Entry Requirements For Qatar

Qatar issues a 30-day visa on arrival at Doha Airport to nationals of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Vatican City. The price is QR 100 and payment by credit card is accepted. These visas can be extended once for 30 days (QR 100) at the airport immigration office, which is open 24 hours a day (in a building near the Oryx Rotana Hotel). edit. Overstaying a tourist visa is punishable by a fine of Rs. 200 per day.

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countriesnamely Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, do not require a visa to enter Qatar.

For other nationalities, the visa process can be complicated as you need a guarantor on the Qatari side, be it a company or a government entity. Also, unlike those of most other countries, Qatari embassies do not have the authority to issue visas, so someone in Qatar will have to make the application for you.

Contrary to popular belief, Qatar allows entry for holders of Israeli passports (although you will need a visa in advance) and for holders of other passports that contain Israeli stamps and visas.

4 to 5 star hotels offer a full visa service for a fee if you book a room with them for the duration of your stay. Qatar Airways can also arrange a hotel and visa for you.

For stays longer than 30 days, the visa must be arranged with a sponsor, which can be a company, a government institution or possibly a hotel. Single women under the age of 35 will have difficulty obtaining a visa for a longer stay, as the government fears that they will stay in Qatar for prostitution.

Visa & Passport Requirements for Qatar

Citizens of more than 95 countries are eligible for visa-free admission into Qatar. Allowable periods of stay vary, and tourists are recommended to confirm the terms and restrictions with an authorized body.

If you are planning a trip to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, all ticketholders, both local and foreign, must apply for a Hayya Card. The Hayya Card is your admission permission into Qatar as well as your stadium access (along with your match ticket). All guests using your FIFA Ticket Application Number must obtain their own Hayya Card. Visit the Hayya site for additional details.

Qatar is currently the most accessible country in the Middle East, thanks to a slew of visa-easing initiatives. Visitors from all around the world may now visit Qatar visa-free or by completing easy online applications, depending on their passport.

Nationals of qualified countries do not need to make any previous visa arrangements and can acquire a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar by producing a valid passport with at least six months validity and a confirmed onward or return ticket. Visitors who wish to remain in Qatar must have a valid hotel reservation for the duration of their trip.

The waiver will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance for nationals of the countries mentioned below and permit its bearer to stay up to 90 days in Qatar, either on a single trip or on repeated journeys.

1.Antigua and Barbuda 2. Argentina 3. Austria 4. Bahamas 5. Belgium 6. Bulgaria 7. Croatia 8. Cyprus 9. Czech Republic 10. Denmark  11. Dominican Republic 12. Estonia 13. Finland 14. France 15. Germany 16. Greece 17. Holland 18. Hungary 19. Iceland 20. Italy 21. Latvia 22. Liechtenstein 23. Lithuania 24. Luxembourg 25. Malaysia 26. Malta 27. Netherlands 28. Norway 29. Poland 30. Portugal 31. Romania 32. Serbia 33. Seychelles 34. Slovakia 35. Slovenia 36. Spain 37. Sweden 38. Switzerland 39. Turkey 40. Ukraine 

For nationals of the countries/regions listed below, the waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.

1.Andorra 2. Australia 3. Azerbaijan 4. Belarus 5. Bolivia 6. Brazil 7. Brunei 8. Canada 9. Chile 10. China 11. Colombia 12. Costa Rica 13. Cuba 14. Ecuador 15. Falkland Islands 16. French Guiana 17. Georgia 18. Guyana 19. Hong Kong, China 20. India 21. Indonesia 22. Iran 23. Ireland 24. Japan 25. Kazakhstan 26. Lebanon 27. Macau 28. Macedonia 29. Maldives 30. Mauritius 31. Mexico 32. Moldova 33. Monaco 34. Montenegro 35. New Zealand 36. Pakistan 37. Panama 38. Paraguay 39. Peru 40. Russia 41. Rwanda 42. San Marino 43. Singapore 44. South Africa 45. South Korea 46. Suriname 47. Thailand 48. United Kingdom 49. United States 50. Uruguay 51. Vatican City 52. Venezuela.

Similar to the 52 countries listed above, nationals of India can enter Qatar visa-free and spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during single or multiple trips, with an option to extend for another 30 days, if the following terms and conditions are met:

  • Passport must be valid for at least 6 months
  • Return ticket must be confirmed
  • The arriving passenger must possess a minimum cash amount of USD 1400 or a valid credit card, same applied for an entire family
  • Hotel quarantine booking for the number of days advised based on the latest travel advisory if arriving from India
  • Must be fully vaccinated with vaccines approved by the Ministry of Public Health and have completed a period of 14 days after the last dose
  • Must have a certificate confirming negative PCR test completed during the 72 hours from the time of arrival
  • Must have an electronic registration completed on the Ehteraz platform (www.ehteraz.gov.qa) to obtain the approval of the Ministry of Public

World cup 2022

If you are planning a trip to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, all ticketholders, both local and foreign, must apply for a Hayya Card. The Hayya Card is your admission permission into Qatar as well as your stadium access (along with your match ticket). All guests using your FIFA Ticket Application Number must obtain their own Hayya Card. For more information visit the Hayya portal.

Qatar-Oman Joint Tourist Visa (Visa on Arrival)

This visa is valid for 30 days and is given upon arrival in the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman. It enables numerous entries into both countries and may be extended for another 30 days for a charge. The following nations’ citizens are eligible for the combined visa:

1.Andorra 2.Australia 3.Austria 4.Belgium 5.Brunei 6.Canada 7.Cyprus 8.Denmark 9.Finland 10.France 11.Germany 12.Greece 13.Hong Kong 14.Hungary 15.Iceland 16.Ireland 17.Italy 18.Japan 19.Liechtenstein 20.Luxembourg 21.Malaysia 22.Monaco 23.Montenegro 24.Netherlands 25.New Zealand 26.Norway 27.Poland 28.Portugal 29.San Marino 30.Singapore 31.South Korea 32.Spain 33.Sweden 34.Switzerland 35.United Kingdom 36.United States 37.Vatican City

Electronic Travel Authorisation

Individuals who are not eligible for visa-free entry but have a valid residence permit or visit visa to either Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, or New Zealand can obtain a free Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by completing an online application prior to travel.

The form is simple to complete. You will be required to give the following information:

  • proof of accommodation in Qatar (e.g. hotel booking, or your host’s address)
  • details of your return (or onward) travel
  • a copy of your passport (with a minimum validity of six months)
  • a copy of your residence permit or visa to any one of the eligible countries stated above (with a minimum validity of 30 days).

Apply for an ETA here.

Qatar Transit Visa

Qatar Airways travelers transiting in Qatar for at least 5 hours may apply for a Qatar Transit Visa. It is free, valid for up to 96 hours (four days), and is available to travellers of all countries.

GCC Resident Visit Visa

This single-entry visa is valid for 30 days and may be extended for an additional three months for a charge of QAR 100, payable by Visa or Mastercard. Visitors who seek to take advantage of this visa system may be required to produce official papers confirming their occupation upon admission into Qatar.

Visa Exemptions

Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) do not require a visa to enter Qatar.

Covid-19 Travel Restrictions (Regulations and Guidelines)

The nation lifted the last of its Covid restrictions on Tuesday, November 1st. Travelers arriving in Qatar are no longer obliged to self-isolate, disclose their Covid status via test certificates, or register on the Ehteraz health application system prior to arrival. Travelers must still present their health condition on the Ehteraz app before attending public and private healthcare facilities.

Prior to this change, all passengers had to present a negative PCR test with a validity of 48 hours or a Rapid Antigen test certificate with a validity of 24 hours before aircraft departure.

Returning to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland requires no tests or quarantine because the UK eliminated all Covid travel restrictions earlier this year.

Thermal screening or temperature checks upon arrival in Qatar may still be in place, although at-home pre-flight testing is still suggested, as is responsible travel anywhere in the globe.

Etheraz

Etheraz is the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar’s pre-registration platform. You must register there at least three days before your arrival. Download the app ahead of time so you can activate it when you arrive and present it at the immigration counter.

  • It is mandatory for individuals to present the health status of the Ehteraz application when entering public and private healthcare facilities in Qatar.
  • ​To download Ehteraz, the traveler must have the following:​​​​​
    1. ​​​SIM card from one of Qatar’s service providers (Ooredoo or Vodafone) or an international SIM card.
    2. Mobile internet connection.
    3. The smartphone should support Android 6, newer versions or IOS 13.5 and later versions.
    4. Download and install the app on the mobile phone either via Google Play, Apple App Store or from any online search engines.
    5. SIM cards and smartphones are available for purchase at Hamad International Airport and Abu Samra border crossing if the passenger does not own them before arrival.
  • ​Fully vaccinated persons in Qatar will have a golden frame around their Health Status on Ehteraz.​
  • The Health Status for citizens, residents, visitors who have received the vaccine outside Qatar will remain green without a golden frame until their vaccine data is updated in the system or through the Overseas Vaccine Portal (www.ehteraz.gov.qa).
  • The Health Status on the Ehteraz app will remain red throughout the isolation period, until the end of their period of isolation.​
  • Diplomats, administrative card holders and VIP visitors arriving on official state visits are excluded from this measure. 

Negative test

If you are over the age of 6, do a PCR test 48 hours before departure or a Rapid Antigen test 24 hours before departure, and have your negative test certificate ready. (Please keep in mind that Rapid Antigen self testing are invalid.)

Security & Customs

Whether you’re transferring, arriving, or departing from Hamad International Airport, the information below can assist make your trip safer and more comfortable.

Arrivals

Passengers arriving at Hamad International Airport should be aware of the following information:

Security Check

Before you may go to the baggage claim area, your hand luggage will be inspected for security. Prohibited things will be confiscated and will not be returned at any time. Among these are (but are not limited to):

  • Weapons, firearms and ammunition
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Pork products
  • Narcotic drugs

Customs

You can depart the airport after collecting your checked baggage by going through Customs. There are two Customs channels available.

If you have “Nothing to declare,” choose the Green Channel.

If you have “Something to declare,” choose the Red Channel. These are some examples:

  • Alcoholic beverages (cannot be imported under any condition)
  • Exceeding permitted limits of foreign currency, jewellery and precious stones
  • Transporting prohibited and restricted weapons and firearms
  • In possession of illicit material
  • Carrying more than 400 cigarettes
  • In possession of personal items and gifts whose value exceeds QAR 3,000 (USD 825)

If you’re unsure which channel to use, please ask for help. You must divulge any quantity of cash, jewelry, or precious stones in your possession if a customs official requests it. Refusing to provide information and providing inaccurate or partial information is a criminal offense that may result in the seizure of the items.

Taxes And Duties

You may be required to pay taxes or duties on things brought into Qatar.

Priority Processing

When departing from Hamad International Airport, all Al Maha customers, special assistance travelers, and unaccompanied youngsters are given priority processing.

Solving Problems

Any things discovered at the security checkpoint (due to travelers’ forgetfulness or misplacement) are deposited to Lost & Found office. Please seek assistance from the nearest information desk in collecting your stuff.

Departures

Important information for travellers flying out of Hamad International Airport.

Security Check

Your hand luggage is inspected at the security checkpoint. You must also pass through a metal detector. The experience will be much more enjoyable if you:

  • Ensure that you’re not carrying any prohibited items .
  • Pack any liquid containers in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag. Each liquid container must be 100ml or less. Complimentary re-sealable plastic bags are available from the nearest information desk.
  • Put small items into your hand-baggage before being screened. These include phones, wallets, watches and keys.
  • Place items with metallic parts (belts, shoes, etc.) into the security tray before walking through the metal detector.

Please note that:

  • Walk-through metal detectors are safe for passengers with cardiac pacemakers.
  • Expectant mothers may be exempted from walking through metal detectors at the discretion of the security staff, and on the presentation of a medical certificate. In this case, they must undergo a physical check that will be conducted by a lady security officer.
  • Dedicated lanes are available for First and Business Class passengers.

Priority Processing

When departing from Hamad International Airport, all Al Maha customers, Special Assistance Travellers, and unaccompanied youngsters are given priority processing.

Prohibited Items

Please verify that you are not carrying any of the forbidden goods listed below. These objects will be confiscated, and you will not be able to reclaim them.

  • Weapons, firearms and ammunition
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Pork products
  • Narcotic drugs

Customs And Goods Collection Center

If you want to retrieve any things impounded upon arrival (not specified above), you can do so at the Customs office after verification and submission of the necessary paperwork.

Transfers

Important information for passengers transferring through Hamad International Airport:

Security Check

Before you may reach passenger concourse, your hand luggage is inspected for forbidden goods at the security checkpoint. First and Business Class passengers have access to dedicated lanes.

Priority Processing

When departing from Hamad International Airport, all Al Maha clients, Special Assistance Travelers, and Unaccompanied Minors are given priority processing.

You’re Also Required To Walk Through A Metal Detector:

  • Ensure that you’re not carrying any restricted items.
  • Pack any personal liquids containers in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag, with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Each liquid container must be 100ml or less. Complimentary re-sealable plastic bags are available from the nearest LAGs station.
  • Put small items into your hand-baggage before being screened. These include phones, wallets, watches, keys, valuable articles etc.
  • Place items with metallic parts, for example belt, into the security tray before walking through the metal detector.
  • All the LAGs (Liquids, Aerosols and Gels) bought at Duty free shops in the airports other than HIA, in packages of more than 100 ml, must be sealed in a STEB (Security tamper-evident bag) with a receipt, as a proof of purchase. If not packed properly, all those LAGs will be confiscated by the authorities.

Restricted Items

Please make sure you are not carrying any of the prohibited goods listed below. These objects will be confiscated, and you will not be able to reclaim them.

  • Weapons, firearms and ammunition
  • Toys replicas of weapons and firearms
  • Sharp items with a blade longer than 6 cm
  • Explosives and incendiary substances and devices
  • Narcotic drugs

Stopover In Doha With Alcohol

  • Good must be declared at Customs
  • if goods are in hand luggage, when hand luggage is scanned after immigration ( before baggage collection) you will be escorted to customer area by security staff to check/deposit goods before collecting baggage
  • if goods are in suitcase, do this on the way out via the “Goods subject to Customs”
  • Customs agent will issue a docket to you – to collect within 14 days
  • For goods collection
  • Check in, proceed through immigration & security and proceed to concourse B
  • Signs will guide to “Customs Retained Goods.” Please note that the office may not be manned around local prayer time
  • Present docket to Customs Agent

NOTE:

  • LAGs over 100ml are not permitted to be carried as hand luggage on board.

On board US bound flights, as per TSA requirments, LAGs in general and hand sanitizers in particular that exceed 100ml are not allowed. Therefore they will be confiscated before boarding.

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