Sea Freight Forwarder Licensing Requirements for Sea Freight Forwarding Offices (Shipping and Sea Freight Agencies (522902):

An application for a license to provide sea freight forwarding services shall be filled out and submitted to the competent department using the prescribed form. The competent department shall examine and decide on the application within thirty (30) days from the date of submission, The application, along with all required supporting documents, must be sent to the following email address: (maritime.licensing@mot.gov.qa).

A sea freight forwarding services license (Sea Freight Forwarder) shall be issued for a period of one (1) year. The license may be renewed for one or more successive periods of equal duration upon submission of a renewal application not later than forty-five (45) days prior to the expiry date. The renewal application shall be submitted to the compenet department by the license holder or the holder’s duly authorized legal representative using the prescribed application form.

Licensing Conditions

The following conditions shall be met by the company seeking to obtain a Sea Freight Forwarder license:

1. The company must have been established in accordance with the provisions of Companies Law No. (11) of 2015, as amended, and shall maintain a registered paid-up capital of not less than QAR 1,000,000 (one million Qatari Riyals).
2. The company shall employ adequate and qualified technical personnel and staff capable of performing the duties of sea freight forwarding services.
3. The company shall submit a fixed-term bank guarantee in the amount of QAR 100,000 (one hundred thousand Qatari Riyals), the period must be at least one year.

The following minimum requirements shall apply to personnel employees by freight forwarder company:

1. Sea Freight Forwarder Office Manager:
   1. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age
   2. Must hold an appropriate qualification
   3. Must be of good conduct and reputation
   4. Must have not less than five (5) years of working experience in cargo loading and discharge.
2. Accountant:
   1. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age
   2. Must hold a university degree, or its equivalent, in accounting from a recognized university
   3. Must be of good conduct and reputation
   4. Must have appropriate professional experience
3. Customs Clearance and Cargo Loading Officer:
   1. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age
   2. Must hold, at a minimum, a high school certificate or its equivalent
   3. Must be of good conduct and reputation
4. Public Reception Officer:
   1. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age
   2. Must hold a high school certificate or its equivalent
   3. Must be of good conduct and reputation
5. Representative:
   1. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age
   2. Must be able to read and write
   3. Must be of good conduct and reputation

4. Payment of the license fees is as follows:

• Issuance of new license: QAR 10,000 (ten thousand Qatari Riyals)
• Renewal of a license: QAR 5,000 (five thousand Qatari Riyals)

Note: An inspection shall be conducted to ensure compliance with the above requirements.

“Law No. 12 of 2012 Regulating the Practice of Services of Maritime Shipping Intermediaries, and the Minister of Transport’s Decision No. (57) of 2014, prescribing the conditions and qualifications that the staff of any sea freight forwarder must have.”