Just in time for the holidays, nationals from more countries can now get a Qatar visa upon arrival at Hamad International Airport.
The Ministry of Interior has announced that more than 30 new nationalities have been added to the list of passports that qualify their holders to Qatar visa on arrival. This means that citizens of these countries can now book a ticket and head to Doha without having to wait for entry approval.
The decisions is hoped to boost tourism during summer, especially over Eid al Fitr vacation. Some of the bigger countries expected to take advantage of their instant visas include Russia, China and Lebanon, which were all recently added.
Earlier this week, Qatar Airways issued a memo to all its personnel, informing them of the Ministry’s decision to grant visas on the spot to the new passports if holders meet three conditions: a passport that is valid for more than six months, a return or transit ticket, $1,500 in cash or credit card, and an address in Qatar (mainly a hotel booking).
The cost for a one-month visa on arrival costs QR 100, or around $30 US.
While citizens of the Northern America, Western Europe and Scandinavia already has the privilege of a visa on arrival, Qatari authorities said that they were working on adding Russia, China and India, three of the world’s biggest economies and most populous countries, to the list.
However, Indian citizens still need to have a permanent UK address or US residency to qualify for an instant visa.
Other passport holders that can now enter the country without having to apply for a visa in advance include South American nationals from Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina, as well as Eastern Europeans from Czech Republic, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
List of countries that are eligible for a visa upon arrival – Qatar Airways
The change in visa regulations started earlier this year when authorities announced that anyone transiting through the country via Qatar Airways was granted an automatic four-day visa for free, regardless of nationality.
A full and updated list of all 71 nationalities eligible for a Qatar visa on on arrival can be found on Qatar Airways’ website.
