Author: Ismail Hossain Ripon
Travel Consultant at Zafir Tours, Doha, Qatar. 7+ years of experience in visa assistance, international travel planning, and customized holiday arrangements. His work focuses on helping Qatar-based travellers understand practical travel requirements, organize supporting documentation, and plan international itineraries around their actual destinations and available dates.
Company Owner: SHK FAISAL HAMAD S A AL-THANI
Quick Answer: The MOI Qatar Visit Visa in 30 Seconds
- There is no single “MOI Qatar visit visa.” A QID-holding sponsor applies through the MOI Portal; a self-sponsored traveller applies through Hayya.
- Free visa-free entry and paid visa on arrival are two different things. Some nationalities pay nothing. Others are routed by the official Visit Qatar checker to a QAR 100 visa-on-arrival category, usually with a mandatory Discover Qatar hotel booking.
- Hayya e-visas (A1, A2, A3) cost QAR 100.
- Family visit sponsorship starts at QAR 5,000/month for a non-labour profession — but that is a floor, not a guarantee.
- Overstaying a visit visa costs QAR 200/day, capped at QAR 12,000. A cancelled residence permit gives 14 days to exit, then QAR 10/day.
- The temporary automatic extension ended on 7 June 2026. Standard rules are back.
- On-arrival eligibility can change at short notice. Reports in 2026 indicated temporary suspensions for Pakistan and Lebanon.
- Health insurance is mandatory for visa-required visitors.
The Fee Distinction Most Guides Get Wrong
Visit Qatar now calls the old “visa on arrival” “visa-free entry.” The rename did not change the rules, but it made the fees harder to follow, because two different products now sound alike.
- Free visa-free entry. Citizens of more than 102 countries are eligible. The 90-day tier is free and non-extendable. The MOI’s 30-day list states plainly that the visa “is free of charge.”
- Paid visa on arrival (QAR 100). Visit Qatar’s checker has a separate category labelled “Visa on Arrival, Discover Qatar Hotel reservation required.” You book through Discover Qatar before travel and pay QAR 100 at the airport. The checker’s content references India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Taiwan, and GCC-resident routes.
- Hayya e-visas. A1 tourist, A2 GCC resident, and A3 ETA each cost QAR 100.
- Qatar–Oman joint visa. 30 days, extendable by 30 days for a fee; QAR 100 applies in some cases.
The rule: the checker decides your route, and the route decides your fee, not the list. Run your nationality and travel purpose through the official Visit Qatar visa checker before booking anything.
What the MOI Visit Visa Covers
The Ministry of Interior issues and regulates entry permits. In practice, “MOI Qatar visit visa” means one of two routes:
- Sponsor-driven — family visit, yearly family visit, or business visit, submitted through the MOI Portal by a QID holder or Qatari company.
- Self-sponsored — tourist, GCC resident, ETA, or US visa-free route, submitted through Hayya.
The MOI Portal is built for sponsors. Hayya is built for travellers. Mixing them up is the most common cause of avoidable delays.
MOI Portal: The Sponsor’s Cockpit
The sponsor logs in with a QID, smart card, or employer credentials. The applicant does not fill out a self-service form here. The sponsor drives the application and is legally responsible for its accuracy.
For the legal framework behind sponsorship, see our guide to visa immigration law in Qatar.
Hayya: The Traveller’s Front Door
Category | Who it is for | Fee |
A1 Tourist | Leisure travellers who are not visa-exempt and not eligible for visa on arrival | QAR 100 |
A2 GCC Resident | GCC expatriate residents; up to two months, multiple entry since 30 Nov 2025 | QAR 100 |
A3 ETA | Holders of a valid US, UK, Canada, Schengen, Australia, or NZ visa/residence | QAR 100 |
A4 GCC Companion | Certain family members travelling with GCC nationals | Generally free |
F1 US Citizens | US passport holders | Confirm at entry |
Hayya generates a personalised document checklist after you create a profile. That is the best place to start, alongside the Hayya FAQ.
Entry Routes and Fees at a Glance
Route | Who qualifies | Stay | Extension | Fee | Hotel rule |
90-day visa-free | ~43 countries | 90 days | Not extendable | Free | Confirm booking |
30-day free visa-free | 47 nationalities per MOI page | 30 days | +30 days | Free | Confirm booking |
Paid visa on arrival | Nationalities routed by Visit Qatar checker (India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Taiwan) | 30 days | Check current rules | QAR 100 at airport | Discover Qatar required |
US citizen visa | US passport holders | 90 days per visit | Multiple entry, 2 years | Confirm at entry | Confirmed hotel |
GCC resident A2 | GCC expatriate residents | Up to 2 months | Multiple entry | QAR 100 | Check Hayya |
ETA A3 | Western visa/residence holders | Varies | Check Hayya | QAR 100 | Check Hayya |
A1 tourist | Non-exempt nationalities | 30 days | +30 days | QAR 100 | Hotel reservation |
Qatar–Oman joint | Eligible nationalities | 30 days | +30 days for a fee | QAR 100 in some cases | Confirm at entry |
Passport validity: the 90-day tier needs three months; the 30-day tier and most Hayya routes need six months. Travel with six months remaining, and you are safe on every route.
The Discover Qatar Hotel Rule
The official Discover Qatar mandatory hotels page states that the MOI currently requires travellers with passports from India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Iran to make a Discover Qatar visa-on-arrival hotel booking before travelling, and that other nationalities may be added at the State of Qatar’s discretion.
Several 2026 guides also include Ukraine, and Visit Qatar’s checker references Ukraine and Taiwan in specific flows. Treat the list as fluid and verify before every trip.
The booking rules
- Minimum two consecutive nights, maximum 60 nights under the visa-on-arrival hotel offer.
- Must cover your entire stay in Qatar.
- Must be made through Discover Qatar only; Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb, and direct hotel bookings are not accepted.
- Bookings are non-transferable and cannot be amended once confirmed.
- A QAR 100 cancellation fee applies if the visa is rejected; cancellations within 48 hours of arrival can attract a 100% charge.
Recently approved properties include Dusit Doha, Millennium Plaza Doha, Wyndham Doha West Bay, DoubleTree by Hilton Al Sadd, Premier Inn Doha Education City, and several others. The list changes; check it on Discover Qatar before paying.
Two routes, one voucher
Airport route: book Discover Qatar before travel, then pay QAR 100 at immigration.
Hayya route: apply online; the status moves to “Pending Accommodation Verification.” You upload the Discover Qatar voucher, then it moves to “Pending Payment,” and you pay QAR 100. The Hayya route usually produces a faster arrival.
If you are staying with family or friends instead of a hotel, the host may need to complete a verification step through Hayya or Metrash. A verbal invitation is not enough.
Sponsor-Driven Visas: Family, Yearly Family, Business
Family Visit Visa
The sponsor must hold a valid QID, work in a non-labour profession, earn at least QAR 5,000 per month with an accredited employment contract, have documented family housing, and provide health insurance for the visitor.
The QAR 5,000 figure is confirmed by the MOI’s published conditions and by Gulf Times’ coverage of the MOI’s 2026 Metrash webinar.
It is a floor, not a guarantee. The MOI applies discretion by nationality, profession, and file quality.
A common and expensive confusion: the QAR 10,000 figure people quote is the family residence visa threshold, not the family visit threshold.
For private-sector family residence, the MOI cites QAR 10,000, or QAR 6,000–7,000 with employer-provided housing. Confusing the two keeps families apart unnecessarily.
Documents: sponsor QID and passport, visitor passport valid for six months, attested and Arabic-translated proof of relationship, salary certificate, tenancy contract, employer NOC where applicable, return tickets, and health insurance. Missing attestation is the most common reason for refusal.
Duration and fees:
- Initial stay: one month
- Extension: up to five further months for first-degree relatives; shorter for other relatives, confirm by relationship
- Issuance: QAR 200 + QAR 50 per companion
- Extension: QAR 200 per month + QAR 50 per companion
- Medical check within 72 hours of arrival if you plan to extend
- Complete applications are typically processed in around three working days
Family Yearly Visit Visa
A one-year, multiple-entry permit for first-degree relatives. Each stay is capped at six months (180 days), extendable once for three months (90 days) from inside Qatar. No work rights; no path to residency.
Salary guidance is commonly quoted at QAR 10,000/month with housing or QAR 15,000 without, with an application fee around QAR 200 and extensions around QAR 500/month after 180 days. These figures come from secondary 2026 guides rather than a single public MOI fee table, confirm before budgeting.
Business Visit Visa
The sponsoring Qatari company is the applicant. The MOI’s published page states the visa is valid 30 days and extendable 60 days, at QAR 200 per month. Documents: passport valid six months, company invitation letter, valid Commercial Registration and Municipal Licence, applicant passport copy and photo, return ticket.
The CR trap: visas linked to expired or suspended Commercial Registrations are rejected automatically. Renew the CR before inviting anyone.
Some 2026 reporting describes the on-arrival business visa as one month and non-extendable. That is likely a different product from the company-sponsored business visit visa. Confirm which one you are being issued.
How to Apply
MOI Portal (sponsor-driven)
- Log in at portal.moi.gov.qa.
- Select the visa category.
- Enter passport details exactly as printed.
- Upload documents.
- Pay the fee.
- Track with the MOI visa approval tracking service.
Hayya (self-sponsored)
- Create an account at hayya.qa.
- Choose A1, A2, A3, A4, or F1.
- Complete the personalised checklist.
- Upload passport, photo, accommodation proof, return ticket, and insurance.
- Pay QAR 100 where applicable.
- Track in the dashboard.
If your status says “Pending Accommodation Verification,” upload the Discover Qatar voucher or host verification. If it says “Pending Payment,” the QAR 100 fee is outstanding. For help, contact info@hayya.qa or +974 4441 2022, or visit the Hayya desk at Hamad International.
Fees, Extensions, and Overstay
The two overstay rates
Situation | Penalty |
Overstaying a visit visa | QAR 200 per day, capped at QAR 12,000 |
Overstaying after a cancelled residence permit | 14-day grace period, then QAR 10 per day |
There is no grace period for visit visas. The fine is calculated at departure and must be paid before you leave. Overstaying can also trigger a travel ban, deportation, and re-entry refusal for up to three years.
Captain Ali Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari of the Airport Passports Department has urged travellers to check their status on Metrash before travelling. A five-minute check prevents a five-hour problem.
Extensions
The free 30-day visa-free entry can be extended once for another 30 days, and the MOI now allows on-arrival extensions online. The 90-day visa-free entry cannot be extended. Hayya A1 can be extended once for QAR 100. Family visits extend monthly for QAR 200 plus QAR 50 per companion.
The temporary automatic extension is over. Qatar introduced automatic 30-day extensions for expired entry visas in early 2026, then ended the policy on 7 June 2026. Standard rules apply.
How to check status
Use the MOI tracking service, the Hayya dashboard, or Metrash2. Third-party status sites are convenience tools, not authorities; if they disagree with the MOI portal, the MOI portal is correct. Our guide to Qatar visa status check walks through each method.
Entry Conditions That Sink Otherwise Good Applications
Health insurance. A policy from a MOPH-registered insurer is required for visa-required visitors, around QAR 50/month, typically covering up to QAR 150,000. Visa-free travellers may have a limited exemption, but Visit Qatar still recommends cover. Compare options in our travel insurance in Qatar guide.
Passport validity. Three months for the 90-day tier; six months for the 30-day tier, ETA, and sponsor-driven visas.
Return ticket. Required on all on-arrival and Hayya routes. A one-way ticket is not sufficient.
Name matching. The passport and the application must match exactly. “Mohammed” and “Muhammad” are different strings to the MOI system.
Transit, Stopovers, and Edge Cases
Qatar Airways transit visa. Free for eligible passengers with layovers of roughly 5–96 hours, tied to the itinerary; no extensions.
Discover Qatar stopover. Up to four days with hotel and transfers, useful if you want to see Souq Waqif instead of a lounge. For regional trip ideas, see our guide to short trips from Qatar.
The 2026 suspensions. Reports in 2026 indicated that visa-on-arrival access was temporarily suspended for Pakistani nationals (embassy advisory, 30–31 March 2026) and Lebanese nationals (reports dated 1 April 2026), with both required to obtain visas in advance through Hayya.
These are dated advisories and news reports, not permanent policy. Check the Visit Qatar checker and your airline’s requirements before booking.
Expired CR or low salary. Binary conditions, not negotiable. Renew the CR; check the category threshold.
Previous overstay. The record remains until the fine is cleared and any ban period is served.
“My cousin said it’s fine.” Not a source. The official portal is. A licensed consultant is.
Ten Mistakes That Cost Travellers Time and Money
- Using the wrong portal. Sponsor → MOI Portal. Self-sponsored → Hayya.
- Assuming the visa is free because your country is on a list. Run the checker; India, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Taiwan are currently routed to the QAR 100 category.
- Booking a non–Discover Qatar hotel. If the checker routes you there, only Discover Qatar counts.
- Confusing family visit and family residence salary thresholds. QAR 5,000 vs QAR 10,000 (or QAR 6,000–7,000 with housing).
- Assuming the 90-day visa is extendable. It is not.
- Ignoring passport validity. Six months is the safe rule.
- Skipping health insurance. Mandatory for visa-required visitors.
- Uploading unattested relationship documents. Attest and translate before submitting.
- Sponsoring with an expired CR. The system rejects it automatically.
- Treating a temporary suspension as a permanent ban. Check the official checker.
Pre-flight checklist
- Correct portal used
- Category matches purpose of travel
- You know whether you are on the free or paid route
- Passport has enough validity
- Return ticket confirmed
- Insurance active
- Accommodation valid and, where required, through Discover Qatar
- Name matches exactly
- Status shows “approved,” not “pending”
- Expiry date in your calendar
People Also Ask
Is Qatar visa on arrival free?
It depends on the route. The 90-day and 30-day visa-free routes are free. Visit Qatar’s checker routes some nationalities, currently India, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Taiwan — to a paid QAR 100 visa-on-arrival category, usually with a mandatory Discover Qatar booking.
How much does a Qatar visit visa cost?
Hayya A1, A2, and A3 cost QAR 100. Paid visa on arrival costs QAR 100 at the airport. Free visa-free routes cost nothing. Family visit issuance is QAR 200 + QAR 50 per companion, with extensions at QAR 200/month + QAR 50 per companion. Business visit visas are QAR 200/month.
Do Indian citizens need a hotel booking for Qatar visa on arrival?
Yes, if using the visa-on-arrival route. The checker routes Indian passport holders to the QAR 100 category with a mandatory Discover Qatar booking, covering the full stay with a two-night minimum. The alternative is a Hayya A1 e-visa applied for in advance.
Is Qatar visa free for Indian citizens?
Not always. India appears on the MOI’s free 30-day list, but the Visit Qatar checker routes Indian passport holders to the paid QAR 100 category with a Discover Qatar hotel requirement. The route decides the fee, not the list alone.
Can I get a Qatar visa on arrival?
Yes, if your passport is on the eligible list and the checker routes you to an on-arrival category. Some nationalities are routed to the paid QAR 100 category. Reports in 2026 indicated temporary suspensions for Pakistan and Lebanon.
How long can I stay in Qatar on a visit visa?
90 days on the 90-day free route (non-extendable); 30 days on the 30-day free route (extendable once); 30 days on Hayya A1 (extendable once); one month on a family visit, extendable up to five further months for first-degree relatives.
What is the Hayya card and do I need one?
Hayya is Qatar’s official digital entry platform. You need it for A1, A2, or A3. Visa-free travellers may not need a Hayya permit, but the platform is increasingly the single digital entry record.
How long does a Qatar visit visa take to process?
No single figure is reliable. Complete family visit applications are typically processed in around three working days. Hayya applications typically run 48 hours to a week. Qatar Visa Center routes can take two to six weeks. Delays are almost always document quality.
Can I extend a Qatar visit visa?
Yes, in some categories. The free 30-day entry extends once for 30 days. Hayya A1 extends once for QAR 100. The 90-day entry cannot be extended. Family visits extend monthly for QAR 200 plus QAR 50 per companion.
What happens if I overstay my Qatar visit visa?
QAR 200 per day, capped at QAR 12,000, calculated at departure. Overstaying can also trigger a ban, deportation, and re-entry refusal for up to three years. The 14-day grace period applies only to cancelled residence permits, which then incur QAR 10/day.
What is the salary requirement for a Qatar family visit visa?
QAR 5,000/month for a non-labour profession with an accredited employment contract, documented housing, and visitor health insurance. Meeting the floor does not guarantee approval.
Can I sponsor my parents for a Qatar visit visa?
Yes. Parents can be sponsored for one month, extendable up to five further months as first-degree relatives. You need attested relationship proof, a salary certificate, approved housing, and health insurance.
Can I work in Qatar on a visit visa?
No. Visit, tourist, family visit, and business visit visas do not grant work rights. Working on one can result in fines, deportation, and a ban.
Can I convert a Qatar visit visa to a work visa?
Not from inside Qatar in the normal course. It typically requires leaving and re-entering on a work visa, or an MOI-approved change of status.
Is health insurance mandatory for a Qatar visit visa?
Yes, for visa-required visitors. Around QAR 50/month from a MOPH-registered insurer. Visa-free travellers may have a limited exemption, but cover is still recommended.
What is the minimum passport validity for Qatar?
Three months for the 90-day visa-free entry; six months for the 30-day tier, ETA, and sponsor-driven visas.
Can I visit Qatar on a GCC residence visa?
Yes. Hayya A2 allows eligible GCC residents up to two months with multiple entry for QAR 100, applied for in advance or on arrival depending on profession and nationality. The GCC residence permit should be valid at least three months from arrival.
Do children need a Qatar visit visa?
Yes. Every traveller, including infants, needs an entry permit linked to their own passport. For family visits, each child needs their own application and attested birth certificate.
Can I travel to Oman or Saudi Arabia on a Qatar visit visa?
A Qatar visa is valid for Qatar only. The Qatar–Oman joint visa covers both for eligible nationalities. Saudi Arabia requires its own visa, see our Saudi Arabia visa guide.
Is the Qatar transit visa free?
Yes, for eligible Qatar Airways passengers with layovers of roughly 5–96 hours.
Can I apply for a Qatar visa without a sponsor?
Yes, through Hayya. A1, A2, and A3 are all self-sponsored routes.
What documents do I need for a Qatar family visit visa?
Sponsor QID and passport, visitor passport valid six months, attested and translated relationship proof, salary certificate, tenancy contract or housing proof, employer NOC where applicable, return tickets, and Qatar-valid health insurance.
Is Qatar visa valid for Saudi Arabia?
No. A Qatar visa or Hayya permit is valid for entry to Qatar only.
What is the difference between a family visit visa and a family residence visa?
A visit visa is short-term, one month, extendable up to five further months for first-degree relatives, with a QAR 5,000 salary floor and no work rights. A residence visa allows long-term family living, requires around QAR 10,000 or QAR 6,000–7,000 with employer housing, and leads to a Qatar ID.
Why Zafir Tours Is the Local Partner You Want
The Moi Qatar visit visa process is not impossible. It is detailed. The difficulty is in the details that do not announce themselves: the gap between free visa-free entry and paid visa on arrival, the fluid Discover Qatar list,
The difference between the QAR 5,000 family visit floor and the QAR 10,000 family residence threshold, the two overstay rates, and the fact that the MOI Portal and Hayya are not interchangeable.
That is where Zafir Tours comes in.
We are a Doha-based travel and visa consultancy working on MOI and Hayya applications every week. Our team brings more than 15 years of combined visa-processing experience in Qatar and has assisted clients from more than 100 countries.
We have seen the family reunion nearly derailed by an unattested birth certificate, the business traveller turned away because the inviting company’s CR had expired, and the tourist who paid twice for a hotel because the first booking came from the wrong website. These are predictable errors, and they are avoidable.
We do not replace the official portals. We navigate them. We do not promise outcomes outside our control. We eliminate the errors within them.
Beyond inbound visit visas, our Doha team supports Qatar residents with outbound documentation, from family tour packages from Qatar and Thailand visas to Saudi Arabia visa guides, Umrah packages, and Turkey visa applications.
If your trip includes the UAE, our UAE visa from Qatar guide is a useful next read. If you need both inbound and outbound paperwork, we can coordinate it under one roof.
