Qatar Visa Guide for Visitors

In Qatar Visit Visas are applicable to tourists, who intend to spend more than 14 days in Qatar, and those coming for family visits as well as those on long-term business visit. It requires the sponsorship of a resident in Qatar or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the country Qatar Visa .

The Interior Ministry in Qatar offers entry visas of various types, including, visa-on-arrival, visa-in-advance, electronic notification etc., based on the laws and decision. The applicant should possess a valid passport indicating minimum six month duration and a return ticket or onward ticket. Some countries may also require hotel reservation, cash or credit card too.

THE ESSENTIAL QATAR GUIDE

• Travel & Accommodation
• Getting Here
• Hamad International Airport

Opened in April 2014, the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport is conveniently located just south of Doha city. HIA is a five-star airport by Skytrax and ranked Fourth Best Airport in the World by the 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards, it can handle 8,700 passengers per hour and has an annual capacity of up to 50 million.

Immigration formalities, baggage reclaim and other passenger services are designed to be ultra-efficient. In addition to its role as Qatar Airways’ home base, HIA also serves some 50 other international airlines. The taxi transfer time to the city centre is some 30 minutes.

Qatar Airways

The national carrier Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for quality and service. Most recently, it was named ‘Best Airline of the Year’ for a record fifth time in the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards, including named top airline in three other categories- World’s Best Airline in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class, and World’s Best Business Class Seat.

Qatar Airways’ rapidly expanding network now covers some 160 destinations worldwide, including most major cities throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and North and South America.

To meet expected future demand growth, Qatar Airways has 340 aircraft on order.

Visa Requirements

VISITING QATAR MADE EASY

Thanks to a host of visa facilitation measures, Qatar is now the most open country in the Middle East. Visitors from all around the world can now enter Qatar either visa-free, or by filling out simple online applications, depending on the passport they carry.

This webpage is designed to keep you up-to-date on the visa policies that are relevant to you, and the process you need to follow to apply for a visa, if necessary.

Visa-Free Entry
Nationals of more than 80 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into the State of Qatar, with varying allowable lengths of stay. Nationals of the eligible countries do not require any prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival to Qatar, upon presentation of a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed onward or return ticket.

For nationals of the countries listed below, the waiver will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 90 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips.

1. Antigua and Barbuda 2. Argentina 3. Austria 4. Bahamas 5. Belgium 6. Bulgaria 7. Croatia 8. Cyprus 9. Czech Republic 10. Denmark 11. Dominican Republic 12. Estonia 13. Finland 14. France

15. Germany 16. Greece 17. Hungary 18. Iceland 19. Italy 20. Latvia 21. Liechtenstein 22. Lithuania 23. Luxembourg 24. Malaysia 25. Malta 26. Netherlands 27. Norway

28. Poland 29. Portugal 30. Romania 31. Serbia 32. Seychelles 33. Slovakia 34. Slovenia 35. Spain 36. Sweden 37. Switzerland 38. Turkey 39. Ukraine

Armenia
Similar to the countries listed above, nationals of Armenia can enter Qatar visa-free and spend up to 90 days in Qatar, during a single or multiple trips, not extendable, if the following terms and conditions are met:

Terms and conditions for Armenia nationals
• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months
• Return ticket must be confirmed

For nationals of the countries/regions listed below, the waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.

1. Andorra 2. Australia 3. Azerbaijan 4. Belarus 5. Bolivia 6. Brazil 7. Brunei 8. Canada 9. Chile 10. China 11. Colombia 12. Costa Rica 13. Cuba 14. Ecuador 15. Georgia

16. Guyana 17. Hong Kong, China 18. India 19. Indonesia 20. Ireland 21. Japan 22. Kazakhstan 23. Lebanon 24. Macedonia 25. Maldives 26. Mexico 27. Moldova 28. Monaco 29. New Zealand 30. Pakistan 31. Panama 32. Paraguay

33. Peru 34. Russia 35. Rwanda 36. San Marino 37. Singapore 38. South Africa 39. South Korea 40. Suriname 41. Thailand 42. United Kingdom 43. United States 44. Uruguay 45. Vatican City 46. Venezuela

Pakistan 

Similar to the 46 countries listed above, nationals of Pakistan can enter Qatar visa-free and spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during a single or multiple trips, with an option to extend for another 30 days, if the following terms and conditions are met.

Terms and conditions for Pakistani nationals
• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months
• Return ticket must be confirmed
• Hotel booking confirmation for duration of the stay must be presented
• The passenger must have a valid credit card
• Those coming directly from Pakistan should present a certificate of vaccination against polio
• The duration of the visa can be extended only after confirming the return ticket
 

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Similar to the 48 countries listed above, nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina can enter Qatar visa-free and spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during a single or multiple trips, with an option to extend for another 30 days, if the following terms and conditions are met:

 Terms and conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina nationals
• Citizen must carry a permanent passport that is valid for at least 6 months
• Return ticket must be confirmed

If you have any questions regarding the visa waiver programme, please check our FAQs.

Qatar-Oman Joint Tourist Visa (Visa on Arrival)

This visa is issued upon arrival and is valid for 30 days for the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman. It allows for multiple entry to both countries and is extendable for an additional 30 days for a fee. Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the joint visa:

AndorraAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBruneiCanadaCyprusDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHong Kong

HungaryIcelandIrelandItalyJapanLiechtensteinLuxembourgMalaysiaMonacoMontenegroNetherlandsNew ZealandNorway

PolandPortugalSan MarinoSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUnited KingdomUnited StatesVatican City

Electronic Travel Authorisation

Individuals who are not eligible for visa-free entry, but who hold a valid residence permit or visit visa to either  Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, UK, USA or New Zealand, can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) free of charge* by completing an online application prior to travelling.

The form is easy to fill in. You will be asked to provide:
• proof of accommodation in Qatar (e.g. hotel booking, or your host’s address)
• details of your return (or onward) travel
• a copy of your passport (with a minimum validity of six months)
• a copy of your residence permit or visa to any one of the eligible countries stated above (with a minimum validity of 30 days).

Once your request has been approved** you will receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) allowing you to obtain a visa-on-arrival to Qatar, which in turn allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days during a single visit. The visa may be extended for an additional 30 days, to be used during the same visit. If you leave the country and wish to return, you will need to apply for the new ETA before travelling back to Qatar.

Apply for an ETA here: www.qatarvisaservice.com.

Online Tourist Visa

Individuals not eligible for visa-free entry or ETA can apply for a Tourist Visa online. Visitors to Qatar travelling on board any airline may apply for a Tourist Visa through the Qatar Visa Service. The cost of the Qatar Tourist Visa is QAR 100. Tourist Visa holders are allowed to stay in Qatar for up to 30 days on a single trip.

To submit a request for a Qatar Tourist Visa, visitors are required to:
• complete an online form
• upload required documents (including passport scans & personal photographs)
• provide an airline booking reservation
• make an online payment using a valid Visa or Mastercard

Once the application is complete, visitors will be contacted via e-mail with a response to their visa application**.

Click here to be redirected to the Qatar Visa Service website.

Note: visitors travelling to Qatar with Qatar Airways, may select ‘Apply for a visa‘ after logging in to ‘My Trips‘ on the airline’s website. This automatically directs them to the Qatar Visa Service website, where they can start the Qatar Tourist Visa application process for themselves and any accompanying travellers under the same booking.

Qatar Transit Visa

Qatar Airways passengers transiting in Qatar for a minimum of 5 hours are eligible to apply for the Qatar Transit Visa. It is free of charge, valid for up to 96 hours (four days) and open to passengers of all nationalities**.

For more information about the Qatar Transit Visa, please click here.

GCC Resident Visit Visa

Residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who hold positions in approved professions and those accompanying them may obtain a GCC Resident Visit Visa on arrival in Qatar.

This single-entry visa, which can be obtained for a fee of QAR 100, payable by Visa or Mastercard, is valid for 30 days and may be renewed for an additional three months. Visitors wishing to avail of this visa scheme may be asked to present official documentation stating their profession upon entry to Qatar.

Visa Exemptions

Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) do not require a visa to enter Qatar.

E-Gates

It is now possible for nationals and residents to purchase an e-gate card prior to going on vacation. This can help avoid normal immigration hassles. The e-gate card can be inserted at the e-gate and you can place your finger on a biometric scanner. These cards can be obtained at the airport immigration office, located opposite the airport. However, make sure that you carry your ID card with you. The use of e-gate is free. There is no need to pre-register before you use the e-gate. It can be used when arriving or departing from Qatar. ID card holders over the age of 18 can use this.

Kindly note: Visa rules are subject to sudden change without warning. Kindly contact the embassy in your country or the relevant authority in Qatar, as that is the only source of information that can be relied upon. The validity period of a free visit visa on arrival is also subjected to change often.;

*Service fees only apply.

**All visas are approved and issued at the sole discretion of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.