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As one of the rising Middle East tourist destinations and the successful host of FIFA World Cup 2022, it’s no wonder that people want to visit Qatar. With its sandy beaches, luxury hotels, and endless shopping opportunities, there is something for everyone in Qatar.
As for every other country, the first step in planning an international trip is to check the visa requirements. In this article, we will look at the different types of visas available for Qatar and offer tips on making your Qatar Visit Visa application process as smooth as possible.
So, whether you are planning a quick trip or an extended stay in Qatar, read on for everything you need to know about visas.
Table Of ContentsThanks to various visa facilitation measures, Qatar is now the most open country in the Middle East. Visitors worldwide can now enter Qatar visa-free or by filling out simple online applications, depending on their passports. Here are the different visit visa options to enter Qatar:
Citizens of more than 90 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into the State of Qatar, with varying allowable lengths of stay.
They need a passport with a minimum validity of six months, a hotel reservation and a confirmed onward or return ticket. There are additional conditions for some nationalities. You can read more details about visa-free entry here:
An expatriate resident working in Qatar can sponsor his/her family members to visit (if the resident meets the requirements). This visa is valid for 30 days and can be extended for up to 6 months after a medical test. You can read more about the Family Visit Visa here:
Individuals not eligible for visa-free entry can apply for a Tourist Visa online. Visitors to Qatar travelling onboard any airline may apply for a Tourist Visa through the Hayya portal.
The cost of the Qatar Tourist Visa is QAR 100. Tourist Visa holders can stay in Qatar for up to 30 days on a single trip. You can read more about Qatar Tourist Visa here:
The Qatar Transit Visa scheme allows transiting passengers of all nationalities to enter Qatar for up to 96 hours (4 days) in between flights. This facility is offered through Qatar Airways and has to be applied online in advance. You can read more about Qatar Transit Visa here:
Residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or UAE), who are employed in qualifying professions and those accompanying them may obtain a GCC Residents Visit Visa (GCC Residents Entry Permit). They can also apply for GCC Resident Visa (A2) through Hayya portal. You can read more about GCC Residents Visit Visa here:
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 entries to both countries. You can read more about the Qatar-Oman Joint Tourist Visa here:
The business visa is issued for professionals and businessmen visiting Qatar for meetings, conferences, short-term contract work, etc. There are two types of business visas: 72-hour business visas and 30 or 90 days business visas.
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) through Hayya portal.
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) do not require a visa to enter Qatar.
The application process for Qatar Visit Visa will depend on the type of visa. For Family Visit Visa, a sponsor must make the application online or offline.
In the case of a Tourist Visa, Transit Visa, or ETA, it should be applied online by the traveller. Qatar Visa On Arrival, Qatar-Oman Joint Tourist Visa, and GCC Residents Visa will be issued at the airport if the passenger meets eligibility conditions.
The price for Qatar Visit Visa depends on the type of visa. While some visas are issued free of cost, you need to pay for some visas. Here is a summary of the fees for various types of Qatar Visit Visas.
The duration of the Qatar Visit Visa depends on the type of visa. Most of these visas can be extended up to 60 or 90 days, while Transit Visa cannot be extended beyond 96 hours.
*Depending on the visitor’s nationality. 30 days visa is extendable up to 60 days. 90 days visa is not extendable.
If you have applied for a Qatar Visit Visa, you can check the application station by following the below steps:
Here is the link for the Qatar Visa Services page on the MOI website.
This button is shown with a green tick mark on the page.
Since you are following up on a visit visa application, select “Visit” as the option.
You can get the application number from the acknowledgement receipt you received after applying.
After clicking the “Submit” button, you can see the visa application status. Sometimes the visa may be approved, but the sponsor will be asked to make the visa payment before the visa is issued. The payment can be made offline at the MOI service centre or online using the Metrash2 app or the MOI portal.
You can see the visa details on the screen if the visa is issued. You can also use the “Print Visa” option to save as PDF or print it using a printer.
Most types of visit visas can be extended online through the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website. You need to do the medical test for a visit visa extension for a family visit visa. For all other visit visas, you do not need a medical test. Here is how you can extend the visit visa on the MOI website:
Here s the link to the visa extension page. You can also find this under MOI Services –> Inquiries –> Visa Services.
You do not have to pay for the extension for a visa on arrival. The extension can be done for a family visit visa through the Metrash mobile app. You will receive a confirmation message on the screen.
You can check the validity of your visa on the Ministry of Interior website. Here is how to check the validity of a Qatar visa.
Qatar has opened various types of visit visas, including Visa On Arrival, Family Visit Visa and GCC Resident’s Visa.
Yes, you can look for jobs or attend job interviews while on a visit visa. However, working while on a visit visa is illegal.
Yes, if the visitor receives a job offer and an employer is ready to sponsor him, the visit visa can be converted to a work visa.
From February 2023, health insurance is now mandatory for visitors to Qatar.
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