If I have a residence permit to work in Qatar do I need to get an exit visa to leave the country for a brief vacation back to the States. Will my employer sort this out for me, or is it my responsibility to organise the exit visa?
Yes indeed, you do need to a formal exit visa to officially leave Qatar if you're there working under a residence permit. Like all good things in the emirate, you'll need permission from you sponsor. So once you've planned your holiday and made a confirmed booking, bring details of the booking and your passport to this sponsor. They'll file an internal application and will return your passport to you a few days before you leave with the exit visa all taken care of.
I guess the reason they require exit visas is so that people can't just up and leave the country, burdening people with a bunch of debt,etc. in their wake.
I guess the reason they require exit visas is so that people can't just up and leave the country, burdening people with a bunch of debt,etc. in their wake.