Visas to Qatar
Before you arrive
For all of you, who are planning to come to Qatar for a visit or maybe to build up your future in your country, there are some important information you need to know!
First, you need to check in advance, which visa is right for your purpose of the stay.
For you to enter the country, all non-Qatari and GCC citizens who are entering Qatar need a visa.
In most cases, you can apply for a visa easily online through Hukoomi or the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
For most of the people who are coming to live and work in Qatar, their employer will arrange an application process for them.
In a new statement, Qatar now is allowing visa-free entry for tourist visa, for citizens of 80 countries with immediate effect. The citizens who wish to visit Qatar does not have to apply or pay for a visa (like before), and a multi-entry waiver will be issued free-of-charge at the port of entry.
The only things which is required is a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months and a confirmed onward and return ticket.
Depending on the nationality of the visitors, the waiver will be valid for 180 days and allow you to spend 90 days in Qatar. Others can spend up to 30 days with the possibility to apply for an extension for an additional 30 days.
These are the 33 nationalities who don’t require any prior visa arrangements and which waiver will be valid for 180 days – and its holder can spend up to 90 days in Qatar:
| 1. Austria 2. Bahamas 3. Belgium 4. Bulgaria 5. Croatia 6. Cyprus 7. Czech Republic 8. Denmark 9. Estonia 10. Finland 11. France |
12. Germany 13. Greece 14. Hungary 15. Iceland 16. Italy 17. Latvia 18. Liechtenstein 19. Lithuania 20. Luxembourg 21. Malta 22. Netherlands |
23. Norway 24. Poland 25. Portugal 26. Romania 27. Seychelles 28. Slovakia 29. Slovenia 30. Spain 31. Sweden 32. Switzerland 33. Turkey |
Then there are 47 countries who don’t require prior visa arrangements as well – but the waiver will be valid for 30 days and its holder can spend 30 days in Qatar – and the waiver can eventually be extended for further 30 days.
| 1. Andorra 2. Argentina 3. Australia 4. Azerbaijan 5. Belarus 6. Bolivia 7. Brazil 8. Brunei 9. Canada 10. Chile 11. China 12. Colombia 13. Costa Rica 14. Cuba 15. Ecuador 16. Georgia |
17. Guyana 18. Hong Kong 19. India 20. Indonesia 21. Ireland 22. Japan 23. Kazakhstan 24. Lebanon 25. Macedonia 26. Malaysia 27. Maldives 28. Mexico 29. Moldova 30. Monaco 31. New Zealand 32. Panama |
33. Paraguay 34. Peru 35. Russia 36. San Marino 37. Singapore 38. South Africa 39. South Korea 40. Suriname 41. Thailand 42. Ukraine 43. United Kingdom 44. United States 45. Uruguay 46. Vatican City 47. Venezuela |
Other types of visas:
Tourist Visa through Employer
This visa allows hotels, embassies and other authorized employers to arrange visas for citizens of the 33 approved countries before they arrive in Qatar.
Tourist Visa through Qatar Airways or Hotels
This visa is granted to visitors of the 33 approved countries through authorized hotels operating in Qatar, or sponsoring residents with relationship to applicants through Qatar Airways. It is valid for one month and non-extendable.
Joint Tourist Visa – for Visiting Qatar and Oman
Citizens of the 33 approved countries can apply for a Joint Tourist Visa that allows them to travel freely between Qatar and Oman. This one-month visa can be issued either upon arrival, or online before arrival, and can be extended for one month only.
Business Visas
Business Visas allow non-Qataris to conduct business and work in the country on a temporary basis. There are two types of business visas:
72-hour Business Visa – This visa is issued on arrival, and is extendible for a further 72 hours. The visa is suited to those who wish to visit the country on short-term business trips. Applicants are required to carry proper documentation proving the purpose of their trip.
Business Visa – This visa is available for new expatriate workers and persons conducting short-term contractual work in Qatar. The visa is valid for a maximum of three months, and must be arranged in advance by an approved company or institution operating in Qatar.
Investor Visa
Expatriates who invest in selected business ventures in the country are eligible to residency without employer ship. Applicants must obtain property ownership documents, a certificate of good behaviour and have a medical check-up to qualify.
Authorized government personnel may complete the Investor Visa procedure online. More details can be found at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Ministry of Interior.
GCC Resident Visit Visa
GCC residents of approved professions and those accompanying them may obtain a one-month GCC Resident Visit Visa on arrival or through a Qatari embassy. The visa is renewable for an additional three months. Applicants should carry proper documentation proving their profession.
Family Visit Visa
Expatriate workers wishing to bring members of their family to Qatar on a short term basis (up to six months) can apply for a Family Visit Visa. The visa is valid for one month and can be extended for up to six months for immediate family members (wife, sons, daughters) and three months for other relatives. Visa holders who wish to apply for an extension must undergo a medical check.
Family Residence Visa
Expatriate employees, who earn QR10,000 or more a month, have completed six months of employment with their company, and wish to bring their immediate dependents to Qatar to live with them, can apply for a Family Residence Visa.
Effectively, the visa is granted under your employer ship (assuming you have a valid Qatar ID and Residence Visa from your employer or private employer ).
Transit Visa
If you plan to stop over in Qatar temporarily (up to 24 hours) on your way to a destination, you should apply for a transit visa before you travel. The visa is valid for 24 hours and allows you to leave the airport transfers area to stay in Qatar.
The Transit Visa is also handy for workers whose job requires a short stay in Qatar, for example, seamen and truck drivers passing through Qatar. However, a Transit Visa is not acceptable for general business visits.
Transit Visas can be arranged through your local Qatari embassy prior to travel. Embassy workers and other authorized persons can apply online for transit visas on behalf of travelers.
Other Visa Types
Newborn Visa
Newborn babies who are less than three months old need a Newborn Visa when entering the country with his or her mother. The child should have either a passport or be included on the father or mother’s passport. Both parents should have a valid Residence Permit. A certificate of birth is also required. The visa is free.
Education Residence Visa
If you have a place at an approved educational institution and wish to stay in Qatar during your course, you can apply for an Education Residence Visa. This type of visa is granted by the Committee Reviewing Recruitment Applications and is available from Expatriates Affairs & Unified Services Centres of the MoI. This visa is issued free of charge.
Real Estate Visa
This is a residence visa for real estate owners and it is issued through the General Directorate of Borders Passports and Expatriates Affairs at the MoI. Required documentation includes a valid passport, letter from a relevant agency outlining the property investment, a good conduct certificate and a medical check-up. The visa costs QR200.
Return Visa
If you, a member of your family, or a member of your household staff, have stayed out of the country for more than 6 months and your residency is still valid and you have prior approval of entry, you can purchase a Return Visa. There are different document requirements depending on who your employer is, details of which can be found at the MoI website here. The fee varies from QR200 to QR500 again depending on employer type.
Return Visa (in case of Passport loss)
This visa is issued when an expatriate loses his or her passport while being outside the country. A copy of a Lost Passport Certificate, along with copies of the old and new passport, are required. The visa costs QR200.
Official Visa
Government ministries and approved establishments can request this visa online. The visa is free, valid for one month and can be extended for five months (total 6 months) following medical tests and fingerprints.
Immigration Department Location
While many visas can be issued online, all travel documents can be processed at the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Passports and Expatriates Affairs. The head immigration department is located on Luqta Street (road to Qatar Foundation), just west of D-Ring Road.
For more information on entry visas, please visit The Ministry of Interior’s website.