Qatar E-Visa Guide for Americans, British, Australians, Canadian and Japanese

The Qatar visa policy is fairly lenient, especially compared to other Middle Eastern countries.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) have freedom of movement to Qatar, but there is an additional 80+ countries whose nationals can enter Qatar without a visa as well, while the rest can easily apply for a Qatar visa online or on arrival.

Countries That Can Enter Qatar Without a Visa

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Qatar for up to 90 days within a 180 day period:

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Qatar for stays of up to 30 days (extendable for another 30 days):

In both cases, you can enter Qatar multiple times within the permitted period of time.

Conditional Qatar Visa Exemption

Citizens of India can enter Qatar without a visa for 30 days if they show:

Citizens of Pakistan can enter Qatar without a visa for up to 30 days (not extendable) if they show:

Citizens of Rwanda can enter Qatar without a visa

Who Can Get Qatar Visa on Arrival?

In addition to the visa exempt entry, citizens from the countries listed below can get a Qatar visa on arrival, which will allow them to enter both Qatar and Oman for up to 30 days:

Electronic Travel Authorisation for Qatar

You can get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Qatar prior to travelling if you have a valid tourist visa or residence permit issued by one of the following countries:

You have to apply for a Qatar ETA through the website qatarvisaservice. com by completing an online form and attaching electronic copies of the following documents:

Your application for the ETA will be reviewed by the Qatar Ministry of Interior. If it is approved, then you can travel to Qatar, and get your visa on arrival, which will allow you to stay in the country for up to 30 days.

Remember that the visa on arrival is valid for only a single entry, so when you leave you won’t be able to return unless you apply for a new ETA, even if you haven’t spent the entire 30 days.

Qatar Visa Requirements

When you apply for a Qatar visa, you have to submit electronic copies of the following documents (scanned with color):

Your Qatar visa is processed by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. If the immigration officers in charge of handling your application think it is necessary for you to submit additional documents, they will let you know.

Make sure that all the electronic copies of your documents are scanned in color and are clear and fully legible.

How to Apply for a Qatar Online Visa for Tourism?

Anyone who is not eligible for a visa on arrival or for visa exempt entry will be able to apply for a Qatar visa online, prior to travelling. You can apply for a Qatar visa through the website qatarvisaservice. com or through the Qatar Airways website (for those travelling with the airline company).

To apply for the Qatar online visa, you have to:

You will receive the outcome of your visa application on your email. Print it out and bring it with you to Qatar.

Note.Citizens of Egypt, Israel, Kosovo and Palestine are not eligible to apply for a Qatar visa online. They should contact the nearest Qatar embassy or consulate to learn how to proceed about a visa application.

Applying for a Qatar Transit Visa

If you will pass through Qatar on your way to a third destination and have a layover that’s longer than five hours, then you can apply for a Qatar transit visa.

The Qatar transit visa is issued for free, and you can use it to enter and stay in Qatar for up to four days (96 hours).

You apply for the Qatar transit visa online, in the same manner as you would apply for a tourist visa. You will receive the visa via email.

The Qatar transit visa can’t be extended beyond 4 days!If you wish to stay longer than 4 days, you can apply for a regular tourist visa.

To apply, you have to submit a scanned copy of your passport and an onward travel ticket and visa for the third country of destination (if a visa is required). Both your inward and outward flights have to be operated by Qatar Airways.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Qatar Visa?

If all the documents are in order, and there are no problems regarding your application, then most visa applications for Qatar are processed within 4 working days.

How Much Is the Qatar Visa Fee?

The Qatar tourist visa fee is QAR 100 (apps. US$ 27). If there are people accompanying you, such as dependent family members, there is a fee of QAR 50 (appx. US$13) for each of them.

However, you may have to pay an additional service fee for the company handling your visa application.

What Is the Duration of a Qatar Visa?

A Qatar visa is issued for a duration of 30 days and for a single entry. The visa can be extended from within Qatar via the Ministry of Interior.

Qatar Visa Extension

You can extend your Qatar visa by applying online at the Qatar Ministry of Interior website (here). You have to:

Extending the Visa-Free Stay in Qatar

If you are from one of the countries allowed to enter Qatar without a visa for up to 30 days, you can extend your stay for another 30 days.

You can apply for an extension at the Qatar Ministry of Interior’s Immigration Office at the Hamad International Airport or any of the MOI Service Centres across the country.

If you are from one of the countries that are allowed to stay in Qatar without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180 day period, you cannot extend your stay.

Overstaying beyond the permitted time means you have to pay a fee before you leave (QAR 200 per day, which is approximately US$ 54 per day).