Qatar Visa On Arrival: Requirements & Updates (2025)

The 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 09 November 2025

Since August 2017, Qatar has offered visa-free entry to citizens of more than 80 countries, making it one of the most open and welcoming destinations in the Middle East.

Today, travellers from over 100 countries can enter Qatar without applying for a visa in advance. This policy was previously known as “visa on arrival”, but the term has now been updated to “visa-free entry” — with no changes to the process or requirements.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about Qatar’s visa-free entry, including eligible nationalities, entry requirements, step-by-step procedures, and answers to common questions.

What is “Visa-Free Entry” to Qatar?

Visa-free entry is now the new term defining previously “visa on arrival”. According to Qatar Tourism, nothing changed except the name. 

Current Requirements for Qatar Visa On Arrival

1. Citizenship

The visitor must be a citizen of an eligible country.

2. Passport Validity

The visitor’s passport must be valid for at least six months. In some cases, three-month validity is accepted/

3. Confirmed Return Tickets

The visitor must have a confirmed return or onward ticket.

4. Accommodation

The visitor should have a confirmed accommodation (clear address and contacts of the local host) or a hotel reservation for the duration of the stay. This can be a regular hotel booking for travellers from most countries. For hotel booking, we recommend TripAdvisor as it has the largest database of hotel reviews.

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Discover Qatar Hotel Requirement

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) currently requires travellers holding passports from some countries to book a Discover Qatar Visa on Arrival (VOA) hotel package before travelling to Qatar.

• For nationals of India, although the official Visit Qatar website currently states only that “a hotel booking on arrival is required,” the Discover Qatar site explicitly includes India in the list of nationalities for which a hotel booking through Discover Qatar is mandatory. Therefore, please double‑check your eligibility before travelling.

• Nationals of Pakistan, Thailand and Iran are still required to book hotels through the Discover Qatar website. The hotel reservation should be for the entire duration of the stay. Hotel reservations from other websites are not accepted. Citizens of other countries may book their hotel through any website.

• A minimum of 2 nights should be booked through the Discover Qatar website. Cancellations within 48 hours of arrival are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
• Even if you book a hotel for a longer stay, the initial visa will be valid for 30 days only. To extend your stay, you must visit any MOI Service Centre or the Airport Immigration office, as online extensions may not be available for certain nationalities.
• This requirement is only mandatory for travellers coming on a visa on arrival and not for Hayya visas or family visit visas.

Please note that additional nationalities may be included in this requirement at the discretion of the State of Qatar. For the latest details on visa regulations and entry conditions, visit the official Visit Qatar website.

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5. Health Insurance

Since February 2023, health insurance has been mandatory for visitors who are staying for more than 30 days. Insurance is highly recommended even for visitors staying less than 30 days, but it is not mandatory.

Visitors can buy basic health insurance for QAR 50 (for 30 days) from any registered insurance company listed on the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) website.

6. Proof of Funds

Visitors from countries like India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Iran (using a visa-on-arrival facility) are required to have a valid international credit card or debit card. Cash of QR 5,000 will no longer be accepted (Belarus nationals can show USD 1,000 in cash).

• For debit cardholders, a three-month bank statement is also required. There should be a minimum balance equivalent to at least QR 5,000 in your local currency.
• The card should be under the name of the visitor. If you are travelling together as a family, one card (under the family head’s name) is enough.
• This rule applies only to nationalities that require proof of funds (like India, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, etc.)

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Nationalities Eligible for Visa-Free Entry to Qatar

The countries under this facility are divided into two categories as below:

Category 1: Visa waiver for 180 days

• A visa waiver is valid for 180 days from the date of entry.
• Visitors can stay for a total of 90 days, either during a single trip or multiple trips.
• The stay is not extendable beyond 90 days.
• Requirements are a passport (with 6 months validity), return/onward flight tickets, confirmed accommodation (local host details or hotel booking), and health insurance (if staying for 30 days).

The following are the countries included under this category:

Antigua and Barbuda	Argentina	Austria
Bahamas	Belgium	Bulgaria
Croatia	Cyprus	Czech Republic
Denmark	Dominican Republic	Estonia
Finland	France	Germany
Greece	Hungary	Iceland
Italy	Latvia	Liechtenstein
Lithuania	Luxembourg	Malaysia
Malta	Netherlands	Norway
Poland	Portugal	Romania
Serbia	Seychelles	Slovakia
Slovenia	Spain	Sweden
Switzerland	Turkey	Ukraine [4]

Category 2: Visa for 30 days

• The initial visa is issued for 30 days from the date of entry.
• For most countries, the stay can be extended for another 30 days.
• This is a single-entry visa.
• Requirements are a passport (with 6 months’ validity), return/onward flight tickets, confirmed accommodation, and health insurance (if staying for 30 days). Discover Qatar hotel booking and proof of funds will be required for some nationalities (explained below).

The following are the countries included under this category:

Andorra	Australia	Azerbaijan
Belarus [6]	Bolivia	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil	Brunei	Canada
Chile	China	Colombia
Costa Rica	Cuba	Ecuador
Falkland Islands [7]	French Guiana [7]	Georgia
Guyana	Hong Kong	India [1]
Indonesia	Iran [5]	Ireland
Japan	Kazakhstan	Lebanon
Macao [7]	Macedonia	Maldives
Mauritius [7]	Mexico	Moldova
Monaco	Montenegro [7]	New Zealand
Pakistan [2]	Panama	Paraguay
Peru	Russia	Rwanda
San Marino	Singapore	South Africa
South Korea	Taiwan (China) [7]	Thailand [3]
United Kingdom	United States	Suriname
Uruguay	Uzbekistan	Vatican City
Venezuela

• IMPORTANT NOTE:
• The list of eligible countries are conditions of entry are subject to change by official authorities. Please check your eligibility on the official Visit Qatar website before travelling.

Special Conditions For Some Nationalities

In addition to the general conditions (passport valid for 6 months, round-trip flight tickets, confirmed accommodation, and health insurance), there are some special conditions applicable only to some countries, as explained below:

1. Qatar Visa On Arrival For Indian Nationals

A free on-arrival tourist visa is granted to Indian nationals for a maximum period of 30 days, or according to hotel reservation.

• (a) A confirmed hotel reservation is required.
• (b) A credit or debit card per family is required. Proof of fund requirement is explained above.

2. Qatar Visa On Arrival For Pakistan Nationals

A free on-arrival tourist visa is granted to Pakistani nationals for a maximum period of 30 days, or according to hotel reservation.

• (a) Confirmed hotel reservation through the Discover Qatar website only. Hotel reservations from other sites are not accepted.
• (b) A credit or debit card per family is required. Proof of fund requirement is explained above.
• (c) A polio vaccination certificate is required.

3. Qatar Visa On Arrival For Thailand Nationals

A free on-arrival tourist visa is granted to citizens of Thailand for a maximum period of 30 days, or according to hotel reservation.

• (a) Confirmed hotel reservation through the Discover Qatar website only. Hotel reservations from other sites are not accepted.
• (b) A credit or debit card per family is required. Proof of fund requirement is explained above.
• (c) Extension of stay possible for an additional 30 days.

4. Qatar Visa On Arrival For Nationals of Iran

On-arrival tourist or business visa is granted to Iranian nationals for a fee of up to 30 days or depending on hotel booking.

• (a) Confirmed hotel reservation through the Discover Qatar website only. Hotel reservations from other sites are not accepted.
• (b) A tourist visa is valid for a maximum of one month for a fee of QR 100.
• (c) A credit card per family is required for a tourist visa.
• (d) Business visa for a period of one month and a maximum of six months for a fee of QR 200 per month. A business visa is granted if there is an invitation letter from a company that is certified by the Government of Qatar.

5. Qatar Visa On Arrival For Nationals of Belarus

On-arrival tourist or business visa is granted to Belarus nationals for a fee.

• (a) A tourist visa is valid for a maximum of one month for a fee of QR 100.
• (b) Business visa for a period of one month and a maximum of three months for a fee of QR 200 per month.
• (c) Possession of an amount of cash equivalent to 1,000 US Dollars or a valid credit card.
• (d) Hotel reservation in one of the hotels in Qatar during the visit period.

Visa Waiver For GCC Citizens

In addition to the above countries, citizens of the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) do not require a visa to enter Qatar.

Documents Checklist For Visa On Arrival Passengers

Passport	Minimum six months validity (three months is acceptable for some nationalities)
Flight Tickets	Return / onward flight tickets
Confirmed Accommodation	Discover Qatar booking for India, Pakistan, Iran, and Thailand. Regular hotel booking or a clear address of the stay for other countries.
Proof of Fund	Only for India, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran & Belarus. An International Debit / Credit card should be under the visitor’s name (3 months’ bank statements are also needed for a debit card). One card per family. Cash is accepted only for Belarus nationals.
Health Insurance	Health insurance from a MOPH-approved provider (if staying for 30 days).

Qatar Visa On Arrival Cost

Visa on arrival is granted entirely free of charge for most nationals, and there will be no charge for the extension. There may be a fee of QR 100 for nationals of some countries, such as Iran and Belarus.

Procedure At the Immigration Counter

1. During the check-in at your departure country, inform the airline staff that you are visiting on a visa on arrival. They may check your accommodation details. If you are staying with a relative, it is good to have their contact details, address, and QID copy.
2. At the immigration counter in Doha, mention that you want a visa on arrival.
3. Give the hotel’s / host’s contact details (name, contact number) if you are asked.
4. Show credit or debit card if required (for some nationalities only)
5. When asked, look at the camera for an iris scan (eye scan). A green light would blink to confirm this.
6. A fingerprint scan may be required for some passengers.
7. The immigration officer would fix a small sticker on your passport. That’s it. Welcome to Doha!

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How to Extend Qatar Visa On Arrival?

If you are a citizen of a country eligible to extend the 30-day visa-on-arrival, you can do the renewal online.

Here is how you can extend your visa through the Ministry of Interior website:

Step 1: Go to the Visit Visa Extension Service page on the MOI website

This is available under Visa Services –> Visit Visa Extension.

Step 2: Enter the visa number or passport number

You can find the visa number on the sticker on your passport. Or else you can enter your passport number.

Step 3: Select nationality from the drop-down list

Step 4: Enter the verification code from the picture or audio

Step 5: Click on the “Extend” button

The visa will be renewed for another 30 days.

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Is there any fee for a Qatar visa on arrival extension?

A Qatar visa on arrival can be extended free of cost.

How many days after arrival can I renew the visa?

You can renew any day after arrival. Make sure you do it before the expiry to avoid complications.

I did not get any message or email after renewal. How can I check the validity?

You can check the validity of your visa on the Ministry of Interior website. Here is how to check the validity of a Qatar visa.

1. Go to the MOI website, Visa Inquiry & Printing page.

2. Enter the visa number (available on the sticker in the passport) or passport number.
3. Select nationality from the drop-down list.
4. Enter the verification code from the picture or audio.
5. Click on the “Submit” button.
6. The details, including visa validity, will be shown.
7. Click on the print icon to save or print a copy for future reference.

Do I need the renewal receipt while going back?

A receipt is not needed as the renewal date will be updated in the immigration system. However, you may keep a copy for your peace of mind.

Are GCC residents eligible to get a Qatar visa on arrival?

If you’re a resident of a GCC country (Gulf Cooperation Council), you’re eligible for a single-entry visa on arrival. The visa will only be issued if your residence permit is valid for at least three months and if your profession (as mentioned on your residence permit) appears on the list of eligible professions. You can see the list of eligible professions here.

What can I do if my nationality is not eligible for a visa-on-arrival?

Nationals of countries not eligible for visa-on-arrival can apply in advance for other types of visas such as tourist visas. You can check our detailed guide on how to apply for a Qatar Tourist Visa.

Qatar Government Contact Centre

Please note that even as we strive to keep this page updated, official policies are subject to change without prior announcement. For any query, travellers are advised to contact the Qatar Government Helpline at +974-4406 9999 or email [email protected] for any inquiries.

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FAQ on Qatar Visa on Arrival

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• IMPORTANT NOTE:
• The list of eligible countries are conditions of entry are subject to change by official authorities. Please check your eligibility on the official Visit Qatar website before travelling.

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3. Qatar Family Residence Visa Procedure
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5. How To Change Passport Number in Qatar ID
6. Check Qatar Visa Status Online
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Copyright © DohaGuides.com – Unauthorised 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.

Sources: Qatar Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Airways, Qatar Tourism Authority (Visit Qatar)

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