Qatar Tourist Visa - The Definitive Guide

Whenever you are planning a trip abroad as a tourist, there are certain formalities that you need to follow. If Qatar is your next destination for a vacation, you will need to issue a tourist visa to Qatar first. This visa will allow you to visit the country for tourism. However, a visa does not guarantee you an entry in Qatar. If in case the airport authorities find an issue with the visa or yourself, there are chances that you may not be allowed to enter the country. Also, for a stay of the initial 30 days, you do not need a visa. If afterwards, you make plans to stay longer in the country, you will have to issue a tourist visa to Qatar. The validity of the visa will depend on the period of stay required. It must also be noted that the visa cannot be extended. You can even issue a visa on arrival, which is obtained in the form of a Qatar visa waiver. The validity of this waiver is for 180 days as well allowing a stay of 30 days per visit.

Mainly, you will have to follow the online procedure for the Qatar tourist visa application. But before going ahead with the process of application, you must know what will be the more feasible way for you to apply. There are two ways to get to tour Qatar. You can either apply online before taking a flight to Qatar or you can get a permit once you reach the Qatar airport. The processes are given as follows:

• Visa prior to arrival

1. Visit the official website of the Qatar Embassy online 
2. Fill out the Qatar tourist 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 tourist visa fees for the processing.
6. Receive the visa by email after the completion of the process.

• Visa 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 tourist visa on arrival.
5. Submit all the required documents.
6. Perform the necessitated processes and you will be granted with a visa waiver.

When you are carrying out either one of the processes, there are certain things that you need to take care of. 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 any kind of incorrect or unverifiable information is found in the application, there is a possibility that the visa may get rejected. A visa rejection can affect future applications for a tourist visa to Qatar or any visa to the same country or any other foreign country.

Before going ahead with the application process, you need to make sure to meet the eligibility criteria. These parameters are put forth by the Qatar Embassy for the ones who are looking forward to getting a tourist visa to Qatar. The criteria are listed as follows:

• You must possess proof of purpose of visit
• If you are visiting your acquaintances, you must have an invitation letter from the resident in Qatar.
• You must visit for tourism only, or visiting acquaintances and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• If you are applying for a visa on arrival, make sure that you carry all the required documents.
• For a visa on arrival, you will need to have a confirmed return ticket and a confirmed proof of accommodation.
• You must meet the health requirements
• You must be healthy enough to travel to Qatar.
• You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
• You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements
• You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Qatar.
• You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds
• You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Qatar.
• Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

The document requirement for a tourist visa to Qatar must be followed to be assured of the visa. All the documents have their own importance and they must be in good enough condition to be able to access the needed information. The requirement of documents may also change as per the nationality of the applicant. The list of common documents is as follows:

• Original passport with a validity of at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• Confirmed return tickets
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Proof of purpose of visit - invitation letter, exhibition or conference pass, etc. 
• Proof of identification and nationality - PAN card, Adhaar card
  
  
  

• Two copies must be provided.
• Passport size photograph.
• 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 processing time required for the issuance of the tourist visa is about 15 days. The time will still vary depending on certain factors like the workload at the embassy office, the staff availability, whether the documents are complete or the rest of the documents are yet to be submitted and others. The time increases and decreases affected by these parameters. Comparatively, if you are eligible for a visa on arrival, the processing time much lesser.

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

When you have submitted your application form for a tourist visa to Qatar and paid the fees, there are certain things that you must consider -

• 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 visa waiver. 
• A waiver is not exactly like a visa, 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 the visa 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.

The tourist visa to Qatar is an electronic visa. Therefore, it is quite easy to access the status of the visa processing. In order to check the status, you can visit the embassy website and go to the page of status check 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.

Once you have obtained the visa, you still need to follow a certain set of guidelines. Few of which are mentioned as follows:

• Before you travel
  • • You need to get an OK to Board on your visa before you board your flight to Qatar, bet it an ECR or ENCR passport. It is mandatory for either one of the procedures.
    • Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
    • You should travel to Qatar within the validity of your visa.
    • Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
    • Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border
  • • Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
    • Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
    • Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
    • Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Qatar
  • • Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
    • The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
    • Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.