Transit Visa For Qatar

Tourist visas are temporary visas issued to travelers visiting a foreign country. A tourist visa may allow the traveler to stay in a country for a specific period, such as two weeks or six months. Many countries will not allow travelers to simply enter the country on their own with no prior authorization. The process of obtaining a tourist visa will require an application and several forms of identification.

A tourist visa in Qatar is issued only by the General Department of Residence in Doha. You can only apply for it at one of their offices.

Tourist visas are issued to those who will be traveling to Qatar for the purpose of tourism. The main requirement for obtaining a tourist visa is that the applicant must have a valid passport with at least six months’ validity and two blank pages, as well as proof of financial means and accommodation arrangements.

The tourist visa is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days if necessary. It is important to note that tourist visas cannot be converted into work or student visas, so if you wish to remain in Qatar longer than 30 days, you will need to apply for another type of visa.

Qatar Visa Requirements

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

• Your passport’s biographic information page (name and picture)
• A recent passport-size picture of you
• Your confirmed airline ticket.
• Proof of accommodation in Qatar, such as your hotel reservation.
• If you will stay with a relative/friend in Qatar:
  • A letter of authority from them
  • Their Qatar ID and residence visa
  • Copy of their passport’s bio page
  • A copy of their rental agreement document
• If you will stay with a friend/relative who is a Qatar citizen: Copy of their Qatar ID
• Requirements for residents of GCC countries:
  • Residence visa for the GCC country
  • ID card for the GCC country
• Any additional documents related to your travel purpose, such as:
  • Previous visas issued by Qatar, Schengen countries, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada.
  • A document showing you have invested at least $8,000 in Qatar
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate

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:

• Complete the online application form and attach all the supporting documents.
• Pay the visa fee through your debit/credit card (Visa or Mastercard). The Qatar online visa fee is QAR 100 (appx. US$ 27).

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:

• Enter your visa number, passport number, and the shown security code into the required fields to access the service.
• Select how long you want to extend your visa for.
• Pay the corresponding fee. For a 30-day visa extension, the fee is QAR 200.

Conclusion

It might be best to start with the checklist, which is a list of the requirements for applying for a tourist visa. It is important that you fulfill these requirements completely. Some of these suggestions may apply to your situation and some may not. Simply add or delete from this list as needed.