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In an effort to attract more visitors to the country, the Qatari government has introduced several new visa initiatives:
1. Visa-Free Program for Nationals of 80 Countries
The first key change is a visa waiver for nationals of 80 countries. Of those countries:
- nationals of 34 countries are eligible for a 180-day visa; and
- nationals of the remaining 46 countries are eligible for a 30-day visa.
Nationals of the 80 countries will no longer need to apply for (or pay for) a visa upon arrival in Qatar. Instead, a multi-entry waiver will be issued, free of charge, upon the presentation of:
- a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months;
- a confirmed onward or return ticket; and
- a valid address for the visitor’s stay in Qatar (e.g., hotel booking confirmation or the physical address of a friend or family member with whom the visitor will be staying).
2. “E-Visas” for Nationals of 242 Countries and Territories
The second key change that has been introduced is that nationals of 242 countries and territories may now apply for “e-visas” if they a hold either a residence permit or visa issued by one of 35 specific countries. To visit Qatar under the new e-visa system, applicants will need to present:
- a machine-readable passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of travel to Qatar (applicants are required to upload color copies of their passport’s biodata page) and a passport-size photograph;
- itinerary (i.e., plane ticket confirming onward or return ticket; Qatar Airways passengers are exempt from this requirement);
- a proof of accommodation (such as hotel booking or address of relative/ friend); and
- a copy of their residence permit or visa (with a minimum validity of 30 days) for one of the relevant countries.
Additional documents may also be required in some cases. Upon approval, the visa holder may stay in Qatar for up to 30 days.
3. Visa on Arrival for Pakistani Nationals
The third change is that Pakistani nationals are now eligible for visas on arrival in Qatar. Visas are issued free of cost upon the presentation of:
- a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months;
- a confirmed onward or return ticket; and
- cash funds equivalent to 5,000 Qatari riyals (about 141,250 Pakistani rupees or US$1,340: GBP 1,050: Euro 1,180) or a valid credit card.
In addition, Pakistani nationals travelling directly from Pakistan must also provide “a certificate of vaccination against polio according to the procedures currently in place.” Visas are valid for 30 days and are renewable (for another 30 days) subject to confirmation of a return ticket.
4. Transit Visas for Qatar Airways Passengers of Any Nationality
All passengers (regardless of nationality) flying with Qatar Airways and traveling through Hamad International Airport are eligible for a 96-hour transit visa (free of charge) if their layover is at least five or more hours. However, transit visas (which were introduced in 2016) are granted at the sole discretion of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, and applicants must apply for them at least seven days in advance.
To receive a transit visa, the applicant must present:
- a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months; and
- a confirmed onward or return ticket with Qatar Airways
Transit visas for entry are valid for 30 days.
Comment
In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar hopes to increase the number of tourists to the country from 2.93 million in 2015 to 7 to 10 million annually by 2030. The range of new visa measures announced by the Qatar Tourism Authority have been well received; however, it remains to be seen whether these measures will attract more visitors to the country.
Written by Kamaljit Dosanjh of Al Tamimi & Co. and Roger James of Ogletree Deakins