Qatar Allows Visa-Free Entry to 80 Countries

Effective immediately, citizens from 80 countries can visit Qatar without applying for an entry visa.  Instead of a visa, visitors will be issued a multi-entry waiver upon entry to Qatar. This waiver is free of charge. They must present a valid passport, which should be valid for a minimum of 6 months, and a confirmed return ticket.

Officials from Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Airways announced this latest development. Depending on the country of origin, the visitor may be given a waiver for 180 or 30 days to stay in Qatar. There is also a possibility of applying for waiver extension for another 30 days.

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Waived Visa for Selected Countries to Visit Qatar

As part of the recent measures to encourage more visitors to the country, the Qatar government is allowing visitors from 80 countries a visa-free entry. Upon presenting a valid passport and return ticket, the visitor will be given a multi-entry waiver. The waiver may be valid for 180 or 30 days upon the date of issue.

Countries with FREE VISA to QATAR

Nationals from the countries listed below will not be required prior visa arrangements, but instead given a visa waiver upon arrival. The waiver will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. It can be spent up to 90 days in Qatar either as a single trip or multiple trips:

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

Countries with VISA-ON-ARRIVAL in Qatar

Nationals from the countries listed below will not be required prior visa arrangements, but instead given a visa waiver upon arrival. The waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. It can be spent up to 30 days in Qatar either as a single trip or multiple trips, and may be extended for another 30 days:

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

Aside from that, Qatar is also studying further enhancements to the current visa policy. This could be allowing visa-free entry to holders of resident permit or a valid visa from the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the Schengen countries. In lieu of a visa, visitors from these countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization which can be accomplished online.

According to Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, “Today’s announcement places the State of Qatar as the most open country in the region. This is a momentous occasion for Qatar, making the number of nationalities eligible to enter our country without a visa the highest in the region, which is something that we are very proud of.”