Qatar has become an open country in the Middle East and is the 8th most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation. A new Qatar visa portal, a platform to apply electronically for entry visas to visit Qatar, was launched by the Ministry of Interior’s Visa Support Service (VSS).
With the launch of the new visa portal, people from around the world can visit Qatar and attend various sport events and other activities including business and investment, cultural and tourism related festivals hosted by the country.
In a press conference held at the Ministry of Business and Industry, the Director of Visa Support Services Department (VSSD), Major Abdullah Khalifa Al Mohannadi said that the new facility is aimed at providing the visa application for visitors from all countries through a simple and smooth process.
Al Mohannadi also added that the visa will be issued within 48 hours from the date of receiving the application and the fee for the visa application process is QR.100.
The visas are valid for up to 30 days which could be extended for another 30 days, included that the applicants can attend multiple events.
An application for a visa should be made within 90 days and at least four days before travel. The validity of the passport should be six months from the date of entry into the country. It is also understood that the service cannot be used to obtain a visa for children registered with their parents’ passport.
The visa portal includes the details of the events that is going to be held in the country, which allows the public to stay informed about the ongoing events taking place in Qatar. The applicants can also track the status of the application in the portal.
The economic growth of the country will be increased with the launch of the Qatar visa e-portal and in the first phase, the service will be limited to visa applications from outside Qatar, for those wishing to attend various organized events.
The design of the portal was done with the efforts of the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with a number of agencies, each according to its competence, said Al Mohannadi.
The portal is specialized in tourist visa services, which enables applicants to attend major events, such as Arabian Cup and FIFA Club World Cup 2019 and the most important sporting event FIFA World Cup 2022, said Lt. Col. Jassim Al Sayyed.
