Qatar: New visa extensions announced for visitors Nov. 14

Event

On Tuesday, November 14, the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) announced that visitors to the country on a 30-day entry visa obtained upon arrival (applicable to nationals from 47 countries) will now be able to extend their stay for an additional 30 days online via the MoI website.

Previously, in August, the Qatari government announced a visa-free entry program for citizens of 80 countries in an effort to encourage tourism. Citizens of 33 of the 80 countries (including France) are allowed to stay for up to 180 days, while citizens of the other 47 countries (including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom) are limited to stays of 30 days. The complete list of countries included in the visa-waiver program is listed on the Qatar Airways website.

Context

Since the beginning of a diplomatic crisis involving Qatar and its neighbors this past summer, Qatar has been attempting to diversify its economy to mitigate the impact of sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt implemented bans on all air, sea, and land travel to and from Qatar, citing Qatar's alleged support for terrorist organizations and ties with Iran. Several prominent Gulf and Egyptian businessmen have urged investors to withdraw from Qatar, and the price of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), of which Qatar is a major supplier, has fallen sharply.

Advice

Individuals traveling to Qatar are advised to visit the Qatar Airways website or contact their nearest Qatari consulate for further details.