Is Qatar now open to tourists?

Currently, entry to the State of Qatar is only permitted to Qatari nationals and residents permit holders, based on the current travel guidelines published in the official website of Hamad International Airport.

According to the Ministry of Public Health it has yet to provide updated information and it recommends the public to visit the "Qatar Portal" website, concerning issuance of visas.

EXCEPTIONAL ENTRY PERMIT

A. Residents who are currently in the State of Qatar and wish to travel and return will automatically receive an “Exceptional Entry Permit” upon departure and can have a printout from the Ministry of Interior’s website at any point after their departure.

B. For the “Exceptional Entry Permit,” residents who are currently abroad will not be able to board a flight to Qatar without it, while Citizens, GCC Citizens, and Permanent Residency holders do not require a permit to enter the State of Qatar.

Qatar Visa Centers Reopening

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) will open its Qatar Visa Centers in Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines in the coming weeks of December.

MoI confirmed the following reopening schedules of QVCs:

• QVC Kathmandu, Nepal - tomorrow - December 10

• QVC Islamabad, Pakistan - December 14

• QVC Manila, Philippines - December 15. 

QVCs help facilitate procedures for migrant workers by allowing applicants in all sectors to digitally sign work contracts before travelling, enrol their biometric data and undergo mandatory medical testing before departure, without having to repeat the tests upon arrival in Qatar.

What is the process of work visa issuance on QVC system?

With the QVC process, the employer has to submit a visa application through the website of Qatar Ministry of Interior (www.moi.gov.qa) or through Metrash App.

After identifying and registering the person coming to Qatar for work on the Ministry of Interior's website, which will verify the eligibility of the expatriate to enter Qatar according to the type of job and nationality, MoI shall then issue an initial approval and generate a reference number for expatriate. 

Then, the expatriate or employer can book an appointment for checkups and contract signature by the expatriate coming to Qatar through QVC website: www.qatarvisacenter.com, using the same reference number. 

Once the expatriate passes all the required examinations “fingerprints, biometrics, medical checkups and signing of the employment contract” under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior and relevant authorities, a work visa will be issued and the expatriate can start work immediately on arriving in Qatar.

Upon completion of the process, visa applicants are able to track the status of the application online. The expatriate will be able to review and sign their employment contracts while they are still in their home country. 

All the required services of the QVC are free of charge for migrant workers and directly paid by employers in Qatar through bank transfer.