Free Qatar Visa on Arrival Eligibility, Cost & Stay Period
Are you planning a trip to Qatar? Wondering about the requirements and costs for obtaining a Qatar visa on arrival? The answer depends on your nationality. Citizens of many countries can obtain a on arrival visa qatar which allows them to visit Qatar during their layover or extended stay.
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Qatar Visa On Arrival. In this article, I will provide you with up-to-date information regarding the specific requirements based on your citizenship. I aim to offer a professional and optimized resource for those seeking detailed insights on obtaining a free visa on arrival in Qatar.
Exciting news! Citizens from 101 countries can now enjoy hassle-free entry with either a visa on arrival or a transit visa. Travellers with a layover at Doha Airport can get a transit visa for up to 96 hours, but it can’t be extended. Theon arrival visa allows a stay of up to 30 days. Qatar Guides has all the details you need for your perfect tourist experience. Check out the info and get ready for an amazing trip!
Qatar Visa on Arrival Requirements
Before your travel to Qatar, it is important to review the requirements for a Qatar visa on arrival. I have made a list of essential prerequisites to assist you in this process:
- The tourist must be a national of one of the eligible countries.
- A confirmed return ticket or onward ticket is required for the tourist.
- The visitor’s passport must be valid for a minimum of six months.
- The visitor must book a hotel room for the duration of their stay. For visitors from most countries, this can be any hotel reservation. However, citizens of India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Ukraine must book their hotels for the entire duration of their visit through the Discover Qatar website.
- The visitor must have health insurance for QAR 50 from one of the businesses registered with the Qatar Ministry of Public Health.
- Tourists from Pakistan and India must also have an international debit card or a credit card, which should be under their name with a minimum QAR 5000 balance. To demonstrate that the amount is equal to QAR 5000, a bank statement from the previous three months is also needed.
Qatar Visa on Arrival for Indian Citizens
Qatar Visa on Arrival for Indian Citizens
Indian citizens can enjoy the convenience of a visa on arrival in Qatar, making it easier to explore the country. To qualify, travellers must meet specific requirements:
- Passport Valid for at least six months
- Confirmed Air Ticket
- Proof of Hotel Booking or accommodation
- Must hold credit card for verification purposes
The visa on arrival is typically valid for up to 30 days and can be extended once, depending on the duration of stay. This hassle-free option is perfect for Indian tourists, business travellers, or those transiting through Qatar, offering flexibility and a warm welcome to the Gulf nation.
Qatar Visa on Arrival for Pakistani Citizens
Pakistani citizens are eligible for a visa on arrival in Qatar, They must meet the specific requirements:
- Passport Valid for at least six months
- Confirmed Return Ticket
- Proof of Hotel Booking or accommodation
- Must hold a credit card for verification purposes
- Also Must have a minimum QAR 5000 or equivalent currency.
The visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 30 days, which can be extended for another 30 days. Ensure to check Qatar’s latest travel and COVID-19 regulations before planning your trip, as policies may vary over time.
QATAR Visa On Arrival Eligible Countries
Travellers who are eligible for the Qatar on-arrival visa are divided into two categories based on the type of visa on arrival they qualify for.
Category 1: Countries 90 Days Duration
- For travellers from the following countries, the visa waiver will be valid for 180 days (about 6 months) from the date it is issued.
- This will allow the bearer to stay up to 90 days (about 3 months) in Qatar, whether on a single trip or multiple trips.
I have shortlisted the countries names which are eligible for 90 days visa on arrival:
Antigua | Argentina | Austria | Barbuda |
Bahamas | Belgium | Bulgaria | Croatia |
Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Dominican Republic |
Estonia | Finland | France | Germany |
Greece | Holland | Hungary | Iceland |
Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | Liechtenstein |
Luxembourg | Malaysia | Malta | Netherlands |
Norway | Poland | Portugal | Romania |
Serbia | Slovakia | Spain | Sweden |
Slovenia | Switzerland | Turkey | Ukraine |
Category 2: Countries 30 Days Duration
- Citizens of the following countries are granted a visa-free stay of 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) from the date of issuance.
- It can be extended for another 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
I have shortlisted the countries names which are eligible for 30 days visa on arrival:
Andorra | Australia | Azerbaijan | Belarus |
Bolivia | Bosnia | Brazil | Brunei |
Canada | Chile | China | Colombia |
Costa Rica | Cuba | Ecuador | Falkland Islands |
French Guiana | Georgia | Guyana | Hong Kong |
India | Indonesia | Iran | Ireland |
Japan | Kazakhstan | Lebanon | Macau |
Macedonia | Maldives | Mauritius | Mexico |
Moldova | Monaco | Montenegro | New Zealand |
Pakistan | Panama | Paraguay | Peru |
Russia | Rwanda | San Marino | Singapore |
South Africa | South Korea | Suriname | Thailand |
United Kingdom, | United States | Vatican City | Venezuela |
Qatar has also announced ETA Visa for UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand citizens. In case you need any information regarding ETA visa you can read this article.
Qatar On Arrival Visa Cost & Stay Period
The cost of a Qatar visa on arrival for eligible travellers is free of charge. This means that travellers from the 95 eligible countries can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar without paying any fees.
The stay period varies depending on the nationality, with some countries allowing a 90-day stay and others allowing a 30-day stay.
GCC Country Residents are Exempted from Visa on Arrival Requirements
There are no requirements for a visa on arrival in Qatar for GCC residents. Besides the nations listed above, nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) are not required to obtain a visa to enter Qatar.
Immigration Counter Procedure:
- Inform the airline crew that you intend to go on Visa on Arrival during your check-in from your departing country. They may inquire about your lodging arrangements. If you are staying with a relative, make a copy of their contact information and QID.
- Tell the immigration officer in Doha that you want a on-arrival visa.
- If asked, provide the hotel’s / host’s contact information (name, phone number).
- Bring a credit or debit card with you (India, Pakistan, Iran, and Ukraine).
- When instructed, look into the camera to obtain an iris scan (eye scan). To confirm this, a green light would blink.
- For some travellers, a fingerprint scan may be necessary.
- The immigration official would place a little sticker on your passport.
That is all. Ahlan wa sahlan to Doha!
How to Extend Qatar Visa upon Arrival?
If you are a national of a country that is qualified to extend a 30-day visa on arrival, then you can renew your visa online through the following process:
- Step 1: Go to the MOI website and navigate to the Visit Visa Extension Service page. (This can be found in Visa Services -> Visit Visa Extension).
- Step 2: Enter your visa or passport number.
- Step 3: Choose a nationality from the drop-down menu.
- Step 4: Insert the verification code through the image or audio.
- Step 5: Select the “Extend” option.
- There you go! Your visa will be extended for an additional 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks).
Qatar Travel Policy Updates:
According to Qatar’s MOPH travel policy, which was issued in October 2022:
- COVID testing is not required before or after travel.
- Pre-travel registration for Ehteraz is not required.
- Only the Ehteraz smartphone app is necessary to attend public and private health centres.
- Quarantine is no longer required for all international travellers. However, if a passenger tests positive for COVID-19 after arrival in Qatar, quarantine protocols must be undertaken as prescribed by the State.
- The classification of countries based on COVID-19 risk (Red List and Standard Health List) is no longer valid.
Differentiate Transit Visa & Visa on Arrival
For your convenience, I have decided to make a comparison between the transit visa and the on-arrival visa. This comparison will help you to understand the differences between these two types of visas.
Visa On Arrival
Qatar on arrival visa is a free visa that allows one to enter Qatar. Here are the features of visa-on-arrival:
- Only 95 countries are eligible for visas on arrival and Qatar categorizes this visa into types.
- A visa on arrival allows a stay of either 30 days or 90 days in Qatar. Some specific nationalities can extend their visa up to an additional 30 days.
- Visitors must have valid passports, booked tickets, booked hotel for stay, and health insurance for safety.
- When visitors arrive in Qatar and submit their documents then the immigration officer will issue visas.
Transit Visa
The Qatar transit visa is known as a temporary visa that allows travellers to pass from one foreign country to another. Here are the features of a Qatar transit visa:
- Travelers can obtain a transit visa if they stay at Hamad International Airport for a minimum of five hours.
- Transit visas are valid only for up to four days (96 hours).
- There is no fee for a transit visa because it is free of cost.