Household staff
+
No walk-in sales
+
No nuisance
=
COMPLIANT
Every month
Only your licensed activity5
Only people who live in the home working5
Orders delivered, not collected by crowds5
No goods displayed outside5
No noise, smoke or smells reaching neighbours5
Food: certificates in date, records kept9
Licence copy given to any advertiser1
Renewal date in your calendar5
Grey areas to confirm
Signs: an adviser says a small name sign is fine but advertising is not; not confirmed officially.13
Customers visiting: walk-in retail is banned; appointment-based visits are not addressed.5
Domestic workers: living in the home does not make them eligible to work in your business.
Couriers: no official limit was found; avoid traffic and parking problems.5
Outgrowing the home? When you need staff, stock or a shop, move to an LLC with a commercial unit. See Gateway Library No. 019.
Sources · 1 Law No. 5 of 2015, Art 14 · 2 Decision No. 242 of 2016 · 5 MOCI home business guide · 9 MOPH · 13 Finsoul Network (adviser), 22 Aug 2026
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Budget, risk and contacts
Costs, penalties and contacts
Known fees
Item
QAR
Home licence (per year)
300
Renewal (per year)
300
Minimum capital
None
CR renewal
Not needed
Food: medical certificate exam
20
E-commerce licence (alternative)
500
Other authorities' approvals
Varies
Adviser "package" totals (for example QR 1,020) are not government fees.3,6,8,9
Penalties under Law No. 5 of 2015
QR 50k
No licence (max)
15 days
Admin closure
Trading without a licence: up to one year in prison and/or QR 50,000 (Art 26). Unapproved extra activity and other breaches: up to QR 10,000 (Art 27). Closure up to 15 days, or up to a year by court order (Arts 18, 28).1
Official contacts
MOCIEligibility, activities, licence
CALL
16001 · +974 4042 2222
EMAIL
info@moci.gov.qa
HOURS
Sun–Thu 7:00–14:00, Lusail12
MOPHFood safety
CALL
+974 4407 0000
EMAIL
GHCC@moph.gov.qa
MEDICAL
Medical Commission +974 4467 91119
MSDFProductive families (Qataris)
CALL
16080
WHATSAPP
+974 4049 1444
EMAIL
info@msdf.gov.qa11
ApplyOnline
WEB
investor.sw.gov.qa (Home Licence)6
Sources · 1 Law No. 5 of 2015, Arts 18, 26–28 · 3 MOCI fee guide · 6 Single Window · 8 MOCI e-commerce licence · 9 MOPH · 11 MSDF guide · 12 MOCI contact page
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Get started
Your first move
Confirm your eligibility and your activity in writing before you invest in equipment or marketing.
To: info@moci.gov.qa · Subject: Home business licence: eligibility and activity
Dear MOCI Licensing Team,
I would like to apply for a home business licence and would appreciate confirmation of the following.
Applicant: [Full name, QID, nationality]
Home: [Villa / apartment, owned / rented, zone and street]
Activity: [e.g. preparing pies and meals for delivery]
Could you please confirm: (1) whether I am eligible with my nationality and residence, (2) that this activity is on the current home licence list, (3) whether my type of home qualifies, and (4) any other approvals I need before starting.
Kind regards, [Name] · [Mobile] · [Email]
Action plan
When
Action
Who / where
Day 1
Send the email above; check the activity list on the Single Window
MOCI · Single Window
Week 1
Collect the documents on page 8; landlord's no-objection if renting
You · landlord · KAHRAMAA
Week 1–2
Food activities: medical certificates and food-handler licensing
MOPH
Week 2
Apply online; prepare the home for any inspection
Single Window
Licence issued
Food: register in Watheq; share your licence with advertisers
MOPH · social media
Every year
Renew 30 days before expiry (QR 300)
Single Window
Keep a small folder with your licence, MOCI's written answers, the landlord's consent and, for food, every health certificate and your Watheq record.
Disclaimer: summarises official sources current to 20 October 2026; not legal advice. Nationality eligibility is unconfirmed, so get MOCI's answer before applying.
Sources · 3 MOCI fee guide · 5 MOCI home business guide · 6 Single Window · 9 MOPH · 10 MOPH Watheq guide · 12 MOCI contact page
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