Can't wait to see the Katara Cultural Village amphitheatre in person, or finally try machbūs? Before you pack your bags and get your ticket, you should check whether you need a visa for Qatar. But what type do you need? How do you apply for it? To make this process easier and help you navigate all sorts of Qatar visas, we’ve pointed out the key aspects you might be interested in.

All types of travel permits that can be used to enter Qatar are divided into three groups:

Type C visas:

• • Tourist visa

  • Business visas

  • Family visit visa  (check our guide on how to apply for a Qatar family visit visa)

  • GCC resident visit visa

Type D visas:

• • Investor visa

  • Family residence visa (check our guide to know the minimum salary requirements for a Qatar family residence visa)

  • Educational residence visa

  • Real estate visa

Transit visa:

A Qatar transit visa is valid for 24 hours and allows leaving the territory of the airport.

There are 95 countries that enjoy a visa-free regime in Qatar, meaning their citizens don't have to apply for a visa before entering the country and get get a "visa on arrival" when they come. In addition, the nationals of the GCC members, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman don’t need any type of permit to enter Qatar.

The intergovernmental agreements between Qatar and other countries vary. Based on them, the duration of a visit for residents of these states may range from 30 to 90 days.

The residents of France, Austria, Latvia, Belgium, Lichtenstein, Antigua and Barbuda, Malta, Lithuania, Slovenia, Ukraine, Norway, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia, Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria, Poland, Malta, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, Holland, Argentina, Germany, Luxembourg, Bahamas, Latvia, Portugal, and Seychelles will have their permit valid for 180 days, 90 of which they can spend in Qatar.

The travelers from Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong, Mexico, India, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Lebanon, San Marino, United Kingdom, Montenegro, Australia, New Zealand, Guyana, Andorra, Pakistan, Panama, Ireland, Japan, Cuba, Ecuador, United States, Thailand, Vatican City, Uruguay, Brunei, Chile, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Moldova, Peru, Maldives, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Falkland Islands, Macau, Rwanda, French Guiana, Mauritius, Paraguay, South Africa, Venezuela, Macedonia, South Korea, Monaco, and Suriname can spend in Qatar up to 30 days. Tourists from these countries can extend the duration of their on-arrival visa for 30 days.

On-arrival visas are available to a set list of countries. Their citizens are part of the visa-free system in Qatar. To cut wait times, it's advisable to submit a pre-arrival registration via the Hayya portal. 

Once you arrive (or visit the Hayya portal), you should provide:

• Proof of citizenship 

• Passport

• Accommodation proof

• Return flight booking

• Proof of funds

• Health insurance for Qatar

The easiest way to get a tourist visa for Qatar is via the Hayya website or the app (iOS or Android).

Requirements for a visit visa in Qatar for tourist purposes include:

• Scanned passport
• Recent 4.5x3.5 cm photo
• Flight details
• Accommodation proof

Here's the overview of the process on the portal:

The application requirements for a family visa vary based on the type of permit you’d like to get. A family visit visa will work for a short-term (six months max) visit of your close family members. This document can be issued to the wife and children of expats employed in Qatar. 

If you want to bring a family to Qatar to live with you, you should apply for a family residence visa, dedicated to expatriate employees meeting these criteria:

• At least QAR 10,000 monthly salary

• Employment with the company for a minimum of half a year

• Valid QID

• Residence permit from the employer

How to apply for a visit visa for your spouse

To bring your wife to Qatar, you should complete an application form on the MOI e-services platform or do it in the Metrash app. Aside from this, you need to provide the following documents:

• Copy of your QID

• Copy of your spouse's passport

• Notarized marriage certificate

• No-objection certificate from your employer with your profession and salary stated

• Company Card photocopy

• Work contract (notarized by the Labor Department)

• Health insurance

• Return flight ticket

How to apply for a visit visa for parents

Such visas are available for parents of expatriates whose families live with them. You can apply for the document via the MOI online service or using Metrash. The list of papers you have to collect for this kind of permit is similar to the previous one, plus:

• Visitor’s passport copy

• Proof of your relationship (such as your birth certificate)