Qatar Visa For GCC Residents: New Hayya Update (2023)

Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update was on 3 September 2023.

Qatar’s Hayya portal has been updated with a special visa category for residents of GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). Expatriates who hold valid residency permits in any GCC country can now get a GCC Resident Entry (A2) e-visa 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.

Recent Updates

Qatar Visa For GCC Residents

As per the new announcement made on 16 April 2023, residents of GCC countries and those accompanying them can obtain a visa for 30 days stay in Qatar.

Eligibility Conditions

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

• The passport should be valid for at least three months from the date of entry. 
• The visitor should have a valid residence permit card issued by any GCC country (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or UAE). The residence permit should be valid for at least three months from the date of entry. 
• The visitor should have a return ticket if coming by air.
• The visitor should have confirmed accommodation. This can be “Family and Friends Hosting” or “Other Accommodation” (hotel booking or rented apartment).
• The visitor should travel from his country of residence.
• The visitor should have health insurance (as per 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 fees 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.

How To Apply For GCC Resident Visa Through Hayya Portal

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

Step 1: Go to Hayya Portal

The website address is: www.hayya.qa

Step 2: Click on “Apply For Hayya”

The button is available in the center 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, login 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 Entry (A2)” category from the drop-down menu.

Step 6: Select Purpose of Visit

You can select from leisure, sports event, job seeker, business meeting, wedding party, shopping, medical care, heritage tourism, friend visit, 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 Job Title

Select your job title from the available list of professions (we have given the list of 200+ professions below in this article). 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 expiry date, Saudi residents can upload Muqeem document with 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 Hayya portal. In this case, select “Other Accommodation” and enter the accommodation name.

Step 13: Enter Contact Information

At 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 30 days from issue.

According to the officials, no visa request should take more than 48 hours to receive a response.

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 & QID or DQ 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 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.

Here is a video explaining the above steps:

List of Professions

The following professions have been listed on the Hayya portal for selection:

1. Accountant / Auditor
2. Accounts Manager
3. Administration Coordinator
4. Administrative Manager
5. Administrative Researcher
6. Agricultural Specialist
7. Air Controller
8. Air Hostess
9. Air Transport Manager
10. Aircraft Landing Conttroller
11. Aircraft Maintenance Technician
12. Aircraft Pilot
13. Aircraft Takeoff Controller
14. Aircraft Technician
15. All Types of Consultant
16. Aquatic Specialist
17. Archeological Director
18. Archeological Prospector
19. Archeological Researcher
20. Architectural Draftsman
21. Army Officer
22. Artist (Actor, Musician, Composer, Poet, Painter, Singer, etc.)
23. Assistant Engineer (All specializations)
24. Assistant General Manager
25. Assistant Pharmacist
26. Astronomer
27. Author
28. Aviation Guide
29. Aviation Tehnician
30. Aviation Trainer
31. Bank Manager
32. Bank Official
33. Banker
34. Banking Business Manager
35. Breeding Specialist (Animals/ Birds/ Bees)
36. Broadcasting Manager
37. Busines man
38. Business lady
39. Captain
40. Captain of Ship/Cruise/Carrier/Steamship
41. Career Counsellor
42. Chemist (All Specializations)
43. Chief Justice
44. Cinema / Television Producer
45. Cinema Cameraman
46. Cinema Director
47. Co-Pilot
48. College Dean
49. Commercial Broker
50. Commercial Manager
51. Company/Factor Manager
52. Computer Programmer
53. Consultant
54. Control Equipments Technician
55. Cooperative Socierty Manager
56. Correspondent (Newspaper /Radio/TV)
57. Cruise Ship Guide
58. Customs Clearer
59. Customs Specialist
60. Decoration Designer
61. Dental Technician
62. Diplomat (Members of diplomatic corps)
63. Director
64. Earthquakes Expert
65. ECG Technician
66. Economic Analyst
67. Electrical Manager
68. Engineer (All specializations)
69. Executive Manager / Director
70. Executive Secretary
71. Finance / Economics Expert
72. Finance Audit
73. Finance Manager
74. Food Controller
75. Foodstuff Technician
76. Gardening Specialist
77. General Professional Trainer (Industrial, Agricultural, Commercial)
78. General Specialist
79. General Supervisor
80. Geologist Quantity Enumerator
81. Geology Technician
82. Golden Residency Holder
83. Head (various)
84. Head of Prosecution
85. Horse Breeding Technician
86. Hospital Manager
87. Hotel Manager
88. Housewife
89. Husband, Wife, Son, Daughter, Mother, Father (GCC Citizen)
90. Information Systems Expert
91. Institute Manager
92. Insurance Manager
93. Investment Manager
94. Investor
95. Jeweler
96. Journalist
97. Judge
98. Lab Specialist
99. Lab Technician
100. Laboratory Manager
101. Land Hostess
102. Land Transport Manager
103. Law Expert
104. Lawyer/ Advocate
105. Lecturer
106. Legal Researcher
107. Library Manager
108. Maintenance Manager
109. Male or Female Nurse
110. Manager (Variety)
111. Manager / Director of any Government Departments / Companies
112. Marine Traffic Controller
113. Marine Transport Manager
114. Maritime Cotroller
115. Marketing Outlet
116. Marketing Representative
117. Marketing Manager
118. Media Controller
119. Media Manager
120. Media Person
121. Medical Analysis Specialist
122. Medical Equipments Technician
123. Medical Specialist
124. Medical X-ray Specialist
125. Microscopic Technician
126. Mining Technician
127. Ministry Undersecretary
128. Museum Manager
129. Nutrition Specialist
130. Operations Analyst
131. Optical Technician
132. Others
133. Partner
134. Permanent Residency Holder
135. Pharmaceutical Technician
136. Pharmacist
137. Physician (All specializations)
138. Physicist
139. Pilot
140. Plant Manager
141. Player (All sports items in a sports club)
142. Police Officer
143. President / CEO
144. President / Director of a Club
145. President / Director of a University
146. Press Photographer
147. Printing and Publishing Manager
148. Procurement Representative
149. Production Director
150. Professional Security & Safety Technician
151. Professor
152. Program Producer
153. Proofreader
154. Prosecutor
155. Quality Controller
156. Quantitative Calculator
157. Radio / TV transmission Technician
158. Referee (sports)
159. Regional Director
160. Religious person
161. Research & Studies Director
162. Road Controller
163. Sales Executive
164. Sales Manager
165. Sales Representative
166. School Manager
167. Scientist
168. Secretary / Director of Library
169. Ship Captain
170. Ship Maintenance Technician
171. Ships Supervisor
172. Sociologist
173. Software Designer
174. Son / Daughter
175. Special Needs Teacher
176. Speech Specialist
177. Sports Medicine Specialist
178. Sports Representative
179. Sports Trainer
180. Staffs at Embassies in GCC (except Support Services Jobs)
181. Statistics Speciaist
182. Student
183. Surgeon (All Specialization)
184. Surveyor
185. Systems Analyst
186. Teacher / Instructor
187. Telecom Technician
188. Television Manager
189. Theatre Manager
190. Tourism Agency Manager
191. Tourist Guide
192. Trader
193. Train Mantenance Technicina
194. Translator
195. Travel / Tourism Agent
196. TV / Radio Programs Presenter
197. TV Cameraman
198. University Profesor
199. University Student
200. Veterinary Doctor
201. Weather Expert
202. Well Drilling Technician
203. Writer
204. X-ray Specialist
205. X-ray Technician
206. Zoology Specialist

If your profession is not listed on the portal, you can select “Others” from the options and enter your job title as per the Residency Permit.

Vaccination & Quarantine Requirement

As per the new travel policy, effective from 1 November 2022:

• All travellers are exempted from Quarantine (unless you test Covid positive).
• All travellers are exempted from Covid Testing.
• All travellers are exempted from Ehteraz pre-travel registration.
• Ehteraz mobile application is only required to enter health centres.

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.

Make your trip to Qatar unforgettable! Check the latest offers from Qatar Airways, Qatar’s own 5-star airline, rated as one of the best in the world.  With its reputation for luxury, comfort, and a wide-reaching global network, booking with Qatar Airways ensures an extraordinary travel experience.

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].

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 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

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