Qatar Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

Well, visiting abroad has become quite easy in the past few decades. However, there sure is a need for a certain protocol to be followed in order to be able to travel overseas. Similarly, for Qatar, there is a certain procedure that is put forth by the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The most important and the first thing is getting a visa to Qatar. It is a grant that is issued for the ones who are travelling to Qatar for any kind of purpose, be it personal, institutional, or business-related. With the permit, the holder can visit the country for tourism, pursue education, visit friends and family, or for business activities. The validity offered by any visa to Qatar will depend on its type and other related factors. Also, Qatar visa for Indian passport holders is not mandatory for all types, you can even get a Qatar visa waiver upon arrival for a certain type of passport and the purpose of the visit.

The process of Qatar visa application is mainly online. There are certain things that you need to take care of before going ahead with the process. The eligibility criteria must be met by the applicant and must have all the needed documents and other mandatory requirements. There are two ways to get to Qatar. You can either apply online prior to your trip, else, you can get a Qatar visa on arrival. The eligibility criteria differ as per the approach you opt for. The processes are given as follows:

• Prior to arrival

1. Visit the official website of the Qatar Embassy online 
2. Fill out the Qatar visa application form.
3. Attach scanned copies of the required documents as per the type.
4. Submit the documents along with the application form online.
5. Pay the needed Qatar visa fees for the processing.
6. Receive the visa by email after the completion of the process.

• On arrival

1. Book a ticket for onward and return journey from Qatar.
2. Book a hotel room or provide any kind of accommodation.
3. Carry proof of accommodation with you.
4. After arrival, consult the authorities for a Qatar visa on arrival.
5. Submit all the required documents.
6. Perform the necessitated processes and you will be granted with a Qatar visa waiver.

It is important to note that you need to get an OK to Board before boarding the flight to Qatar. Even if you are travelling through the Qatar government’s airlines, OK to Board Qatar Airways is mandatory, regardless of the type of passport. The flight tickets for the onward and return journey must be confirmed for either one of the above procedures. If you have opted for a Qatar visa on arrival, you will get a Qatar visa waiver. A waiver is not exactly like a permit, but it is a permit that states that you are a traveller and can be in Qatar legally. It is also important to keep mind that a permit is not an allowance to enter Qatar, if the officers at the Airport do not find you eligible, you may not be allowed to enter the country.

You must keep in mind that when you are filling out the forms, the information provided must be correct and must match the details in the documents and the passport. If incorrect or false information is detected, there is a possibility that your application may get rejected. Such a visa rejection can affect future applications for any kind of visa to Qatar or any other foreign country.

There are different kinds of visa to Qatar based on various parameters. Mainly, they are categorized as per the purpose of visit, the length of stay, and other specifications. The most common types of permit are listed as follows:

• Tourist visa
  A tourist visa is issued at the time when the traveller is willing to visit the country for tourism. This visa is not mandated for a visit of 30 days, it must be issued if you have plans to stay longer than 30 days.
• Business visa
  When a business person is travelling to Qatar for carrying out business-related transactions or making business deals, a business visa is needed for the same. The span for the business permit depends on your purpose of visit. It is can be considered as a type of multiple entry permit as well.
• Visit visa
  This visa is required when you are looking forward to visiting your family or friends in the country. To obtain this permit, you require an invitation from the person you are visiting in Qatar. The validity terms are quite similar to the tourist permit, therefore, a permit is not required for a visit of 30 days, it is only required if you are willing to stay longer than 30 days.
• Transit visa
  A transit visa is obtained from the Embassy of Qatar at the time when the traveller is supposed to transit in Qatar to later fly to a different port. It is generally issued for hours depending on the time span of transit.

The requirements of the documents will differ as per the type of permit. Although, there are certain documents that are common in all kinds. The list of Qatar visa requirements for Indian citizens are given as follows:

• Original passport with a validity of at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Visa application form, completely filled
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• GCC Medical Certificate
• Detailed Itinerary
• Invitee’s passport and residence proof (if applicable)
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of purpose of visit - invitation letter, exhibition or conference pass, etc. 
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document.
• Proof of identification and nationality - PAN card, Adhaar card
  
  

• Two copies must be provided.
• Photo size: 38 mm x 48 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame. 
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white.
• Neutral expressions.
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The fees for a visa to Qatar is paid at the time of submitting the application form. In the case of a VOA, the fee for the Qatar visa waiver can be paid at the airport. The Qatar visa fees for Indian citizens is determined based on the procedure that is to be followed.

Since the visa to Qatar is an electronic permit, it is quite easy to access the status of the processing. In order to check the status, you can visit the Qatar Visa Service website and fill out the required details and track where has the processing reached. You can even check when you have to attend the interview and how long will it take for the final E-visa.

For a visa prior to the trip to Qatar, you will have to apply online to the Embassy of Qatar to obtain the same. You can then fill out the application form after which the processing will take place. When the process is completed by the Consular/Embassy, you will be called for an interview if required. The permit can then be obtained by email. If you are willing to get a visa on arrival, you can get it once you reach Qatar.

At times, the process may seem complicated and the formalities involved can seem difficult to be carried out individually. It can be confusing figuring out what application process to choose. In such cases, professional visa consultation can be considered from the visa agencies. This will allow you to have your documents handled professionally and the procedure may even be quicker than the normal process.