Transit Visa Requirements: Navigating Doha Airport With Ease

If you are transiting in Doha, you may be wondering if you need a visa to leave the airport during your layover. The answer depends on a few factors, including your nationality, the length of your layover, and whether you need to collect baggage. Here's an overview:

Firstly, if you are not planning to leave the transit area of Doha Airport, you do not need a transit visa. This applies to most transit passengers travelling through Qatar. However, if you need to collect your baggage and check in with another airline, you will require a transit visa.

Secondly, Qatar has a free transit visa scheme for travellers with layovers of five hours or more at Hamad International Airport. This scheme allows transit passengers of all nationalities to enter Qatar for up to 96 hours (four days) between flights. To be eligible for this visa, you must meet certain conditions, such as having a passport valid for at least six months and holding confirmed tickets for both your entry into and departure from Qatar on Qatar Airways. It's important to note that the online application for this visa has been suspended, so you may need to contact your local Qatar Airways office to apply.

Lastly, if you are a citizen of one of the eligible countries, you may not need a pre-approved transit visa at all and can take advantage of visa-free entry into Qatar upon arrival. Nationals from over 80 countries are now offered visa-free entry, thanks to Qatar's new visa waiver.

In conclusion, whether you need a transit visa for Doha Airport depends on your specific situation. It's always a good idea to check the latest official information and requirements before your trip to ensure a smooth journey.

Transit Visa requirements for Hamad International Airport

A transit visa is not required for travellers who are not planning to leave the transit area of Doha Airport. However, if you wish to enter Qatar during your layover, you will need to obtain a transit visa. Here are the requirements and procedures to obtain a transit visa for Hamad International Airport:

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a Qatar Transit Visa, the following conditions must be met:

• Each traveller, including infants, must have their own passport.
• Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Qatar, not the date of application.
• The name on your booking must match the name on your passport.
• You must submit a clear copy of your passport to Qatar Airways.
• You must have confirmed tickets for both your arrival in Qatar and your onward journey out of the country, and both flights must be operated by Qatar Airways.
• Your layover in Qatar should be at least five hours.
• The transit visa is not applicable if Doha is the point of turnaround for your journey, e.g. BOM-DOH-BOM.
• You must hold a copy of your approved transit visa during boarding and upon arrival in Qatar.

Application Process:

• Transit visa applications should be made at least seven days (excluding public holidays) before your arrival in Qatar and a maximum of 90 days in advance.
• The processing time for the visa application is a minimum of seven days, excluding public holidays.
• The visa is valid for 96 hours (four days) from the date of issuance and is valid for a single entry only. Extension of the visa is not permitted.
• Entry into Qatar with an approved visa must be within 30 days from the date of issuance.
• The 96-hour transit visa is issued free of charge. However, all other expenses, including accommodation costs in Qatar, must be borne by the passenger.

Visa-Free Entry:

Nationals from over 90 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into Qatar. In this case, a pre-approved transit visa is not required. However, it is recommended to check the eligibility requirements for your specific nationality.

Visa on Arrival:

If you are not eligible for a transit visa or visa-free entry, you may be able to obtain a visa on arrival. This option is available to passport holders from certain countries, who can obtain a single-entry visa valid for a one-month stay in Qatar. The visa fee depends on your nationality and can be paid by credit or debit card at the immigration counter or in cash at the designated bank counter before proceeding to passport control.

Other Options:

If you are not eligible for any of the above options, you can arrange a visa before travelling to Qatar. This can be done through Qatari embassies around the world or by enquiring with a hotel in Qatar where you have a booking. Alternatively, if you are flying with Qatar Airways, you may be able to arrange a visa on arrival by booking a hotel stay for the duration of your visit through the Qatar Airways Holidays website.

Qatar Airways Transit Visa

If you are transiting in Doha, Qatar, you may be eligible for a free Qatar Transit Visa. This visa is available to travellers with layovers of five hours or more at Hamad International Airport. The visa allows transit passengers of all nationalities to enter Qatar for up to 96 hours (4 days) between flights.

• Every passenger (including infants) must have individual passports.
• The passport should be valid for a minimum of six months at the time of entry into Qatar (not at the time of application).
• Your name in the booking must match your passport name.
• A clear passport copy must be submitted to Qatar Airways.
• Confirmed tickets for a journey into Qatar and the onward journey out of Qatar must be on the Qatar Airways ticket document.
• Both flights must be operated by Qatar Airways.
• The facility is not applicable to travel where Doha is the point of turnaround, for example, BOM-DOH-BOM.
• Customers must hold a copy of the approved transit visa at the time of boarding and upon arrival in Qatar.

Visa Application Period and Processing Time:

Transit visa applications should be made at least seven days (excluding public holidays) before arrival in Qatar and a maximum of 90 days. The processing time for the visa application is a minimum of seven days, excluding public holidays.

Qatar Transit Visa Validity:

The entry is valid for 96 hours. Staying beyond 96 hours is not permitted under this scheme. Entry into Qatar with an approved visa must be within 30 days of the issuance date. Extension of validity is not permitted; a new visa application must be submitted.

Qatar Transit Visa Cost:

The 96-hour transit visa is free. All other expenses, including accommodation costs in Qatar, must be borne by the passenger.

Visa Rejection Upon Arrival:

In case of visa rejection upon arrival in Qatar, the passenger may travel onwards if holding a valid visa for the final destination. Alternatively, they may make arrangements for return travel to the origin/other destinations at their own expense.

Visa-Free Entry:

Nationals from more than 90 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into Qatar. A pre-approved transit visa is not needed if you are a citizen of one of these countries.

How to Apply for a Qatar Airways Transit Visa:

Qatar Airways' Online Transit Visa Service has been suspended for the last few years. If you require a visa and your nationality is eligible, you can utilise the free Visa On Arrival (VOA) facility. If your nationality is not eligible for VOA, you can contact your nearest Qatar Airways office or apply for an Online Tourist Visa through the Hayya portal.

Visa-free entry into Qatar

Citizens of over 100 countries are eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar. The allowable length of stay varies, so visitors are advised to check with an authorised entity for the terms and conditions that apply. Nationals of eligible countries do not require any prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival by presenting a valid passport with a minimum validity of three months and a confirmed onward or return ticket.

Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) do not require a visa to enter Qatar.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible for a visa waiver that will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle the holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar:

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

Nationals of the following countries are eligible for a visa waiver that will be valid for 180 days from the date of issuance and entitle the holder to spend up to 90 days in Qatar during a single trip or multiple trips:

• 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

Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the Qatar-Oman Joint Tourist Visa, which is issued upon arrival and is valid for 30 days in Qatar and Oman. It allows for multiple entries to both countries and can be extended for an additional 30 days for a fee:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Canada
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Vatican City

Transit Visas

A Transit Visa is not required for transiting travellers who are not planning to leave the transit area of Doha Airport. However, a visa is needed if you want to leave the airport and enter Qatar, or if you have to collect your baggage from one airline and check in with another.

The Qatari Government is not currently issuing Transit Visas, so requests for processing Transit Visas to Qatar are suspended until further notice.

Nationals of more than 90 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into Qatar, and a pre-approved transit visa is no longer needed if you are a citizen of one of these countries.

If you are not eligible for a visa on arrival, you can apply for a Tourist Visa through the Hayya portal.

Visa on Arrival

Hamad International Airport in Doha offers a Visa on Arrival for citizens of certain countries. This visa is valid for a one-month stay in Qatar and can be renewed for an additional two months. The visa fee depends on your nationality and type of visa and can be paid by credit or debit card at an immigration counter or in cash at a designated bank counter.

To be eligible for a Visa on Arrival, your passport must be from one of the countries on the list of eligible countries. This list includes countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many more. Please note that for Indian citizens, there is a requirement to book accommodation through Discover Qatar for a minimum of two nights. Alternatively, you can apply for a Hayya Tourist Visa (A1) through the Hayya portal, which does not require hotel booking and is free of charge.

If you are a resident of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, you are also eligible for a single-entry Visa on Arrival, provided that your residence permit is valid for at least six months. This visa will allow you to stay in Qatar for one month and can be renewed for an additional two months.

It is important to note that the Visa on Arrival option is only available if you are arriving at Hamad International Airport by air. If you are entering Qatar by land or sea, different visa requirements may apply.

For detailed and up-to-date information, please refer to the Hamad International Airport website and the official Qatari government sources.

Qatar e-visa

Qatar's Hayya platform offers an e-visa that allows for easy entry to the State of Qatar. The e-visa can be obtained in four easy steps:

• Register on the Hayya platform website or via the Hayya app.
• Upload the required documents.
• Pay the visa fee and submit your application.
• Receive your Hayya permit approval.

The Qatar e-Visa is a visa issued online for selected visitors. It allows travellers to spend up to 30 days in Qatar for tourism, business, and transit. The Qatar Transit e-Visa is specifically for travellers crossing the borders of Qatar on their way to another destination and is valid for 4 days.

Nationals of the following countries can obtain the Qatar e-Visa online:

• United Arab Emirates
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Antigua and Barbuda

Citizens of the above countries marked with an asterisk should provide one of the following:

• A valid tourist or business visa issued by the US, UK, or Schengen Area country, used at least once.
• A valid permanent residence visa issued by the US, UK, or Schengen Area country.
• A valid GCC residence visa, effective for at least 3 months.

The Hayya platform also offers four types of entry permits:

• Entry visa for residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
• Entry visa for those accompanying citizens of the GCC countries.
• Entry visa via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
• Visa on arrival, Discover Qatar Hotel reservation required.

Additionally, citizens of any GCC country (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) are allowed to travel to Qatar without a visa and only need a valid national ID card. Nationals of Palestine and Israel are prohibited from applying for a Qatar e-Visa.

Frequently asked questions