Qatar Visa For GCC Residents: Visa On Arrival & Hayya 2023

Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 10 October 2023.

Qatar has a visa scheme that offers a 30-day visa-on-arrival for residents of GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) subject to certain eligibility conditions.

In addition to this, recently Qatar’s Hayya portal has been updated with a special visa category for GCC residents. Expatriates who hold valid residency permits in any GCC country can now apply for a GCC Resident Visa (A2) through the Hayya portal.

This article explains the step-by-step process to apply, eligibility conditions, list of professions, visa fees, duration of stay and answers frequently asked questions about Qatar Visa For GCC Residents. We will explain in detail both visa on arrival as well as GCC Resident Visa (A2)

Visa On Arrival or Hayya Visa?

If you are a GCC resident who meets the eligibility conditions for a visa on arrival to Qatar, you can travel without a pre-approved visa. The eligibility conditions are explained in this article.

If you are not sure about your eligibility or do not want to take the risk of entry refusal, you can apply for a GCC Resident Visa (A2) through the Hayya portal. The application process is explained in this article.

The visa fee is the same in both cases. However note that online applications may take a few days for approval, especially during events such as Expo 2023 Doha.

Part 1: Qatar Visa On Arrival For GCC Residents

GCC Residents can obtain a 30-day single entry on-arrival visa to Qatar. The visa costs QR 100 and can be extended if needed, allowing for flexibility in travel plans.

Requirements For GCC Residents Visa On Arrival

To be eligible for this visa, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Valid Passport: Your passport should have a minimum validity of six months from the date of your intended arrival in the country.

Valid Residence Card: Your GCC residence card should have a minimum validity of three months from the date of your intended arrival in the country.

Approved Profession: To be eligible for this visa, your profession on the residence card must be one of the approved professions listed, which includes 206 different professions (the list is given below).

Confirmed Round-Trip Ticket: You will need to provide evidence of a confirmed round-trip airline ticket. This ensures that you have a clear plan for your arrival and departure from the country. This requirement can be waived off in case of coming by land border.

Accommodation Confirmation: You should either show proof of a hotel reservation within the country for the entire duration of your visit or provide a valid address of a friend or relative where you will be staying during your visit. This requirement ensures that you have a place to stay during your trip.

Health Insurance: It is mandatory to have a visitor’s health insurance from one of the insurance companies accredited by the Ministry of Public Health. This is important to ensure that you have access to medical care in case of unexpected health issues during your stay.

If travelling by air, your airline may require that you travel from your country of residence (the GCC country where you are based).

List of Professions Eligible

Below is the list of professions that are eligible for GCC Residents Visa On Arrival.

The list is taken from the Ministry of Interior website (Reference Source). We have sorted the list in alphabetical order for your reference.

As the rules are subject to change without announcement, we suggest that you double-check with the Qatar Government Helpline at +974-44069999 to confirm your profession’s eligibility.

Part 2: Hayya Visa For GCC Residents

As per the announcement made in April 2023, residents of GCC countries and those accompanying them can apply for a 30-day visa to Qatar through the Hayya portal.

Eligibility Conditions

Qatar Visa For GCC Residents (A2) will only be issued if you meet all the below conditions:

• Your passport should be valid for at least three months from the date of entry. 
• Your residence permit should be valid for at least three months from the date of entry. 
• You should have a return ticket if coming by air. This can be waived off if coming by land border.
• You should have confirmed accommodation. This can be “Family and Friends Hosting” or “Other Accommodation” (hotel booking or rented apartment).
• You should travel from your country of residence.
• The visitor should have health insurance (as per the MOPH guidelines).

GCC Residents Visa Fees

• The cost of the GCC Residents Visit Visa is QAR 100 (USD 27).
• Fee payment should be made using a credit or debit card.
• The fine for overstaying is QAR 200 (USD 55) per day.

What is the refund policy?

The entry visa fee is paid after your visa is approved. The fees are non-refundable regardless of your travel status or arrangements.

Visa Validity

The visa is valid for 30 days. This can be extended for two more months by paying QR 200 per month.

How To Apply For GCC Resident Visa Through Hayya Portal

The following are the steps to apply for a GCC Resident Visa through the Hayya Portal:

Step 1: Go to the Hayya Portal

The website address is: www.hayya.qa

Step 2: Click on “Apply For Hayya”

The button is available in the centre of the page.

Step 3: Sign up and login

If this is the first time you are using the Hayya portal, click on “Sign Up” and create an account using your email ID. You will have to enter the verification code received in your email.

Once your account has been created, log in using your email and password.

Step 4: Click on “Apply For Hayya”

Once again you will have to click on the “Apply For Hayya” button in the center of the page.

Step 5: Select Category of Visit

You need to select the “GCC Resident Visa (A2)” category from the drop-down menu.

Step 6: Select the Purpose of the Visit

You can select from leisure, sports events, business meetings, wedding parties, shopping, medical care, heritage tourism, friend visits, convention participation, event participation etc. You can also select “Others” and specify the purpose.

Step 7: Upload Your Photo

• Select “I have reviewed the instructions to upload my Personal Photo and Passport”.
• Click on “Browse Personal Photo”.
• Make sure the photo meets specifications such as light background, sharpness etc.

Step 8: Upload Passport

• Click on “Browse for first page”.
• Upload only the first page of the passport.
• Crop it in such a way that the machine-readable zone (MRZ) is clear.
• Click on “Save”.
• Your data will be extracted automatically. If your data is unreadable, you can enter it manually.
• Click on “Validate User”.

If the “Validate User” option is inactive after automatic data extraction, select “Passport Type” as normal.

The first name and last name are mandatory requirements. Middle name, third Latin name, and fourth Latin name are optional. If you do not have your last name on the passport, you can add your father’s name as your last name and upload the last page of the passport along with the first page (to verify your father’s name).

The Hayya platform may amend your application data so that it matches the information on your official identity document. This is to fit the Hayya platform identity document format.

Step 9: Enter Residency Information

• Select country of birth
• Select your country of residence (any GCC country)
• Declare if you have a previous nationality. If you have, select the country.

Step 10: Select the Job Title

Select your job title from the available list of professions. If your title is not listed, select “Others” and enter the job title manually.

Note: If the job title does not match the title on your Residency Permit, you will not be allowed entry to Qatar.

Step 11: Upload GCC Resident Permit

Make sure to upload a clear copy of your resident permit with the profession listed. Click on “Save”.

Since Saudi ID doesn’t have an expiry date, Saudi residents can upload Muqeem documents with an expiry.

Step 12: Enter Accommodation Details

Next, you have to select an accommodation type.

If you are selecting “Family and Friends hosting”, your details should have already been added by your host in Qatar. Otherwise, you will see an error. Here is our guide on how to register guests on Hayya.

If you are staying in a hotel or rented apartment, you can upload the details on the “Upload Other Platform Booking” on the Hayya portal. In this case, select “Other Accommodation” and enter the accommodation name.

Step 13: Enter Contact Information

In the last step, enter your phone number and emergency contact details.

Finally, click on “Review & Submit”.

Step 14: Pay the Visa Fee

Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you will receive an email with a payment link.

The visa fee of QR 100 should be paid using a credit/debit card. Normally Visa or Mastercard are accepted.

Hayya Entry Permit

After the payment is completed, you will receive a Hayya Entry Permit by email. Hayya Entry Permit for GCC Resident Visa is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

After entry, you can stay in Qatar for 30 days, and extend for 60 more days, if required.

Documents Checklist For Travel

During travel, the following documents are required:

• Passport
• Hayya Entry Permit
• GCC Residence Card
• Return Flight Tickets (not required for land border)
• Accommodation Details (Host invitation & Qatar ID or Hotel booking)
• Health Insurance

Hayya Visa will allow you to use the e-gates at the Hamad International Airport as well as access the fast-track lane entry at the Abu Samra border.

Visa For Accompanying Family

The GCC Residents Visa is also available to your accompanying family members. The accompanying person (under GCC Resident’s sponsorship) should make a separate application. They can select Housewife or Son/Daughter as their profession.

Their passport and residence permit should also meet the minimum validity required.

If the dependent is not a GCC resident, a separate Tourist Entry (A1) application must be submitted.

In addition, Qatar has a free visa-on-arrival facility for citizens of more than 90 countries. You can read more about it here: Qatar Visa on Arrival: Complete Guide.

Hayya Customer Support

Hayya Contact Center can be contacted by calling 2022 from within Qatar, and +974 4441 2022 from outside of Qatar, or by sending an email to [email protected].

Here is a video explaining the above steps:

READ NEXT: How To Host Family and Friends on Hayya Portal

FAQ on Qatar GCC Residents’ Visa

Related Articles:

1. Photo Requirements For Hayya Visa Application
2. How To Apply for a Vehicle Entry Permit to Qatar
3. Qatar Visa On Arrival: Complete Guide
4. Visiting Qatar: The Complete Guide
5. Carrying Medicines to Qatar: Important Things To Know
6. Qatar Visit Visa Types, Duration, and Cost

Copyright © DohaGuides.com – Unauthorized reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited. The information provided on this website is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, and travellers are encouraged to verify visa requirements and travel advisories through official government sources before making any travel arrangements.

Aneesh Abdulkader

Aneesh, the Founder & Editor of DG Pixels, holds a Master’s Degree in Communication & Journalism, and has two decades of experience living in the Middle East. Since 2014, he and his team have been sharing helpful content on travel, visa rules, and expatriate affairs.