Citizens of over 95 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into Qatar. The country began visa-free access in August 2017. However, it has been halted for the past two years due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Qatar has resumed its Visa On Arrival (VoA) service, and citizens from more than 95 countries are now eligible for a Free Qatar Visa On Arrival.
However, only those who have received the vaccines approved by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health will be granted visa waivers upon arrival.
Approved Vaccines
Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty)
Moderna (SpikeVax)
AstraZeneca (Covishield/Oxford/Vaxzevria)
Jansen/Johnson & Johnson (only one dose)
Moreover, travellers must meet additional eligibility requirements such as citizenship, a valid passport for at least six months, return air tickets, hotel reservations, and credit/debit cards (for some nationalities). They should also apply for pre-travel authorization on the Registration for travellers entering Qatar (ehteraz.gov.qa).
List of Countries Eligible for Qatar Visa On Arrival (VoA)
Travellers from eligible countries do not need to make any prior visa arrangements. Upon arrival in Qatar, they can obtain a visa waiver by producing a valid passport with at least six months of validity and a confirmed onward or return ticket. Those who intend to stay in Qatar must hold a valid hotel booking.
1. Countries Eligible for 90 Days Visa
The waiver will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance for nationals of the countries listed below. It will permit its holder to spend up to 90 days in Qatar, either on a single trip or multiple journeys.
| S. No | Country | S. No | Country |
| 1 | Antigua and Barbuda | 21 | Latvia |
| 2 | Argentina | 22 | Liechtenstein |
| 3 | Austria | 23 | Lithuania |
| 4 | Bahamas | 24 | Luxembourg |
| 5 | Belgium | 25 | Malaysia |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 26 | Malta |
| 7 | Croatia | 27 | Netherlands |
| 8 | Cyprus | 28 | Norway |
| 9 | Czech Republic | 29 | Poland |
| 10 | Denmark | 30 | Portugal |
| 11 | Dominican Republic | 31 | Romania |
| 12 | Estonia | 32 | Serbia |
| 13 | Finland | 33 | Seychelles |
| 14 | France | 34 | Slovakia |
| 15 | Germany | 35 | Slovenia |
| 16 | Greece | 36 | Spain |
| 17 | Holland | 37 | Sweden |
| 18 | Hungary | 38 | Switzerland |
| 19 | Iceland | 39 | Turkey |
| 20 | Italy | 40 | Ukraine |
2. Countries Eligible for 30 Days Visa
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 multiple trips. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 days.
| S. No | Country | S. No | Country |
| 1 | Andorra | 27 | Macau |
| 2 | Australia | 28 | Macedonia |
| 3 | Azerbaijan | 29 | Maldives |
| 4 | Belarus | 30 | Mauritius |
| 5 | Bolivia | 31 | Mexico |
| 6 | Brazil | 32 | Moldova |
| 7 | Brunei | 33 | Monaco |
| 8 | Canada | 34 | Montenegro |
| 9 | Chile | 35 | New Zealand |
| 10 | China | 36 | Pakistan |
| 11 | Colombia | 37 | Panama |
| 12 | Costa Rica | 38 | Paraguay |
| 13 | Cuba | 39 | Peru |
| 14 | Ecuador | 40 | Russia |
| 15 | Falkland Islands | 41 | Rwanda |
| 16 | French Guiana | 42 | San Marino |
| 17 | Georgia | 43 | Singapore |
| 18 | Guyana | 44 | South Africa |
| 19 | Hong Kong, China | 45 | South Korea |
| 20 | India | 46 | Suriname |
| 21 | Indonesia | 47 | Thailand |
| 22 | Iran | 48 | United Kingdom |
| 23 | Ireland | 49 | United States |
| 24 | Japan | 50 | Uruguay |
| 25 | Kazakhstan | 51 | Vatican City |
| 26 | Lebanon | 52 | Venezuela |
3. Visa Exemption for Gulf Countries
In addition to the nations listed above, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, do not need a visa to enter Qatar.
Qatar Visa On Arrival Requirements
Travellers from countries qualified for the Qatar visa on arrival can enter Qatar visa-free and obtain a visa waiver on arrival if they fulfil the following criteria:
The passenger must be a citizen of an eligible country.
Must present a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months
Must possess a confirmed onward or return ticket.
Passengers intending to stay in Qatar must hold a valid hotel booking.
Passengers from Pakistan and India might also require:
Proof of funds or a credit card is required to be eligible for the Qatar visa upon arrival. Make sure to carry an International Debit/Credit Card under your name, with a minimum balance of QAR 5000.
A bank statement from the last three months might also be required to prove that the balance is equivalent to QAR 5000.
Please remember that passengers from India, Pakistan, and Iran will be subject to additional requirements to obtain a Qatar visa upon arrival.
Visa On Arrival Requirements For India, Pakistan, and Iran
Recently, Qatar has announced changes to the requirements for obtaining a Visa On Arrival (VOA) for nationals of India, Pakistan, and Iran, beginning April 14, 2022.
According to the ministry’s announcement, nationals of India, Pakistan, and Iran can obtain a free tourist visa upon arrival for a Confirmed Hotel Reservation in one of the country’s hotels, available only through the Discover Qatar Website.
Similar to the 51 countries listed above, nationals of India, Pakistan and Iran 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:
A 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; the same applies to an entire family.
Hotel quarantine booking for the number of days advised based on the latest travel advisory if arriving from India
Hotel bookings made on Discover Qatar for the duration of the stay
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 Health before travelling
Note: Passengers who have not received both vaccine doses 14 days before arrival will not be allowed to enter the State of Qatar.
Documents Checklist For Qatar Visa On Arrival
Passport
Confirm Return Flight Tickets
Vaccination Certificate ***
Ehteraz Approval
Negative RT-PCR Test Report
Serology antibody test results (for conditional vaccines)***
Hotel Booking for quarantine through Discover Qatar (one day quarantine if from Red Health Measure country)
Hotel Booking for the duration of stay (for 29 days if return ticket is after 29 days)
Acknowledgement & Undertaking Form (Filled and signed)
Ehteraz mobile app (installed on phone)
International debit/credit card under visitor’s name (3 months bank statements are also needed for a debit card). Cash is not acceptable nowadays.
Although Qatari officials do not require travel/health insurance to get a visa on arrival, some airlines require insurance during check-in. We recommend checking with your airline to see if this is necessary. It is important to note that insurance is an official need for a family visit visa.
***A Serology Antibody test with a positive result is needed if you have taken a “conditionally approved” vaccine (Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V or Covaxin).
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Individuals who are not eligible for visa-free entry but who hold a valid residence permit or visit visa to either Schengen countries, Australia, Canada, UK, USA or New Zealand, can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) free of charge* by completing an online application before travelling.
The form is easy to fill in; you will be asked to provide:
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 Visa On Arrival Fee
The Qatar visa on arrival is entirely free of charge for all visa-eligible travellers. Extending or renewing a Qatar visa on arrival is also free of charge.
Qatar Visa On Arrival Extension
Travellers from countries eligible for a 30-day visa can extend their Qatar visa on arrival for an extra 30 days. Visa extensions can be obtained online on the Ministry of Interior portal by completing the processes outlined below:
Visit the Ministry of Interior (MOI) website.
Fill in all the details, including “Visa Number” (which can be found on the sticker attached to your passport), “Passport Number”, and “Nationality”.
Enter the Captcha displayed on the screen accurately.
Click on ‘Extend’.
Your Qatar visa on arrival has been extended for another 30 days.
