Preparing your trip to Qatar used to mean going through inconvenient and complicated processes, like getting hotel sponsorships or going through airline visa desks, and long processes at embassies. Now most of those processes have been simplified to the Hayya Portal. The Hayya Portal was developed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was very effective in processing fan movement. Because of that, the Qatari government developed it to be their visitor’s visa processing system.
Now that you know how to use Hayya, exploring the Museum of Islamic Art or Souq Waqif and even stopping over in Doha is a whole lot easier. Thousands of visa applicants still get rejected each month because of selfie passport photos, wrong hotel bookings, and other preventable mistakes.
This article provides a comprehensive system to the Qatar tourist visa process, including which document you’ll need to provide, and the Hayya tourist visa fee of QAR 100. The article will also provide tips to speed up the process of getting your visitor’s permit.
The Four Types of Hayya Tourist Visas
You will have to determine which of the four Hayya visa categories you fall under before you can begin your application. Each category is based on your nationality and residency in conjunction with any valid visas that you may have. People often return or get their applications rejected because of selecting the wrong category.
A1 Tourist Visa
A1 tourist visas are the most common type of online visitor visa. These visas are granted to people who are not nationals of countries that are afforded visa-free status nor do they reside in GCC countries or territories that are entitled to issue them qualifying visas. Nationals of countries like Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Nigeria are some of the people that may be granted this visa type if they do not hold a US, UK or Schengen Visa.
A2 GCC Resident Visa
The A2 category is reserved for people of all professions that reside in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman) and are employed there. This visa was initially restricted to certain professions in Qatar; however, this has since been amended and all GCC residents are eligible to be granted this visa.
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- Visa with ETA – Electronic Travel Authorization (Category A3)
The A3 Visa with ETA streamline process is available to individuals who currently have a legitimate visa or Permanent Residency in the United States, the United Kingdom, or any of the Schengen area countries, Canada, Australia or New Zealand and wish to enter Qatar for a short period of time. Those who have a valid visa or residence permit in the above mentioned countries can apply in this category and enjoy simplified processes.
- Visa for Companion of a GCC Citizen (A4)
The A4 visa is for domestic help like drivers or nannies or personal assistants to accompany a citizen of the GCC country. The citizen or their family member must sponsor the domestic help and the citizen of the GCC makes the online request. The sponsor or the domestic help must travel to Qatar with the citizen of the GCC country or their immediate family.
| Visa Category | Who It Is For | Standard Fee | Maximum Stay | Extendable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 (Tourist Visa) | International travelers seeking a Qatar pre-approved e-visa | QAR 100 | 30 Days | Yes (30 extra days) |
| A2 (GCC Resident) | GCC Residents of the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain | QAR 100 | 30 Days | Yes (MOI approval) |
| A3 (Visa with ETA) | Residents/Citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, Schengen, Australia and NZ | QAR 100 | 30 Days | Yes (30 extra days) |
| A4 (GCC Companion) | Domestic help and companions | QAR 100 | 30 Days | Yes |
Residents of more than 100 countries are eligible to obtain a Qatar Visa on Arrival for free. Citizens of other countries may still be required to stay at a Discover Qatar approved hotel and provide return tickets, i.e. Pakistani and Indian Citizens.
Required Documents for a Qatar Tourist Visa
As of now, the Qatar Tourist Visa portal accepts only 10 documents. This means you can save a lot of time by preparing the documents in an electronic format of the appropriate resolution before you begin the application process. The Hayya site first processes documents using Automated Document Recognition (ADR) and then has immigration employees review the documents to ensure compliance.
The Hayya authority has outlined rules about the validity of your passport for travel to Qatar. As of now, the rules state that your passport must be valid for at least three months from the date you travel to Qatar. However, many airlines, and border officials, recommend your passport is valid for at least six months, to avoid issues when you travel and when you board your flight. You must upload a scanned copy, or photo, of the page in your passport, which contains the two lines of the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ).
You must also upload a digital photo of yourself, which was taken recently, and has the correct dimension and specification. You must not crop the photo to show only your face. You must have a neutral face, and your head and shoulders must be within the frame. If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your entire face is within the frame.
You must also provide details of your accommodation in Qatar. There are three ways to achieve this:
- Your relative or friend, who lives in Qatar, can add you to their guest list on their Hayya application, and this automatically verifies your accommodation.
- You can make a booking at a hotel in Qatar, through the Discover Qatar website, if you are in a group, or applying under certain rules of Visa on Arrival. Regular bookings will not be accepted.
- If you are in a country, which does not have an embassy or a diplomatic representation in Qatar, you do not need to provide accommodation verification.
- THIRD-PARTY BOOKINGS: Only applicants in categories A2, A3 and eligible A1 nationals need to submit a PDF booking confirmation of their hotels from Booking.com, Agoda or other similar websites, direct with a hotel, provider, as long as the guest name and dates corroborate with the travel itinerary.
CONF exercises the right to predetermine what constitutes adequate supporting documents. The ultimate decision in this regard rests with CATEGORY A Staff.
Supporting Documents
A. Category A2
A clear front and back scan of your GCC Resident ID (Emirates ID/ Iqama/ Civil ID) which shows your Employment and Residency and the expiry date.
B. Category A3
A clear scan of your Visa sticker/Residence permit from any of the following countries: The United Kingdom, The United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Schengen Area.
- Go to your email and locate the verification code. Enter the code to finish activating your account and then login using your personal account information.
- After logging in, click the ‘Apply for Hayya’ button, then select the purpose of your trip. Once selected, move on to step 3 and choose the appropriate category (A1/A2/A3/A4). Note: If you selected A2 or A3, you’ll see an additional request to upload your GCC Residency/Western Sponsorship Visa.
- After completing the above steps, move on to uploading your picture and scanning your passport.
A. Upload a recent picture of yourself using the crop function to place your face within the specified area.
B. Scan and upload your bio data page of your passport (File type: jpg/png, less than 2mb).
C. Review the data field: Hayya fills out some fields based on the information encoded on your passport. Compare and verify the data carefully. You can edit the fields to correct any mistakes.
- Fill in your current country of residence and an active phone number (with country code) and click “continue”.
- Choose your arrival date in Qatar. Authorities issue an entry permit with a fixed validity window, and you should not apply more than four months prior to your travel date.
Step 5: Validate Your Accommodation
- If you are staying with a resident in Qatar, select “Host Family & Friends.” If your host has added your personal details in “My Guests” on their Hayya portal, your booking will be confirmed.
- If you booked a hotel, select “Upload other Platforms Booking” or link your “Discover Qatar” voucher, and upload your hotel booking confirmation.
Step 6: Review & Submit
- Go through your application and check if there are any errors.
- Check the boxes to indicate you understand the information provided is correct and you accept the entry conditions to Qatar.
- Click “Submit.” You will receive a confirmation email with your Hayya Application Reference Number.
Standard Visa Fee: The fee for tourist visas A1, A2, A3, and A4 is QAR 100 (approximately US$ 27.50 or PKR 7600 to 7800).
How the Payment Link Works: You do not complete your payment by clicking the “submit” button. The status of your visa application changes to “Pending Payment” only after your documents are reviewed and approved by Qatari immigration. You will receive an email to complete your payment.
Payment: The payment of QAR 100 can be done through Visa or Mastercard. Payments can only be made through a card with international and 3D online payments enabled. Once payment is processed, your final Hayya permit is sent to you and can be found on the Hayya mobile application.
Stay and Extension: The final Hayya permit issued to you allows you to enter Qatar within 30 days from the day it was issued. After you enter Qatar and your permit is stamped by the immigration officer at the airport, you have a stay of 30 days in Qatar. A 30 day stay can be extended online by the Ministry of Interior (MOI).
Note: The information contained here is for general information and educational purposes only. The information provided here is not legal advice and does not create a attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. The author and Breezelaw is not liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information provided here. If you are seeking legal advice for your particular case or situation, you should talk to a licensed attorney in your area for legal counsel.
Understanding the Approval Process, Statuses, and Reasonable Anticipated Processing Times
You can check your application status anytime you want by logging into your account at hayya.qa, or by using the app. Different factors such as your nationality and the type of visa you have applied for determine the approximate time it will take to process your visa application. Therefore, knowing the average time you should expect to wait before your flight will help you not panic and stress unnecessarily.
- A2 and A3 Visas: Application processes usually take between 24 and 48 hours. However, during peak travel times (such as the Eid holidays and major sports events in Doha), it may take between 3 to 5 working days.
- A1 Visas: Applications for A1 visas may take between 5 to 10 working days. Because the application process involves human validation (security officers, and hotel and Dubai residence verification officers) it is advisable that you apply for the visa at least two to three weeks before your travel dates.
You will see one of the following statuses on your Hayya application:
- Pending Accommodation: This status indicates that the system is waiting for you to provide your hotel voucher, or to confirm your stay arrangements in Qatar.
- In Process: Your documents are being processed by the ministry of the interior.
- Returned for Modification: One of your application documents has been deemed incomplete or unclear by a processing officer. You will receive an email to inform you what document needs to be amended and/or replaced. Once you have completed the changes, you should submit the new document and continue with the application process.
- Pending Payment: Your visa has been approved. You will need to pay a fee of QAR 100 in order to complete the process.
- Approved/Entry Permit Issued: You’ve been approved! You can now print your permit from the PDF attached in your email and carry it with you, along with your digital copy, which will remain in your Hayya app.
As mentioned previously, Hayya visa applicants with clean travel records also experience issues with their applications. These issues are typically due to small mistakes or oversights and occur with the following processes:
- Taking Passport Photos: Many passport photos, especially the bio-page photos, have a glossy or laminated cover. When taking a photo of your passport, sometimes the camera flash reflects off the cover and blocks part of your photo, especially the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) code at the bottom of the photo. Try to take the photo without flash or, if possible, use natural light. You can also use a scanner to remove glare.
- Using the Wrong Hotel Booking Site: Some national passports require a Discover Qatar booking in order for the traveler to receive a tourist visa to enter Qatar. Some applicants report being rejected or requested to change their booking to Discover Qatar after uploading a hotel booking from a different website. If you are not certain whether your national passport requires a Discover Qatar booking, you can check with the hotel booking site to be safe.
- Providing Incorrect Names: When filling out the Hayya form, you must provide your name in the same way it is listed in your passport. This includes your middle name and/or your father’s name if it is listed on your passport.
- Applying Too Early or Too Late: Hayya Entry Permits are only valid for 30 days, and if they aren’t used in that time frame they expire. Therefore, if you apply for one more than 2 months before your flight, your permit will expire before you even leave for your destination. Applying for one less than 2 days before your flight and using the A1 form also doesn’t guarantee the permit will be issued. The ideal time to apply for your Hayya Entry Permit is 14-21 days before your flight.
- Expired Supporting Visas: People that apply under Category A2 (GCC Resident) or A3 (US/UK/Schengen ETA) will have their residency card/Sticker or ETA checked by airline staff during the departure process. If your GCC residency or Schengen visa is expired, and you do not have a Hayya permit yet, you will not be allowed to board your flight even if you have Permission to Travel.
If you have your Hayya Entry Permit, you need to print it, and bring it with you, along with your airline ticket and hotel reservation, to to be able to submit them to Doha immigration. Clear Doha immigration to be one the easiest and most convenient immigration process in the Middle East.