I dont know the rule, but I returned to Qatar on a business visa after 18 months stay out of country, and thereafter within 1 month time I got work visa issued.
Interestingly, since I was not sure to get an NOC from the old sponsor, my PRO had proceeded with my visa application and in parallel I approached my old sponsor. Eventhough they had agreed to give me NOC, there was a dely in issuing the NOC, due to their administrative reasons. In the meantime, my work visa was approved in the normal channel, before I got the NOC in hand. However, I have collected the NOC for safety reasons eventhough it was not submitted to immigration. Moreover, I have indicated my old ID card number in the form for medical test and finger printing. If the visa approval was done overseeing my earlier presence in Qatar, I wanted it to be regularised with the NOC which is still with me. But no one asked for the NOC, rather I got my RP and ID card issued with the same old ID card number.
I dont know the rule, but I returned to Qatar on a business visa after 18 months stay out of country, and thereafter within 1 month time I got work visa issued.
Interestingly, since I was not sure to get an NOC from the old sponsor, my PRO had proceeded with my visa application and in parallel I approached my old sponsor. Eventhough they had agreed to give me NOC, there was a dely in issuing the NOC, due to their administrative reasons. In the meantime, my work visa was approved in the normal channel, before I got the NOC in hand. However, I have collected the NOC for safety reasons eventhough it was not submitted to immigration. Moreover, I have indicated my old ID card number in the form for medical test and finger printing. If the visa approval was done overseeing my earlier presence in Qatar, I wanted it to be regularised with the NOC which is still with me. But no one asked for the NOC, rather I got my RP and ID card issued with the same old ID card number.