Qatar has made a decision not to grant visas upon arrival to citizens of several countries, including the United Kindgom and the United States starting May 1st, 2010. Passport holders planning to visit Qatar must obtain visas prior to arrival.
Previously, British and United States nationals along with passport holders of 33 countries were issued visas upon arrival at the airport. Americans traveling to Qatar starting May 1st, 2010 are advised to consult with either the Qatari government’s online portal or Qatari embassies for details on applying for a visa. Travelers from Italy, France, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia also stand to be affected by this change.
For passport holder from other countries, gaining an entry visa will be complicated. Starting May 1st, you will need either a company of government organization as a guarantor on the Qatari side. Unlike embassies in most other countries, Qatari embassies do not issue visas. Top hotels offer for a fee full visa services, when booking rooms with them. Qatar Airways can also arrange visa services.
For lengthy stays, hotels and airlines are not viable as visas must be arranged by sponsor. Additionally, due to safety concerns unmarried women under the age of 35 years old will experience difficulty gaining a visa for a lengthy stay.
While there are rumors to the contrary, information at the time of this article (April 2010) indicates that Israeli passport holders with valid visas are permitted in Qatar.
Happy trails! Bring sunblock!
