Qatar visa policy – Customs Information

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Qatar visa policy – The Qatar visa policy shows who may visit a country without a visa and which other nationals (foreigners) need a visa for Qatar. Qatar visa policy is varied based on the applicant’s passport or travel document.

For example, applicants traveling with a diplomatic or official travel document have a separate Qatar visa policy.

Document Validity

Upon arrival, passports have to be valid. 

Additional Details:

An image of the designated dependent(s) must also be included with passports including, the names of any dependent(s). 

The Minors:

Children may be included in a parent’s passport if they do not have their personal passports as long as the parent accompanies the child. 

Issuance of Visa: 

1. Until arrival: Visitors are kindly requested to contact Qatar’s nearest representation.

2. Upon arrival: if necessary, a one-month visa will be issued to the following travelers at any port of entry to Qatar for a fee of QAR 100 (a fee of QAR 50 is levied on dependents who are mentioned in the passport and accompanied by the passport holder): 

• People of Germany 
• The ‘British Resident’ is endorsed by British passport travelers.

Notes:

However, if travelers have a visa issued by the Sultanate of Oman, there is no need for a separate visa to enter Qatar. The traveler with such a visa may first enter either of the two countries but may not have a visa to Qatar and then visit Oman without the need for an Oman visa.

• Citizens of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Andorra, Brunei, Canada, Finland, France, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Holy See, and the USA. 

3. Upon arrival: Visas with diplomatic passports may be issued to Tunisian citizens if necessary.

4. After arrival, all travelers staying in Qatar for a period of more than one month must obtain a residency permit. In addition, international nationals require an exit permit and those who leave the country after a period of stay. Residence permits will only be issued once every two years to travelers with a sponsor in Qatar. If, within two years, a traveler wishes to apply for another residence permit, the sponsor of the last permit must obtain a permit from the Immigration Department.

• Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, or the United Arab Emirates are not covered by this facility. 

5. Upon arrival: if required, a one-month visa (it is possible to extend its validity) will be granted to international residents of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, provided that the traveler holds one of the following positions: a businessman, a specialist, a sales manager, a senior representative, a manager, a doctor, a consultant, an engineer, a business owner or a lawyer and holds the following:

• a letter from the sponsor in Qatar indicating the sponsor’s name, telephone number, or telex number; and 
• Official facts or documentation showing business in Qatar. 
• Unless they are accompanied by a resident of the Gulf Cooperation Council, staff and housemaids of all classes will not be permitted to enter Qatar without prior visa arrangements. At the time of entry, a Gulf Cooperation Council residence permit must be valid for at least six months. A visa fee of QAR 320 is imposed on all citizens, and a visa validity extension fee of QAR 300 is charged. 
• The facility does not apply to travelers with Palestinian travel documents residing in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates who are required to have a pre-arrival visa. 

6. Upon arrival: A visa will be issued to Iranian citizens if necessary, as long as they come for business, if: 

• invited by a government-licensed company, and
• holding a legitimate credit card or a QAR 5000 minimum, and the holding of a confirmed hotel reservation at a hotel with 4 or 5 stars. 
• This visa is valid for 72 hours. The validity period can be extended for a further 72 hours for a charge of QAR 50.

7. Upon arrival: if necessary, a one-month visa will be issued to travelers with passports issued by Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) at any port of entry to Qatar for a fee of QAR 100 (a fee of QAR 50 will be charged to dependents listed in the passport and accompanied by the passport holder);

Notes:

However, if travelers have a visa issued by the Sultanate of Oman, there is no need for a separate visa to enter Qatar.

The traveler with such a visa may first enter either of the two countries  but may not have a Qatar visa and then visit Oman without the need for an Oman visa.

Exemptions from Visa:

A visa must be carried by all travelers except for the following:

1. Qatari citizens.

2. People of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

3. Foreign citizens who are returning to Qatar long as they have a valid resident permit stamped in their passport.

Notes:

If foreign citizens remain out of the country for more than six months, the residency permit is automatically revoked, and entry is only permitted through an official authorization from immigration authorities.

(Transit without Visa) TWOV:

1. For travelers continuing their journey to a third country with-in 8(eight) hours on the same or first connecting plane, TWOV is allowed as long as they have:

• all the appropriate papers for their onward trip; and
• tickets with seats reserved.

It is not lawful to leave the transit lounge.

• For travelers with Palestinian travel documents, TWOV does not apply;
• TWOV shall not apply to citizens of Somalia and Iraq who need prior immigration authorization along with a pre-arranged visa.

2. If the transit time extends 8 hours and the traveler decides to leave the airport, the transport carrier will grant a pre-arranged STPC (Stopover Charged by Carrier) visa to that traveler for a period of 24 hours, subject to the approval of the Immigration Authorities.

• This facility does not extend to German citizens holding ‘Kinderausweis.’

Additional Details:

1. Travelers must have sufficient money to cover the expenses of their visit, their onward or return tickets (with the exception of 10-year multiple entry visa travelers), and all the documents necessary for their next trip.

2. Travelers must also have evidence of a confirmed hotel reservation and any major credit card, or at least USD 1,400 if they have a tourist visa.

Information to know:

Travelers arriving in their home country with an expired visa or forged documents would be deported. The shipping carrier will be fined 10,000 QAR.

Customs and Foreign Exchange:

Regulations for importation:

There are no limits to the import of the following:

• Gifts and personal effects of up to QAR 3,000 maximum value;
• 400 bits of cigarettes.
• Under any circumstances, alcoholic drinks may not be imported.

Customs regulations on crew members:

For crew members, the same rules apply as for regular travelers.

Pets:

Travelers may be accompanied by domestic dogs, birds (up to falcon size), domestic cats, and other domestic animals of a similar size and are subject to special treatment through the arrival and departure terminals, as long as the animals are:

• accompanied by the appropriate required certificates. Through the Cargo Terminal, large dogs, larger birds, and other big animals must be processed; and
• to be carried in a clean, lockable cage suitable for the animal size and intended for air travel; and
• accompanied by an official veterinary health certificate confirming that the animal is cleared for air travel, disease-free, and vaccinated.

Regulations on Baggage Clearance:

The luggage of a traveler should be cleared at the first airport of entry in Qatar.

Charge on Airports:

When leaving the airport, all travelers are not allowed to pay any airport fees.

Regulations on Currency Imports:

Imports of local currencies (Qatar Riyal) and foreign currencies other than the Israeli currency are not restricted. The Israeli currency is prohibited.

Regulations on Currency Exports:

Local currency exports (Qatar Riyal) and foreign currencies are other than the Israelian currencies that are not limited. The Israeli currency is prohibited.

Regulations on Weapons and Ammunition:

Special permission from the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Qatar is required in advance for firearms.

What are the Qatar visas you can apply with Click2Visas?

Apply Tourist E-visa to Qatar
Tourist E-Visa is mainly for sight-seeing and holidays. Most of these visas do not give the holder the right to work or start engaging in any business activity in the Qatar.