Qatar
Qatar
Travel requirements
Qatar visa policy

Qatar visa policy

Qatar visa policy specifies the rules for the visa application procedures and the conditions for issuing short-term visas for different nationalities.

According to the visa policy of Qatar, citizens from a GCC country can enter Qatar visa-free, while others are required to obtain the proper Qatar visa.

Nationals from more than 200 countries worldwide can apply for a Qatar e-Visa with no effort. It has a speedy and entirely online application process.

Now the electronic visa to Qatar is available not only for eligible citizens but also the residents of GCC countries of all professions and holders of valid visas or residence permits from certain countries.

Citizens from the rest of the countries must attend the Qatar foreign mission in person for a visa interview to get a regular visa to Qatar.

Note that Hayya card holders currently do not need a Qatar visa, as the validity of the Hayaa card has been extended until January 24, 2024.

International travelers must adhere to the Qatar visa policy to be allowed into the country. However, following other entry requirements of Qatar is as much important – one cannot visit Qatar without a valid passport and health insurance.

Who can enter Qatar?

Qatar does not impose any entry bans on any foreign nationality and is one of the most open countries in the world.

Citizens of all countries can enter Qatar if they meet the rules specified by the visa policy of Qatar.

GCC countries citizens can travel to Qatar without a visa, while a Qatar e-Visa can be obtained by eligible citizens, residents of GCC countries, and holders of valid visa or residence permit from some countries.

Entry requirements for Qatar

Tourists who intend to visit Qatar must have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date they arrive.

Citizens of foreign countries without visa waiver agreements with Qatar must obtain a Qatar visa.

From April 1, 2023, Qatar dropped all the COVID-19 restrictions, so vaccination certificates and PCR tests are no longer required.

However, all visitors need international health insurance or insurance from a registered Ministry of Public Health insurance provider.

Travelers may also be requested to show the reservation from a hotel.

Documents checklist for entering Qatar

Foreigners visiting Qatar must present the following documents upon arrival:

  • a valid passport
  • a Qatar visa/Hayya Card (if applicable)
  • hotel booking
  • health insurance

As advice can change regularly, it is highly recommended to get in touch with the Qatar embassy.

Methods of getting a visa to Qatar

Currently, a Qatar visa can be obtained in two ways: through the online Qatar e-Visa application or at the Qatar embassy by applying for a regular visa.

Electronic visa (e-Visa)

The e-Visa to Qatar is an electronic visa allowing traveling to Qatar for up to 30 days for tourism and is considered the simplest application method.

Eligible foreign citizens should complete a short online form, pay the fees, and check their email address to receive approval.

The entire procedure is online and takes a few minutes. Qatar e-Visa grants a stay of up to 30 days and permits its holders to enter Qatar once in a span of 30 days of the validity period.

Regular visa

A regular visa to Qatar must be obtained by those who are not eligible for a Qatar eVisa and do not have a visa exemption.

A regular visa is only issued if an applicant attends a Qatar foreign mission in person for the formal visa interview.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Qatar

See the lists of eligible countries to know whether you need a visa to Qatar. If you are visa-required, find out which application method you can use.

Electronic visa

Qatar e-Visa is available for citizens of 3 categories:

  1. Nationals of the following countries:
  • AndorraAndorra
  • AfghanistanAfghanistan
  • AnguillaAnguilla
  • AlbaniaAlbania
  • ArmeniaArmenia
  • AngolaAngola
  • ArgentinaArgentina
  • American SamoaAmerican Samoa
  • AustriaAustria
  • AustraliaAustralia
  • ArubaAruba
  • Aland IslandsAland Islands
  • AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
  • Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
  • BarbadosBarbados
  • BangladeshBangladesh
  • BelgiumBelgium
  • Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
  • BulgariaBulgaria
  • BurundiBurundi
  • BeninBenin
  • BermudaBermuda
  • BruneiBrunei
  • BoliviaBolivia
  • BrazilBrazil
  • BahamasBahamas
  • BhutanBhutan
  • BotswanaBotswana
  • BelarusBelarus
  • BelizeBelize
  • CanadaCanada
  • Cocos IslandsCocos Islands
  • CongoCongo
  • Central African RepublicCentral African Republic
  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland
  • Cook IslandsCook Islands
  • ChileChile
  • CameroonCameroon
  • ChinaChina
  • ColombiaColombia
  • Costa RicaCosta Rica
  • SerbiaSerbia
  • CubaCuba
  • CyprusCyprus
  • Czech RepublicCzech Republic
  • GermanyGermany
  • DjiboutiDjibouti
  • DenmarkDenmark
  • DominicaDominica
  • Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
  • AlgeriaAlgeria
  • EcuadorEcuador
  • EstoniaEstonia
  • EritreaEritrea
  • SpainSpain
  • EthiopiaEthiopia
  • FinlandFinland
  • FijiFiji
  • Falkland IslandsFalkland Islands
  • MicronesiaMicronesia
  • Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands
  • FranceFrance
  • GabonGabon
  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom
  • GrenadaGrenada
  • GeorgiaGeorgia
  • French GuianaFrench Guiana
  • GhanaGhana
  • GibraltarGibraltar
  • GreenlandGreenland
  • GambiaGambia
  • Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau
  • GuineaGuinea
  • GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
  • Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
  • GreeceGreece
  • GuatemalaGuatemala
  • GuamGuam
  • GuyanaGuyana
  • Hong KongHong Kong
  • HondurasHonduras
  • CroatiaCroatia
  • HaitiHaiti
  • HungaryHungary
  • IndonesiaIndonesia
  • IrelandIreland
  • IndiaIndia
  • IraqIraq
  • IranIran
  • IcelandIceland
  • ItalyItaly
  • JamaicaJamaica
  • JordanJordan
  • JapanJapan
  • KenyaKenya
  • KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
  • CambodiaCambodia
  • KiribatiKiribati
  • ComorosComoros
  • Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis
  • North KoreaNorth Korea
  • South KoreaSouth Korea
  • Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
  • KazakhstanKazakhstan
  • LaosLaos
  • LebanonLebanon
  • Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
  • LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
  • Sri LankaSri Lanka
  • LiberiaLiberia
  • LesothoLesotho
  • LithuaniaLithuania
  • LuxembourgLuxembourg
  • LatviaLatvia
  • LibyaLibya
  • MoroccoMorocco
  • MonacoMonaco
  • MoldovaMoldova
  • MontenegroMontenegro
  • MadagascarMadagascar
  • Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands
  • MacedoniaMacedonia
  • MaliMali
  • MyanmarMyanmar
  • MongoliaMongolia
  • MacauMacau
  • Northern Mariana IslandsNorthern Mariana Islands
  • MartiniqueMartinique
  • MauritaniaMauritania
  • MontserratMontserrat
  • MaltaMalta
  • MauritiusMauritius
  • MaldivesMaldives
  • MalawiMalawi
  • MexicoMexico
  • MalaysiaMalaysia
  • MozambiqueMozambique
  • NamibiaNamibia
  • New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
  • NigerNiger
  • Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island
  • NigeriaNigeria
  • NicaraguaNicaragua
  • NetherlandsNetherlands
  • NorwayNorway
  • NepalNepal
  • NauruNauru
  • NiueNiue
  • New ZealandNew Zealand
  • PanamaPanama
  • PeruPeru
  • French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
  • Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
  • PhilippinesPhilippines
  • PakistanPakistan
  • PolandPoland
  • Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
  • San MarinoSan Marino
  • SenegalSenegal
  • SomaliaSomalia
  • SurinameSuriname
  • El SalvadorEl Salvador
  • SyriaSyria
  • SwazilandSwaziland
  • ChadChad
  • TogoTogo
  • ThailandThailand
  • TajikistanTajikistan
  • TokelauTokelau
  • Timor LesteTimor Leste
  • TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
  • TunisiaTunisia
  • TongaTonga
  • TurkeyTurkey
  • TuvaluTuvalu
  • TaiwanTaiwan
  • TanzaniaTanzania
  • UkraineUkraine
  • UgandaUganda
  • United StatesUnited States
  • UruguayUruguay
  • UzbekistanUzbekistan
  • Vatican CityVatican City
  • Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • VenezuelaVenezuela
  • British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands
  • VietnamVietnam
  • VanuatuVanuatu
  • SamoaSamoa
  • YemenYemen
  • MayotteMayotte
  • South AfricaSouth Africa
  • ZambiaZambia
  • ZimbabweZimbabwe
  • SingaporeSingapore
  • SeychellesSeychelles
  • PalauPalau
  • RwandaRwanda
  • PortugalPortugal
  • SwedenSweden
  • SlovakiaSlovakia
  • SloveniaSlovenia
  • RussiaRussia
  • Brunei DarussalamBrunei Darussalam
  • Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
  • RomaniaRomania
  • ParaguayParaguay
  • SudanSudan
  • South SudanSouth Sudan
  • PalestinePalestine
  • United States Virgin IslandsUnited States Virgin Islands
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Isle of ManIsle of Man
  • GuernseyGuernsey
  • Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
  • Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe
  • Saint MartinSaint Martin
  • Saint HelenaSaint Helena
  • ReunionReunion
  • Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
  • JerseyJersey
  • Cape VerdeCape Verde
  • Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda
  • Sint MaartenSint Maarten
  1. Residents of GCC countries of any profession:
  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
  • BahrainBahrain
  • KuwaitKuwait
  • OmanOman
  • QatarQatar
  • Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
  1. Holders of a valid visa or residence permit from the following countries:
  • AustriaAustria
  • AustraliaAustralia
  • BelgiumBelgium
  • CanadaCanada
  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland
  • Czech RepublicCzech Republic
  • GermanyGermany
  • DenmarkDenmark
  • EstoniaEstonia
  • SpainSpain
  • FinlandFinland
  • FranceFrance
  • United KingdomUnited Kingdom
  • GreeceGreece
  • HungaryHungary
  • IcelandIceland
  • ItalyItaly
  • LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
  • LithuaniaLithuania
  • LuxembourgLuxembourg
  • LatviaLatvia
  • MaltaMalta
  • NetherlandsNetherlands
  • NorwayNorway
  • New ZealandNew Zealand
  • PolandPoland
  • United StatesUnited States
  • PortugalPortugal
  • SwedenSweden
  • SlovakiaSlovakia
  • SloveniaSlovenia

Regular visa

  • Ivory CoastIvory Coast
  • Christmas IslandChristmas Island
  • EgyptEgypt
  • IsraelIsrael
  • IndiaIndia
  • Caicos IslandsCaicos Islands
  • Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks and Caicos Islands
  • CuracaoCuracao
  • British Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Indian Ocean Territory
  • BonaireBonaire

Visa-free entry

  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
  • BahrainBahrain
  • KuwaitKuwait
  • OmanOman
  • Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

Entry requirements for children

Qatar implemented the same entry requirements for all visitors. Therefore, children must have the same documentation as adults – a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months, hotel booking, and health insurance.

Underage travelers from visa-required countries must also have a valid Qatar visa. The Qatar visa application must be completed by the parent or legal guardian of a child.

Transit information

On September 26, 2016, the Qatar Ministry of the Interior implemented a free visa for transit for travelers of all nationalities, provided they transit through Hamad International Airport and intend to stay in Qatar for a period of 5 to 96 hours.

The visa is free of charge but can be issued only to those who satisfy the criteria. All other passengers must get an electronic or a regular Qatar visa.

Important information

  • The visa policy of Qatar sets two methods of obtaining a visa to Qatar – by applying online for a Qatar e-Visa or attending an office for a regular visa.
  • Qatar electronic visa stays valid for a month and allows one 30-day visit for tourism purposes.
  • The validity of the Hayya card has been extended, so Hayya card holders can travel to Qatar without a visa until January 2024.
  • Nationals of GCC countries have freedom of movement in Qatar.
  • All foreign travelers must present a valid passport, hotel booking, and travel insurance upon arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a visa to travel to Qatar?

Unless you are from a visa-free country or hold a Hayya card, you are required to have a Qatar visa to enter the country and stay there legally.

What are the methods of getting a visa for Qatar?

Most nationalities have an opportunity to apply for a Qatar tourist visa online. Citizens of a few countries need to attend an embassy to get a regular visa to Qatar.

Can I get a Qatar visa on arrival?

Instead of a visa on arrival, visa-required nationals must obtain a Qatar e-Visa or a regular visa, depending on their nationality.

What are the requirements for going to Qatar?

All foreigners willing to enter Qatar must have a passport that remains effective for at least 6 months from arrival, proof of hotel booking, and travel insurance. Non-visa-exempted passengers also need a valid Qatar visa.

Do I need a visa to transit through Qatar?

Travelers who have visa-free access or stay within a transit area for a period not exceeding 24 hours are not required to have a visa to Qatar. If this does not apply to you, you must obtain a Qatar visa for transit.

What are the requirements for children traveling to Qatar?

The Qatar entry requirements are the same for all travelers, regardless of age. Minors are subject to the same entry rules as adults. The Qatar visa application for children is submitted by their parents or guardians.