Find the right Qatar Visa for your trip with price, requirements, and application time

Qatar Visa Policy

Any visitor traveling to Qatar will need a visa unless they are from a visa-exempt country. Visa-exempt visitors are persons from GCC countries and other visa-on-arrival or visa-waiver countries. There are also three ways to obtain visas which can be done online, through the website of an airline company or the embassy. Furthermore, persons traveling to Qatar must have passports with a minimum of six months' validity from the date of arrival.

Qatar Visa Exempt Countries

The Kingdom of Qatar has a visa exemption list containing countries it shares multilateral and bilateral relationships with. Under the visa waiver program citizens of visa waiver countries can visit Qatar without visas as long as they plan to stay for only a short while lasting no more than 90 days in some cases. 

Visa exempt visitors can come for tourism, business or transit but cannot live permanently or work in the country.

Gulf Cooperation Council

Qatar is one of the official members of the Gulf Cooperation Council which is an economic and cultural association of Gulf countries. Under the GCC agreement, GCC citizens enjoy freedom of entry and exit in and out of member countries where they can live indefinitely. Citizens are also allowed to make such trips with their valid ID cards if they don't have passports.  The countries that make up the Council are Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Apart from GCC citizens, Qatar also extends visa free access to other nationalities for 90 and 30 days respectively.  The duration of time they can stay in the country is dependent on their nationality. Furthermore, the duration is constrained to a 180 days time cycle. For instance, an eligible visitor may be allowed to stay for 90 or 30 days but only within 180 days. So if they exhaust the maximum number of days, they must wait for the cycle to end before attempting another trip to the country.

Some nationals from these countries may apply to extend their stay by an extra 30 days, while citizens of Iran coming for business may obtain visas on arrival if they can show a confirmed hotel reservation in one of the designated VOA hotels or an invitation letter from a company certified by the government of Qatar.

Qatari Visa On Arrival

Nationals from some countries qualify for visas on arrival so they can board flights heading to the Gulf kingdom without visas. On arrival at the airport, they will be issued a visa for a varying number of days.  This option is only open to visitors from a few countries and they can only stay for 90 or 30 days depending on their passport.

Qatar Electronic Travel Authorization

The electronic travel authorization of the Qatari government is open to citizens of foreign countries who hold valid visas or resident permits from New Zealand, Australia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries, or GCC countries. Such persons must obtain an Online ETA if they are not from any visa-free countries so they can enter Qatar and stay for up to 30 days per visit. 

However, ETA can be extended for a further 30 days if the need arises.

As for international travelers, the policy doesn't mandate them to hold a transit visa regardless of their nationality if they transit through Hamad International Airport and will depart within 24 hours. The free transit visa is only for trackers using Qatar Airways.

The online ETA is the fastest way to get an entry document into Qatar since you don't have to submit any physical application to the embassy or consulate abroad. While conventional applications take a longer time to process, ETA applications only take three days or less.  All the applicant needs to do is complete the online application form, attach the necessary documents, pay the processing fee and submit. Once approved the ETA will he forwarded to their email.

Key Points About The Qatar Electronic Travel Authorization

If you are traveling to Qatar and plan to apply for ETA, here is the important information to remember.

Only For Approved Travel Documents: Never forget that this document is for non-visa-exempt visitors with valid visas or resident permits issued by selected countries. If you don't have any of these, you should apply for a consular visa instead. The approved countries are Schengen countries, GCC countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Also, ensure that your visa or residence permit is still valid.

Use The Same Passport: The approved Qatari ETA is linked to your passport, so traveling with a different passport is a big fail. You must travel with the same passport; otherwise, you will not be allowed into the country on account of not having a passport.

Print The ETA: It is always best to print out the ETA once you get it and carry it with you wherever you go throughout your stay in the Gulf country in case law enforcement officers engage you in public.

Respect The Local Laws. Qatar may be one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf region, but it is still a nation founded on Islamic principles, which must be respected by all. Always abide by the local laws and customs throughout your stay in the country, and be modest at all times, especially in public.

It Is Not A Visa: Bear in mind that ETA is not a visa but an entry permit for short-term visits. 

You are only allowed to stay for 30 days and an additional 30 days as an extension and not a day more. This is not a work, study, or residential visa. If you have any planned activity that will take more than the stipulated days of grace, you should apply for a visa instead.

Leave Before Your Visa Expires: Last but not least is to make sure you are out of the country before your visa expires. Overstaying with an expired visa is a crime that may attract sanctions, jail time, or a ban from entering the country again.

Qatar Visa Online – Get your Qatar e-Visa with VisaHQ

Are you planning a short visit to Qatar in the coming weeks or months? If you are, you should consider applying for an online visa if you are eligible for it. Online visas are easy to apply for and are issued within three days of submitting your application form.

How To Apply For A Visa On VisaHQ?

It is easy to apply for an online visa or ETA with VisaHQ in just a few steps, as we will explain below. 

Complete The Application Form: The first step is to navigate to the application page, select the ETA or e-visa you want, and fill it out. This should only take a few minutes, but ensure you fill out every section accurately.

Upload your documents: Upload the bio-data page of your passport and many other necessary documents about the ETA you've picked. Remember, only valid documents will be accepted. Then pay the application fee with your debit or credit card and submit it for approval.

Get the ETA: The ETA will be processed by the authorities and delivered to your email. Print it out and travel with the copy.

Why Use VisaHQ

There are so many reasons to use VisaHQ, and one of them is the ease of application without needing the help of a travel agent. Our standard DIY process can be completed by you even without prior experience. If you use VisaHQ, you can

• Apply for multiple online visas
• Track your application status with your device
• Have your information and documents protected with advanced security software
• Get technical help from our experts when necessary

And so much more. Kindly visit our application page now to apply.